The new Z-Car has been with us since 2002, and though it’s never made as much of a splash as its ancestor the 240Z, it’s sold quite well and outlasted Japanese peers like the Honda S2000 and the Mazda RX-8, all the while maintaining relevance in the performance car market. Part of the reason why Nissan is able to do this is with the various special and limited editions of the 350 and 370Z they’ve come out with over the years. We recently tested the hardcore 370Z NISMO (Nissan Motorsport International Limited) to see how it gets on in the real world. The good news was that we got extended seat time in a well-tuned 350 horsepower sports car. The bad news was that this time the “real world” meant the streets of Los Angeles.
The 370Z NISMO was developed by Nissan’s Specialty Vehicles Group with the help of Nissan’s tuning subsidiary Autech Japan, and even on first glance it’s clear that there’s something special going on with this car. It’s a little bit boy racer but it’s not excessive, so no comically large wings or three-foot long stickers here. Overall Nissan describes the car as “racing-inspired”, and in terms of bodywork that means an extended front nose and fully integrated chin spoiler that very much distinguishes it from the standard car, as well as a unique rear with side sills and a functional rear spoiler on top. All in all, it’s a little over six inches longer than the regular 370Z. Not so obvious are the aluminum hood, doors, and hatchback that lighten the car but still keep the curb weight at around the standard car’s 3,300 pounds. New touches for 2013 are red brake calipers, Gun Metallic wheel finish for the 5-spoke 19-inch forged alloys, and a new shade of red paint. The NISMO is only available in five colors.
