For the first time in the Nissan Z’s 37-year history, a high-performance NISMO 350Z is born. Nissan’s 2007 Z lineup comes with an extensively developed list of unique equipments so as to lure more enthusiasts and at the same time have the capacity to bring out the automaker’s alchemy obsession.
The NISMO (Nissan Motorsport International) 350Z’s aerodynamics package powerfully resembles the Super GT championship winning Zs. The vehicle features a rugged front fascia with side skirts, a chin spoiler, an extended rear fascia with underbody diffuser and a rear wing. This package offers extra aerodynamic downforce for improved cornering and handling performance.
For 2007 model year, the Nissan 350Z is again available in coupe and roadster body styles and in an array of models: four for the Coupe and three for the Roadster. Each sport car provides a high performance thrill and a vibrant driving experience, with a passionate style of its own.
Additional performance features include a specially tuned independent multi-link suspension, Brembo brakes with a four-piston front and two-piston rear calipers, Nissan distributor caps, and NISMO-branded gunmetal gray RAYS super lightweight forged-alloy wheels. Additionally, a special NISMO-branded tuned exhaust stresses an even more authoritative appeal to the Z’s standard VQ35HR V6 engine. The engine is capable of producing 306 horsepower and 268 lb-ft of torque.
Other features include LED taillights, a refined optional navigation system, a twin air intake system and other enhancements that increase the vehicle’s efficiency, improve the fuel economy and emphasize dynamic styling. It also features a new front hood design, three new exterior colors, and a new gray colored convertible top for roadster models. That is just for the exterior. For interior improvements, a Bluetooth® Hands-Free Phone System for touring and grand touring coupes has been added and made standard are front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags for roadster models.
The NISMO 350Z is the fifth model in the 2007 350Z Coupe lineup and is available only with a 6-speed manual transmission. The 350Z is a replacement of the Skyline GT-R as the car for Nissan's factory and customer teams in the Super GT's GT 500 class. The vehicle used is heavily upgraded to pave way to a powerful performance Z variant. The NISMO 350Z features a longer nose and tail, tube chassis, carbon fiber bodywork, and a new, race tuned VQ30DETT engine.
The Nissan 350Z is a coupé and roadster and was introduced in August 2002. By far, it is the fifth generation of the automaker’s Z-car line, carrying the chassis designation Z33. In Japan, the model is named "Fairlady Z". The 350Z is Nissan's first sports car in North America since the 1998 discontinuation of fourth-generation Z-car.
In 2004, NISMO won the GT500 championship. The car, with slightly more pedestrian modifications, also competes in the GT300 class by teams such as Endless Sports and Mola. In 2003, Hasemi Sports won the GT300 championship with the 350Z.
By: Ryan Thomas