The 2003 Canadian Car of the Year, the Nissan 350Z sports car, roars into 2004 as the best-selling sports car in North America and likely to stay on top as the new 350Z Roadster begins its first full year in the marketplace.
The Z®, which was named 2003 Car of the Year and 2003 Best New Design by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), has a whopping 35-percent share of the sports-car segment in Canada and represents 25 percent of the market in the United States (through August, 2003).
Nissan Canada Inc. dealers had sold 1,800 350Zs from August, 2002, when the 350Z was introduced, until August, 2003. In the same period, their U.S. counterparts sold nearly 40,000 Zs.
"The new 350Z Coupe has been one of the most successful and well received models Nissan has ever introduced," said Ian Forsyth, Nissan Canada director of marketing. "It has quickly became the best-selling model in its segment."
For 2004, the Z lineup adds a new convertible, the 350Z Roadster (see separate release). Other enhancements for the 2004 350Z include a new power-operated face door for the navigation system, pre-wiring for satellite radio, the addition of a driver- and passenger-side knee pad and a new exterior colour - Liquid Aluminum (late availability).
The 2004 350Z Coupe is available in three models - Performance, Touring and Track Pack.
All three are powered by 350Z's 287-horsepower 3.5-litre VQ35DE V6 engine, which produces 274 ft-lbs of torque. That power range comes as a result of the engine's intake-port design and adopting Continuously Variable Valve Timing Control System (CVTCS) technology.
This enables the engine to deliver not only outstanding acceleration and high-speed passing performance, but also torque characteristics suitable for city driving. Drivability has been further improved by adopting an electronically controlled throttle. That and the use of a highly rigid cylinder block combines with other measures to produce engine sounds worthy of a sports car.
A six-speed close-ratio manual transmission is standard on Performance and Track Pack editions, while the 350Z Touring model is equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission with gated shifter and manual-shift mode.
Standard features on all models of the rear-wheel drive Coupe include four-wheel independent multi-link suspension with front and rear stabilizer bars, strut tower bar, four-wheel power disc brakes with anti-lock (ABS), Brake Assist (BA) and Electric Brake force Distribution (EBD). All 350Zs ride on 18-inch alloy wheels (forged alloy on the Track Pack model) and high-performance tires.
Also standard are xenon headlamps, universal garage door opener (UGDO), cruise control, Traction Control System (TCS), viscous limited-slip differential, drilled aluminum pedals and auto-dimming rear-view mirror.
Inside is an eight-way adjustable driver's seat and four-way adjustable passenger seat, both heated and with leather seating surfaces. All controls such as windows, brake locks are power-operated with power windows. Other interior features include a three-bay gauge cluster, dual front air bags and much more.
Performance and Track Pack models are fitted with Vehicle Dynamic Control(VDC) and Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS), while Performance and Touring models get a Bose® audio system with six-CD changer and AM/FM/cassette with seven speakers.
The Track Model includes front and rear spoilers, forged aluminum wheels and Brembo® brakes.
The only options available are a DVD- and GPS-based navigation system and three-coat pearl-finish paint (Touring and Performance models).
The 350Z was designed to impress viewers at first sight with its newness as a sports car and to remain an object of unending adoration for ages to come. While inheriting the "Z-ness" passed on through successive generations, this Z embodies many new features for a sports car.
Design cues passed on from the first-generation Z, the 1970 Datsun 240Z, include the long nose and short deck styling, triangular cabin form and the lines extending from the arch-shaped roof to the hatchback opening. To that heritage, a newness has been added to contrast the soft, warm body shape with the geometrical forms of the headlamps and other parts.
The Z's design is anchored by very aggressive wheel forms pushed all the way out to the corners. Like a racing car, the body's centre of gravity is placed in the middle and the tires are positioned as far as possible at the four corners to emphasize the car's nimble agility.
"A long wheelbase and wide stance provided a great starting place," said Diane Allen, chief designer, Red Studio at Nissan Design America Inc. (NDA). "Our first thought was to recreate the sensation of an open-wheeled Formula 1 car - all wheels and an intimate centre structure."
The Z's beltline provides a distinctive spine, which crosses over the form in the rear and is anchored in the Z's strongly visual taillights. The body surfaces are rendered with a certain roundness to impart a soft impression. While the design strongly accentuates the bulge of the fenders, the volume at each corner has been pared to emphasize the shortness of the overhangs. The 18-inch wheels also serve as a design element that hints at superb driving performance.
The Xenon Gas projector-type headlamps provide a wider illumination pattern and greater brightness. Careful attention was also paid to the fine design details, including the look of built-in quality and the perceived impression of the materials. The car's stellar quality is also expressed by the distinctive vertical door handles and the twin exhaust tailpipes.
The instrument panel features three gauge pods, similar in design to the 240Z, consisting of the drive computer, oil pressure gauge and voltmeter as well as modern touches such as a navigation system with video display. The door vents and centre console have a solid, chiseled-from-a-block-of-aluminum look.
The hatchback design is accentuated by functional storage space. Though the 350Z has been executed as a sports car, thorough attention has also been paid to storage capacity, with sufficient luggage space for carrying two golf bags behind the seats, a lockable luggage floor box capable of storing a briefcase and other storage places.
The use of aluminum for the instrument finishers, door handles and other places enhances the high-quality look of the interior.