:
The Nissan 350Z (known as Nissan Fairlady Z (Z33) in Japan) is a two-door, two-seater
sports car
A sports car is a car designed with an emphasis on dynamic performance, such as handling, acceleration, top speed, the thrill of driving and racing capability. Sports cars originated in Europe in the early 1900s and are currently produced by ...
that was manufactured by
Nissan Motor Corporation
, trading as Nissan Motor Corporation and often shortened to Nissan, is a Japanese multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Japan. The company sells its vehicles under the Nissan, Infiniti, and Datsun brands, ...
from 2002 until 2009 and marks the fifth generation of Nissan's
Z-car
The Nissan Z-series is a model series of sports cars manufactured by Nissan in seven generations since 1969.
The original Z was sold in October of 1969 in Japan as the at Nissan#Japan, Nissan Exhibition dealerships that previously sold the Ni ...
line. The 350Z entered production in 2002 and was sold and marketed as a 2003 model from August 2002. The first year there was only a coupe, as the roadster did not debut until the following year. Initially, the coupe came in Base, Enthusiast, Performance, Touring and Track versions, while the Roadster was limited to Enthusiast and Touring trim levels. The Track trim came with lightweight wheels and
Brembo
Brembo S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of automotive brake systems, especially for high-performance cars and motorcycles. Its head office is in Curno, Bergamo, Italy.
History
Brembo was established in Paladina, Italy on January 11, 1961 ...
brakes, but its suspension tuning was the same as all other coupes. The Nissan 350Z was succeeded by the
370Z for the 2009 model year.
Background
After the
Nissan 300ZX
The Nissan 300ZX is a sports car that was produced across two different generations. As with all other versions of the Z, the 300ZX was sold within the Japanese domestic market under the name Fairlady Z.
It was sold in Japan from 1983 to 2000 a ...
was withdrawn from the U.S. market in 1996, Nissan initially tried to keep the Z name alive by re-creating the
240Z the following year. The car was conceived by Nissan's North American design team in their free time, and the concept was introduced in a four state Road Show in July 1998 to various car media, dealers, and employees. Yutaka Katayama, regarded as the "Father of the Z" unveiled the Z concept sketch to the public when he received a motor industry award. The design, representing a modern vision of the 240Z, did not please the original 240Z designer
Yoshihiko Matsuo
Yoshihiko is a masculine Japanese given name.
Possible writings
Yoshihiko can be written using different combinations of kanji characters. Here are some examples:
*義彦, "justice, elegant boy"
*義比古, "justice, young man (archaic)"
*吉 ...
, who compared it to the
Bluebird
The bluebirds are a North American group of medium-sized, mostly insectivorous or omnivorous birds in the order of Passerines in the genus ''Sialia'' of the thrush family (Turdidae). Bluebirds are one of the few thrush genera in the Americas.
...
and
Leopard
The leopard (''Panthera pardus'') is one of the five extant species in the genus '' Panthera'', a member of the cat family, Felidae. It occurs in a wide range in sub-Saharan Africa, in some parts of Western and Central Asia, Southern Russia, a ...
.
The 240Z concept was produced for the
Detroit Motor Show
The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), also known as the Detroit Auto Show as of 2022 and prior to NAIAS, is an annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., at Huntington Place. The show was held in January from 1989 to 2019. I ...
during the following August and September. Nissan was unhappy with the first design as they felt the original 2.4 L
KA24DE
The KA engines were a series of four-stroke inline-four gasoline piston engines manufactured by Nissan, which were offered in 2.0 and 2.4 L. The engines blocks were made of cast-iron, while the cylinder heads were made of aluminum.
Despite their ...
engine that was going to be assigned made the car feel underpowered, they also felt the car was considered too "retro" or too "backward" resembling a futuristic 240Z; hence, a redesign was commissioned. During a press conference in February 2000, president
Carlos Ghosn
Carlos Ghosn (; ; ar, كارلوس غصن; , born 9 March 1954) is a businessman who holds Brazilian and French nationality. Ghosn was the CEO of Michelin North America, chairman and CEO of Renault, chairman of AvtoVAZ, chairman and CEO of Ni ...
announced plans to produce the car as he felt the new model would help to assist the company's recovery.
The Z Concept was unveiled in Detroit Motor Show two years later, which was similar in body shape but with a new front end. The car then underwent a minor redesign and was eventually assigned the 3.5 L
VQ35DE engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert one or more forms of energy into mechanical energy.
Available energy sources include potential energy (e.g. energy of the Earth's gravitational field as exploited in hydroelectric power gen ...
, hence becoming known as the ''350Z''.
Concept Models
240Z concept (1999)
Nissan unveiled the 240Z concept car at the 1999
North American International Auto Show
The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), also known as the Detroit Auto Show as of 2022 and prior to NAIAS, is an annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., at Huntington Place. The show was held in January from 1989 to 2019. ...
, then later at the
Los Angeles Auto Expo
The Los Angeles Auto Show is an annual auto show held at the Los Angeles Convention Center in early December. The LA Auto Show is an OICA sanctioned international exhibition. It is open to the public for ten days each year, filling of exhibit ...
. The concept was based primarily on a design sketch by Manny Baker of Nissan's California design studio. In a reference to the original, it was a bright orange two-seater with swept-back styling. It was fully functional car with its 2.4 L 4-cylinder
KA24DE
The KA engines were a series of four-stroke inline-four gasoline piston engines manufactured by Nissan, which were offered in 2.0 and 2.4 L. The engines blocks were made of cast-iron, while the cylinder heads were made of aluminum.
Despite their ...
engine from the
Nissan Altima producing and of torque, and not the Z-car's traditional 6-cylinder engine. It was thought a less than worthy successor to the line. The designers used an original 240Z to provide inspiration and the concept was created in only 12 weeks. Automotive critics described "it would be cool but get a new model." This design served the intended purpose of creating interest, in the public and the corporation, for a new Z car.
Design and layout
The 350Z is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, two-door, two-seat sports car designed by Diane Allen, part of a design team led by Ajay Panchal of Nissan Design America in
San Diego
San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the List of United States cities by population, eigh ...
,
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
in 2000. This program was inspired by the successful reception to the 1998 240Z concept model.
The vehicle has the long-hood short-deck design common to the
Z-Car
The Nissan Z-series is a model series of sports cars manufactured by Nissan in seven generations since 1969.
The original Z was sold in October of 1969 in Japan as the at Nissan#Japan, Nissan Exhibition dealerships that previously sold the Ni ...
family. External design highlights include: sloping
fastback
A fastback is an automotive styling feature, defined by the rear of the car having a single slope from the roof to the tail. The kammback is a type of fastback style.
Some models, such as the Ford Mustang, have been specifically marketed as ...
style arched roof line, unique brushed aluminum door handles, high waistline, and bulging fenders that are pushed out to the corners of the vehicle.
The Interior design has brushed aluminum accents. The main gauge pod is mounted directly to the steering column allowing its movement to coincide with steering wheel adjustments. Additional gauges are mounted in a center triple gauge cluster (similar to the
240Z/260Z/280Z). Touring models are equipped with the Bose sound system get a six CD changer and 8-inch Bose
subwoofer
A subwoofer (or sub) is a loudspeaker designed to reproduce low-pitched audio frequencies known as bass and sub-bass, lower in frequency than those which can be (optimally) generated by a woofer. The typical frequency range for a subwoofer i ...
mounted behind the driver's seat. The 350Z's interior does not have a conventional glove box, but has storage compartments located behind and between the two seats.
Models
![2008 Nissan 350Z -- NHTSA](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/2008_Nissan_350Z_--_NHTSA.jpg)
Released on July 2002 in Japan at reorganized Nissan Japanese dealerships called ''
Nissan Blue Stage'', and August 20, 2002 in the U.S., the 350Z coupé was available in 5 trim packages: '350Z' (Base), 'Enthusiast', 'Performance', 'Touring', and 'Track' editions. In Europe, only the 'Track' trim was available, although it was badged and marketed as '350Z'. The Base model did not include a
VLSD or
Traction Control
A traction control system (TCS), also known as ASR (from german: Antriebsschlupfregelung, lit=drive slippage regulation), is typically (but not necessarily) a secondary function of the electronic stability control (ESC) on production motor vehicle ...
and was only available with cloth seats. It did not include cruise control, nor power or heated seats. The Enthusiast model came with traction control, a VLSD, and cruise control. The Performance model came with larger 18-inch wheels, front air dam, rear spoiler, optional
Brembo
Brembo S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of automotive brake systems, especially for high-performance cars and motorcycles. Its head office is in Curno, Bergamo, Italy.
History
Brembo was established in Paladina, Italy on January 11, 1961 ...
brakes, and VDC instead of Traction Control. Touring was made more of the luxury model. It had power, leather, heated seats, VDC, a VLSD, xenon headlamps, optional
Brembo
Brembo S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of automotive brake systems, especially for high-performance cars and motorcycles. Its head office is in Curno, Bergamo, Italy.
History
Brembo was established in Paladina, Italy on January 11, 1961 ...
brakes, 18-inch wheels, and optional GPS Navigation. The Track model included
Brembo
Brembo S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of automotive brake systems, especially for high-performance cars and motorcycles. Its head office is in Curno, Bergamo, Italy.
History
Brembo was established in Paladina, Italy on January 11, 1961 ...
brakes, front air dam, rear spoiler, traction control, cloth seats, 18-inch wheels, VLSD, and optional GPS Navigation.
In 2004 Nissan introduced the 350Z Roadster with an electrically retractable soft-top roof. In the U.S. market the car was available in two trim packages (Enthusiast and Touring), while in Europe, the same versions as the coupé were offered. Nissan added the Grand Touring (GT) trim to the Roadster trim packages for 2005.
In 2005 Nissan launched the 35th Anniversary edition, with a revised exterior and interior (see ''Special Editions'' below). Early 2005 model-year 35th anniversary edition models were equipped with the original
VQ35DE engine with 287HP/274TQ and an automatic transmission. In January 2005, Nissan introduced the 35th Anniversary 6-speed manual models and Track models (mid-year introduction), which included the updated
VQ35DE 300HP/260TQ 'Rev-up' engine and new updated CD009 manual transmission as well as minor changes to suspension tuning and parts.
For the 2006 model year, the 350Z received changes for its mid-cycle facelift. The
VQ35DE 300HP/260TQ 'Rev-up' engine that was introduced mid-year 2005 on the Track and 35th Anniversary Edition with 6-speed manual transmission models was offered for every trim level that had a manual transmission option. The
VQ35DE rated at and of torque continued to be offered with only the 5-speed
automatic transmission
An automatic transmission (sometimes abbreviated to auto or AT) is a multi-speed transmission used in internal combustion engine-based motor vehicles that does not require any input from the driver to change forward gears under normal driving c ...
. Additions included
bi-xenon
A headlamp is a lamp attached to the front of a vehicle to illuminate the road ahead. Headlamps are also often called headlights, but in the most precise usage, ''headlamp'' is the term for the device itself and ''headlight'' is the term for ...
projectors, a revised front fascia, new
LED
A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor Electronics, device that Light#Light sources, emits light when Electric current, current flows through it. Electrons in the semiconductor recombine with electron holes, releasing energy i ...
rear lights, changes to the interior trim and speed sensitive steering. Trim levels above the basic enthusiast package received a brake system upgrade including a larger brake booster, front dual piston calipers and larger diameter brake disks. Touring and Grand Touring models had radio-steering controls standard, MP3 CD compatibility, and Satellite Radio became an available option.
For the 2007 model year, the 350Z was again moderately revised. The
VQ35DE V6 was replaced with a new
VQ35HR V6. It produced at 6800 rpm with of torque at 4800 rpm using the revised
SAE certified power benchmark. The
VQ35HR had a raised redline to 7500 rpm and more torque across the rpm range. The hood was redesigned with a bulge reminiscent of the original
240Z to accommodate the raised deck height of the new VQ35HR. In the U.S., trim levels were narrowed down to 350Z (base), Enthusiast, Touring, Grand Touring and NISMO, while in Europe the same trim levels remained. Bluetooth was added for the 2007 model year.
Special Editions
Fairlady Z Type E (2004)
A total of 5 units, called the Type E, were produced in Japan for
homologation requirements to compete in the
Super GT
Super GT (stylized as SUPER GT) is a grand touring car racing series that began in 1993. Launched as the , generally referred to as either the JGTC or the All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship, the series was renamed to Super GT in 2005. It is ...
series. It has a longer nose and rear overhang, as well as several add-ons for aerodynamic purposes. The Type-E engine is rated at at 6,200 rpm and of torque at 4,800 rpm.
350Z 35th Anniversary Edition (2005)
![35th Anniversary Edition in Chicago](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/35th_Anniversary_Edition_in_Chicago.jpg)
To commemorate the 35th anniversary of the debut of the
Datsun 240Z
The Nissan S30 (sold in Japan as the Nissan Fairlady Z and in other markets as the Datsun 240Z, then later as the 260Z and 280Z) is the first generation of Z GT 3-door two-seat coupés, produced by Nissan Motors, Ltd. of Japan from 1969 until ...
, Nissan released a tuned version of the 350Z coupé. The 35th Anniversary Z was exhibited at the
Specialty Equipment Marketing Association (SEMA) Show in
Las Vegas
Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...
on November 2, followed by the Miami Auto Show in early November. It went on sale in January 2005.
The 35th Anniversary Edition includes an updated VQ35DE 300 hp (224.99 kW) V6 engine for the six-speed manual transmission model. Other equipment (standard on six-speed manual-equipped versions) includes 18-inch (460 mm) cast aluminum-alloy wheels, front spoilers,
Brembo
Brembo S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of automotive brake systems, especially for high-performance cars and motorcycles. Its head office is in Curno, Bergamo, Italy.
History
Brembo was established in Paladina, Italy on January 11, 1961 ...
brakes and special Z badging. The car was available in a special "Ultra Yellow" and "Pearl Blue" colors. The interior was also available with a black set configuration. Also included was a Bose 6-speaker premium sound system. A version of the 35th Anniversary Edition with a
Gran Turismo 4
''Gran Turismo 4'' is a 2004 racing video game for the PlayStation 2, the fourth installment in the main ''Gran Turismo'' series and the sixth for the overall series. It was developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entert ...
video game
tie-in
A tie-in work is a work of fiction or other product based on a media property such as a film, video game, television series, board game, web site, role-playing game or literary property. Tie-ins are authorized by the owners of the original prope ...
was also made.
350Z GT-S Concept
During the 2006
Goodwood Festival of Speed
The Goodwood Festival of Speed is an annual motorsports festival featuring modern and historic motor racing vehicles taking part in a hillclimbing, hill climb and other events, held in the grounds of Goodwood House, West Sussex, England, in l ...
, Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE) unveiled the 350Z GT-S Concept. The GT-S had a unique radial flow
supercharger
In an internal combustion engine, a supercharger compresses the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to produce more power for a given displacement.
The current categorisation is that a supercharger is a form of forced induct ...
that could be turned on or off via a switch on the dashboard, raising the
VQ35DE engine output to and without modifications to the engine components. The car also had new body kit for more cooling and downforce and wider 245 and 265/40/18
tire
A tire (American English) or tyre (British English) is a ring-shaped component that surrounds a Rim (wheel), wheel's rim to transfer a vehicle's load from the axle through the wheel to the ground and to provide Traction (engineering), t ...
s. The car was tested by automotive journalists, but none were marketed.
2008 Tokyo Auto Salon concepts (2008)
The Nissan Fairlady Z Type F, XANAVI NISMO Z (SUPER GT 2007 GT500 Class), ENDLESS ADVAN Z (series winner of the Japan's SUPER TAIKYU 2007 endurance series) and Fairlady Z Version NISMO Type 380RS were all unveiled at the 2008
Tokyo Auto Salon
The is an annual auto show held in January at the Makuhari Messe, Chiba City, Japan for Performance and custom aftermarket parts and technology displays. Hosted by thNippon Auto Parts Aftermarket Committee (NAPAC)
The Tokyo Auto Salon is one of ...
.
Fairlady Z Type F (2008-)
The Fairlady Z Type F is a version of the Nissan Fairlady Z coupe and roadster for the Japanese market with:
*Choice of 6 body colors (Premium Blaze red (3 coat color), Premium Sunshine yellow (3 coat pearl), Premium Mystic maroon (Multiflex color), Blade silver metallic, Diamond black pearl, White pearl (3 coat pearl))
*Exclusive red heated leather seats, red leather wrapped steering wheel, shift knob, parking brake lever, door trim and arm rest stage, aluminum door kickplates,
RAYS
Ray may refer to:
Fish
* Ray (fish), any cartilaginous fish of the superorder Batoidea
* Ray (fish fin anatomy), a bony or horny spine on a fin
Science and mathematics
* Ray (geometry), half of a line proceeding from an initial point
* Ray (gra ...
forged aluminum wheels, power seats (slide, reclining), BOSE audio system,
Brembo
Brembo S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of automotive brake systems, especially for high-performance cars and motorcycles. Its head office is in Curno, Bergamo, Italy.
History
Brembo was established in Paladina, Italy on January 11, 1961 ...
Brakes, . Buyers with Premium blaze red, Premium sunshine yellow, Premium mystic maroon color models (100 units each) before March 31, 2008 also received Fairlady Z original key holders.
The vehicles went on sale on January 10, 2008.
NISMO Editions
Nissan's performance tuning division,
NISMO
, abbreviated as Nismo, is a division of Nissan Motorsports & Customizing focused in motorsport and performance-oriented car models for Nissan. Nismo was initially a company, , formed in 1984 as a result of a merger of two motorsport departmen ...
, began producing modified versions of the 350Z shortly after its introduction.
NISMO R-Tune (2004)
The R-Tune was a kit sold directly to customers with modifications including new headers, cams, pulleys. The R-Tune voids the Nissan factory warranty, but gains significant horsepower, intended for track racers.
NISMO S-Tune GT (2005)
![Z33 S-tune GT NF2006 01](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Z33_S-tune_GT_NF2006_01.JPG)
The S-Tune GT was released by NISMO to celebrate its success in the
Super GT
Super GT (stylized as SUPER GT) is a grand touring car racing series that began in 1993. Launched as the , generally referred to as either the JGTC or the All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship, the series was renamed to Super GT in 2005. It is ...
series. The S-Tune GT had revised long nose bodywork as in the Type-E, a modified version of the
VQ35DE engine called the S1 which featured more power (300 PS / 221 kW / 296 hp) and a higher
redline (7,200 rpm), as well as a sportier NISMO suspension.
20 were produced each month in Japan. Although Nissan did not officially sell S-Tune in UK, Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd. imported 1 S-Tune GT to UK.
NISMO 350Z (2007–2008)
![Nissan Fairlady Z Version Nismo 01](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e9/Nissan_Fairlady_Z_Version_Nismo_01.JPG)
![FairladyZnismopc](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/FairladyZnismopc.jpg)
The NISMO edition of the Nissan 350Z Coupé debuted at the
New York International Auto Show
The New York International Auto Show is an annual auto show that is held in Manhattan in late March or early April. It is held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. It usually opens on or just before Easter weekend and closes on the first Su ...
on April 4, 2007. This version had the same engine as the regular 350Z (VQ35HR), but was only available with a 6-speed manual transmission and a Viscous Limited-Slip Differential (VLSD), Traction Control System (TCS) and a NISMO aerodynamics package based on the
Super GT
Super GT (stylized as SUPER GT) is a grand touring car racing series that began in 1993. Launched as the , generally referred to as either the JGTC or the All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship, the series was renamed to Super GT in 2005. It is ...
championship car, which included an aggressive front fascia with chin spoiler, side skirts, an extended rear fascia with an underbody diffuser and a rear wing. The vehicle also featured NISMO-tuned independent
multi-link suspension
A multi-link suspension is a type of vehicle suspension with one or more longitudinal arms. A wider definition can consider any independent suspensions having three control links or more multi-link suspensions. These arms do not have to be of eq ...
developed by
Yamaha Yamaha may refer to:
* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services, established in 1887. The company is the largest shareholder of Yamaha Motor Company (below).
** Yamaha Music Foundation, an organization estab ...
,
Brembo
Brembo S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of automotive brake systems, especially for high-performance cars and motorcycles. Its head office is in Curno, Bergamo, Italy.
History
Brembo was established in Paladina, Italy on January 11, 1961 ...
brakes with four-piston front and two-piston rear calipers (with front and rear rotors) and NISMO-branded gunmetal grey
RAYS
Ray may refer to:
Fish
* Ray (fish), any cartilaginous fish of the superorder Batoidea
* Ray (fish fin anatomy), a bony or horny spine on a fin
Science and mathematics
* Ray (geometry), half of a line proceeding from an initial point
* Ray (gra ...
forged alloy wheels and a NISMO-branded tuned exhaust.
Yamaha Yamaha may refer to:
* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services, established in 1887. The company is the largest shareholder of Yamaha Motor Company (below).
** Yamaha Music Foundation, an organization estab ...
also included front and rear dampeners to help with stability of the chassis.
The conversion process for the Nismo 350Z began with a limited number of chassis being pulled from the assembly line to be sent to Nissan-tuner
Autech
is a Nissan Motorsports & Customizing division focused on tuning and converting Nissan cars. Autech was a subsidiary company of Nissan from its establishment in 1986 to 2022, when it was merged with Nismo.
History
Autech was founded in 1986 ...
to have structural seams hand-welded for greater body rigidity. This process made the Nismo 350Z a more capable track car than the other trim levels available at the time.
The NISMO 350Z went on sale in the USA in July 2007 at Nissan dealers. 1607 were produced for the 2007 and 2008 model years, and it was assumed that if there was a greater demand, more would be produced, limited to 10% of all 350Z sales. The NISMO model 350Z had a manufacturer's
suggested retail price of $38,070 for the 2007 model year.
NISMO Type 380RS (2007)
Released as the road version for Japanese market of the Type 380RS-Competition race car, the Type 380RS includes a detuned version of the 380RS-C race engine, rated at 257 kW (350 PS/348 hp) at 7200 rpm and 397 N·m (40.5 kgf·m/293
lbf·ft
The foot-pound force (symbol: ft⋅lbf, ft⋅lbf, or ft⋅lb ) is a unit of work or energy in the engineering and gravitational systems in United States customary and imperial units of measure. It is the energy transferred upon applying a ...
) of torque at 4,800 rpm.
Brembo
Brembo S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of automotive brake systems, especially for high-performance cars and motorcycles. Its head office is in Curno, Bergamo, Italy.
History
Brembo was established in Paladina, Italy on January 11, 1961 ...
disc brakes are fitted, Front and rear dampers from
Yamaha Yamaha may refer to:
* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services, established in 1887. The company is the largest shareholder of Yamaha Motor Company (below).
** Yamaha Music Foundation, an organization estab ...
and forged
RAYS
Ray may refer to:
Fish
* Ray (fish), any cartilaginous fish of the superorder Batoidea
* Ray (fish fin anatomy), a bony or horny spine on a fin
Science and mathematics
* Ray (geometry), half of a line proceeding from an initial point
* Ray (gra ...
alloy wheels.
NISMO Type 380RS is priced 5.397 million (5.14 million+tax) yen ($38695 USD). Only 300 units were produced from 2007 through to 2008.
NISMO Type 380RS-Competition
The NISMO Type 380RS-Competition is the race car on which
NISMO
, abbreviated as Nismo, is a division of Nissan Motorsports & Customizing focused in motorsport and performance-oriented car models for Nissan. Nismo was initially a company, , formed in 1984 as a result of a merger of two motorsport departmen ...
Type 380RS is based. The 3,798 cc engine (VQ38HR) is rated at 294 kW (400 PS) at 7500 rpm and 421
N m (43
kgf KGF or ''kgf'' may refer to:
*Keratinocyte growth factor
*King George's Fields, UK, recreation grounds
*Kolar Gold Fields
*The IATA code for Sary-Arka Airport, Karaganda, Kazakhstan
* ''K.G.F'' (film series), Indian Kannada-language film series
* ...
m) of torque at 5,200 rpm. This in turn is based on the GT 500 race car that Nissan enters into the
Super GT
Super GT (stylized as SUPER GT) is a grand touring car racing series that began in 1993. Launched as the , generally referred to as either the JGTC or the All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship, the series was renamed to Super GT in 2005. It is ...
championship.
According to Nissan, the race car cost 26.25 million yen.
Police version
A NISMO version of the Fairlady Z was also used by the
Tochigi Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Tochigi Prefecture has a population of 1,943,886 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 6,408 Square kilometre, km2 (2,474 Square mile, sq mi). Tochigi ...
police force.
Motorsport
![Xanavi Nissan 350Z rear](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5d/Xanavi_Nissan_350Z_rear.jpg)
Grand Am
Since its introduction in 2002, it did not take long for drivers and teams to enter a 350Z for competition when B.J. Zacharias and Michiel Schuitemaker of Schuitemaker Motorsports helped the car to make its début in the
Grand-Am Cup
The Michelin Pilot Challenge is a grand touring and touring car racing series run by the International Motor Sports Association. Originating from the Canadian Motorola Cup, the series was taken over by Grand-Am in 2001 to become the Grand-Am Cu ...
Series at the start of the 2003 season. They have taken a few podium finishes with Unitech Racing who is also the other team to field a Z33, but effort was proved to be successful under the name of ''Geddings Racing'' scoring wins along with the other current Grand-Am entrant East Competition Promotorsport. The Grand-Am Cup car has also been used in the new
FIA GT4 European Cup
The GT4 European Series is a sports car championship created and organised by SRO Motorsports Group. It is a pro/am championship which followed a formula similar to the FIA GT3 European Championship, which was itself derived from the FIA GT Cham ...
. Schumacher Motorsports with drivers
Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher (; ; born 3 January 1969) is a German former racing driver who competed in Formula One for Jordan, Benetton, Ferrari, and Mercedes. Schumacher has a joint-record seven World Drivers' Championship titles (tied with Lewis ...
and BJ Zacharias won 3rd place in the '03
Grand-Am Cup
The Michelin Pilot Challenge is a grand touring and touring car racing series run by the International Motor Sports Association. Originating from the Canadian Motorola Cup, the series was taken over by Grand-Am in 2001 to become the Grand-Am Cu ...
season. The following year, they improved and finished in 2nd place. After winning 3rd overall in the '03 season, Nissan had Wright Tuning build a new 350Z race car for the '04 season. This car differed from the '03 car in that it was completely stripped and seam welded. The cage was lighter and stiffer by using different diameter tubing where possible. The car used a Menard's built engine with a Pectel engine management system. Overall racing weight was which was the minimum allowable weight for its class. The '04 chassis proved to be the most successful chassis to run in Grand-Am to date. The '03 chassis was sold to a French team with Edouardo Atkatlan as the driver. It still competes in the European "Fun Races" today, winning 2nd place in the inaugural '07 race in Madrid, Spain.
JGTC/Super GT
The 350Z replaced the
Skyline GT-R
A skyline is the outline or shape viewed near the horizon. It can be created by a city’s overall structure, or by human intervention in a rural setting, or in nature that is formed where the sky meets buildings or the land.
City skylines ...
as the car for Nissan's factory and customer teams in the
Super GT
Super GT (stylized as SUPER GT) is a grand touring car racing series that began in 1993. Launched as the , generally referred to as either the JGTC or the All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship, the series was renamed to Super GT in 2005. It is ...
's GT 500 class. The cars used are heavily modified and had a longer nose and tail (requiring the production of the Type-E homologation special), carbon fiber bodywork, and a tube chassis. In 2004,
NISMO
, abbreviated as Nismo, is a division of Nissan Motorsports & Customizing focused in motorsport and performance-oriented car models for Nissan. Nismo was initially a company, , formed in 1984 as a result of a merger of two motorsport departmen ...
won the GT500 championship. Until the 2007 season, the car was powered by a
VQ30DETT V6, then a new 4.5L
V8 powerplant was developed. The 350Z, with slightly more pedestrian modifications also competed in the GT300 class, having started there even before the
Skyline GT-R
A skyline is the outline or shape viewed near the horizon. It can be created by a city’s overall structure, or by human intervention in a rural setting, or in nature that is formed where the sky meets buildings or the land.
City skylines ...
s were replaced, by teams such as Endless Sports and Mola. In 2003 Hasemi Sports won the GT300 championship with the 350Z. In the 2008 season, the 350Zs were all replaced by
Nissan GT-R
The Nissan GT-R (Japanese: 日産・GT-R, ''Nissan GT-R''), is a high-performance sports car and grand tourer produced by Nissan, unveiled in 2007. It is the successor to the Skyline GT-R, a high performance variant of the Nissan Skyline. Alth ...
s in the GT500 class, but they continued to be used in the GT300 class as the
GT-Rs exceed the class's horsepower limits. Two 350Zs competed in the series and MOLA won both the Drivers' and Teams' championships in the GT300 class.
Super Taikyu
The Z33 also appears in the Japan's
Super Taikyu series
Super Taikyu (スーパー耐久, ''Super Endurance''), formerly known as the Super N1 Taikyu Series prior to 2005 and N1 Endurance Series prior to 1995, and currently named the Eneos Super Taikyu Series Powered by Hankook for sponsorship reasons, ...
, entered by C-West Labs.
British GT Championship
The
British GT Championship
The British GT Championship is a sports car racing series based predominantly in the United Kingdom. The series was originally created by the British Racing Drivers' Club in 1993 and, for its first two seasons, was known as the National Sports GT ...
also fielded a
privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship that engages in maritime warfare under a commission of war. Since robbery under arms was a common aspect of seaborne trade, until the early 19th century all merchant ships carried arms. A sovereign or deleg ...
350Z which competed in the series until 2006.
SCCA
![GT2 2010SCCARunoffsWinner46JimCoughary](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/GT2_2010SCCARunoffsWinner46JimCoughary.jpg)
The 350Z is a popular choice for amateurs and professionals competing in
SCCA
The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) is a non-profit American automobile club and sanctioning body supporting road racing, rallying, and autocross in the United States. Formed in 1944, it runs many programs for both amateur and professional r ...
events. T.C Kline achieved third place in the 2003 Touring 2 category in one of three Z33s that qualified to the SCCA T-2 runoffs that year. In the SCCA GT2 class, Jim Goughary took the title in the car's debut season.
The car has also seen success in
SCCA
The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) is a non-profit American automobile club and sanctioning body supporting road racing, rallying, and autocross in the United States. Formed in 1944, it runs many programs for both amateur and professional r ...
solo events. In 2006, Carter Thompson's 350Z lost the SCCA National Championship by 0.1 second over two days of competition. The 350Z has achieved a high level of success at the National Solo Championships since 2006. Although production of the 350Z was discontinued in 2009, the car continues to compete in local and national SCCA events. As recently as 2015, 350Z solo drivers Jeff Stuart and Bryan Heitkotter were rated as the top two SCCA drivers competing in national autocross.
NASA
In 2012, NAS
(
National Auto Sport Association
The National Auto Sport Association (NASA) is an American motorsports organization promoting road racing and high-performance driver education.
Founded in 1991, NASA hosts High Performance Driving Events (HPDE), automotive rallies, Time Trial ...
), created a class of racing specifically for the 350Z. The "Spec Z" class includes all trim levels of the popular 2003-2008 Nissan 350Z in a single class focused on close competition, parity and cost containment that will showcase driving ability and car setup skills. The road racing series is backed by
Nissan Motorsports and BFG Tires. Th
2012 class ruleswere in their infant stage, but solidified by mid-2012.
Drifting
![Formula DRIFT on Track 2012](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/Formula_DRIFT_on_Track_2012.jpg)
The 350Z is a popular platform for
import events and
drifting, where in the latter, drivers including
Ryuji Miki
is a racing and drifting driver from Tottori Prefecture, Japan. Miki was the D1 Grand Prix champion driving the Top Secret Silvia S15. Miki also competed in the Net'z Cup, a one make series for the Toyota Altezza between 2005 and its fin ...
,
Youichi Imamura
is a Japanese professional drifting driver, currently serving as a judge in Formula Drift Japan after he stopped competing in 2019.
He has always enjoyed driving, so drifting was a natural thing for him. His other passion is flowers as his pare ...
, Tyler McQuarrie and
Tanner Foust
Tanner Foust (born June 13, 1973) is an American professional racing driver, stunt driver, and television host. He competes in rally, drift, ice racing, time attack, hill climb and rallycross with multiple podium placements, national champions ...
have used them with success in the
D1 Grand Prix
The , abbreviated as D1GP and subtitled ''Professional Drift'', is a production car drifting (motorsport), drifting series from Japan. After several years of hosting amateur drifting contests, Daijiro Inada, founder of ''Option (car magazine), O ...
and
Formula D
Formula Drift (also known as Formula D) is a United States-based motorsport drifting series. Formula Drift, Inc. was co-founded by Jim Liaw and Ryan Sage in 2003 as a sister company to Slipstream Global Marketing, the same partnership that int ...
series. During the 2006 D1 Grand Prix exhibition event at the
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada in Las Vegas, Nevada about 15 miles northeast of the Las Vegas Strip, is a complex of multiple tracks for motorsports racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is ...
,
Tanner Foust
Tanner Foust (born June 13, 1973) is an American professional racing driver, stunt driver, and television host. He competes in rally, drift, ice racing, time attack, hill climb and rallycross with multiple podium placements, national champions ...
, driving a 350Z, became the first competitor to achieve a perfect score of 100. Two Z33s competed in the non-Japanese domestic D1 Grand Prix spin-off series, D1 Great Britain. In the 2007 season, both SVA Imports and Sumo Power competed using 350Zs in the European Drift Championship. In
Formula D
Formula Drift (also known as Formula D) is a United States-based motorsport drifting series. Formula Drift, Inc. was co-founded by Jim Liaw and Ryan Sage in 2003 as a sister company to Slipstream Global Marketing, the same partnership that int ...
, Foust was awarded the runner-up spot in Round 1.
[Formula Drift - Professional Drifting Championship](_blank)
In Round 2,
Chris Forsberg
Christopher Forsberg (born April 6, 1982), is a self-taught, three-time Formula Drift Champion and Formula Drift World Champion race car driver from Doylestown, Pennsylvania who currently competes in the Formula Drift series in his Nissan Z (Z34 ...
scored a maiden victory
in his 350Z Roadster equipped with a
VK56DE from a
Nissan Titan
The Nissan Titan is a full-size pickup truck manufactured in the United States for the North American market by Nissan. It was named for the Titans of Greek mythology.
__TOC__
First generation (A60; 2003)
Development of the Titan began in ...
. Forsberg's win for the 350Z was followed-up by
Youichi Imamura
is a Japanese professional drifting driver, currently serving as a judge in Formula Drift Japan after he stopped competing in 2019.
He has always enjoyed driving, so drifting was a natural thing for him. His other passion is flowers as his pare ...
's win during the Las Vegas round of the US D1 Grand Prix series in his
RB26DETT-engined car. Foust would eventually take his 350Z to the
Formula D
Formula Drift (also known as Formula D) is a United States-based motorsport drifting series. Formula Drift, Inc. was co-founded by Jim Liaw and Ryan Sage in 2003 as a sister company to Slipstream Global Marketing, the same partnership that int ...
title.
Open Road racing
Option magazine founder Daijiro Inada used an extensively modified 350Z, dubbed ''Option Stream Z,'' to compete in the
Silver State Classic Challenge
The Silver State Classic Challenge is an authorized Open Road Racing event that is run since 1988 on a stretch of State Route 318 in Nevada, United States, which is closed for the occasion.
It is called the fastest road race in the world by Gu ...
. The car was equipped with a
GReddy
is a Japanese automotive aftermarket company specialising in performance tuning parts for cars. The company is widely known for its sub-brand of tuning parts GReddy and the turbochargers under this brand.
GReddy/The Trust Company LTD
The Trus ...
/Trust T88
turbo-charger
In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (often called a turbo) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to pro ...
and was stroked to 3.8 L to produce over . The ''Option Stream Z'' appeared in the games
Gran Turismo 4
''Gran Turismo 4'' is a 2004 racing video game for the PlayStation 2, the fourth installment in the main ''Gran Turismo'' series and the sixth for the overall series. It was developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entert ...
,
Gran Turismo 5
is a 2010 racing video game developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was released for the PlayStation 3 on November 24, 2010 in Europe and North America, and November 25, 2010 in Japan and Australasia, and ...
, and
Gran Turismo (PSP)
is a 2009 racing video game developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation Portable. The game was announced at Sony's E3 press conference on May 11, 2004, alongside the original PSP. Following fi ...
.
Speed trials
In 2004, the tuner Dandy and magazine
Option entered a Z33 known as the "Option Dandy 380Z" with a donor engine from a salvaged Stream Z with a deleted turbo, producing , to compete in the F/GT class for naturally aspirated grand touring sport cars at the
Bonneville Speed Week. The car reached a speed of , measured over a fixed distance.
Advertising and promotions
To promote the 350Z, Nissan released a short film, ''"The Run"'', with a 2003 model being driven in a high-speed run through city streets of up to . This took place through the narrow cobblestone streets of Prague in the Czech Republic, and lasted six and a half minutes.
The 350Z has been extremely popular with
diecast manufacturers, with companies such as
Hot Wheels
Hot Wheels is an American brand of scale model cars introduced by American toymaker Mattel in 1968. It was the primary competitor of Matchbox until 1997, when Mattel bought Tyco Toys, then owner of Matchbox.
Many automobile manufacturers have ...
releasing various colors and styles of the car over the years.
The 350Z benefitted in popularity by making an appearance in
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, where it was fitted with a
Veilside
is a Japanese aftermarket automotive company which initially sold suspension and engine tuning parts, and now sells interior as well as body parts for aerodynamic and aesthetic enhancement of the vehicle.
The name is derived from the owner's ...
bodykit, amongst other modifications, and was driven by the fictional character "Drift King" Takashi.
Specifications
Sales by calendar year
Reception
The 350Z has been given extensive coverage in the automotive press, and has obtained generally positive reviews. Eddie Alterman, senior editor of
''Automobile'' magazine, said of the 350Z "An outstanding performance value. They got all the important stuff right." While David Swigg of ''
Motor Trend
''MotorTrend'' is an American automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, and designated the first Car of the Year, also in 1949.
Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles published ''MotorTrend'' until 19 ...
'' said "With a competent driver at the wheel and the traction control switched off, many Boxster drivers would be hard-pressed to post better lap times than with this Z."
''Top Gear'' magazine later awarded the Nissan Designers with the 2004
''Top Gear'' Magazine Car of the year award.
Automotive journalists tend to praise the 350Z's value, performance, handling, and braking. Criticisms tend to be directed towards the grade of interior plastics, greater curb weight than its competitors, cabin ergonomics and engine refinement. Other reviews have criticised reflections off the back strut in the rear window.
The 350Z has been recognized including the following:
*Japanese Performance Car of the Year 2007 ''TopSpeed Magazine''
*10 Best Cars 2003 ''
Car and Driver
''Car and Driver'' (''CD'' or ''C/D'') is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. In 2006 its total circulation was 1.23 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011. It was fou ...
''
*Most Significant Vehicle of the Year. Two years running ''
Edmunds.com
Edmunds.com Inc. (stylized as edmunds) is an American online resource for automotive inventory and information, including expert car reviews based on testing at the company's private facility. The company is headquartered in Santa Monica, Califor ...
''
*Editors' Most Wanted 2003 ''
Edmunds.com
Edmunds.com Inc. (stylized as edmunds) is an American online resource for automotive inventory and information, including expert car reviews based on testing at the company's private facility. The company is headquartered in Santa Monica, Califor ...
''
*International Car of the Year: Most Sex Appeal Award 2003 ''Road and Travel''
*Canadian Car of the Year 2003 ''Automobile Journalists Association of Canada''
*Best New Design 2003 ''Automobile Journalists Association of Canada''
*Driver's Choice Best Performance Car 2003 ''
MotorWeek
''MotorWeek'' is an automotive news and information program focused on car road tests, previews, and maintenance tips. The program is produced by Maryland Public Television for PBS and also airs on the commercial cable/satellite channel MAVTV.
...
''
*Winner 12 Best Cars Under 30K ''
Road & Track
''Road & Track'' (stylized as ''R&T'') is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. It is owned by Hearst Magazines and is published 6 times per year. The editorial offices are located in New York, New York.
History
''Road & Track'' (often ab ...
''
*Car of the Year 2004 ''
Top Gear Magazine
''Top Gear'' is a British automobile magazine, owned by BBC Worldwide, and published under contract by Immediate Media Company. It is named after the BBC's ''Top Gear'' television show. It was first published in October 1993 and is published m ...
''
*Automobile of the Year 2003
''Automobile'' Magazine
In other media
*Cover of ''
Need for Speed: Underground 2'', and the car owned by Rachel Teller in the game
*Cover of ''
Forza Motorsport 2
''Forza Motorsport 2'' is a 2007 simulation racing video game developed by Turn 10 Studios for the Xbox 360 console. It is the second title in the '' Forza'' series, and is the sequel to the original '' Forza Motorsport'' (2005) and was followed ...
'' (and shared cover of ''
Forza Motorsport
''Forza Motorsport'' is a 2005 simulation racing video game developed by Turn 10 Studios and published by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox gaming system. The word ''Forza'' is Italian for strength. The game is the first installment in the ...
'')
*Poster of ''
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift''
*Car owned by Ana Rivera in ''
Need For Speed Heat''
Safety record
The 350Z came with front air bags in standard and supplemental side air bags and curtain air bags as an option. It won a NHTSA 5-star safety rating for front and side impact on the driver's side. With 143 deaths per million registrations, the two-door 350Z has been one of the least safe 2005–2008 model cars in the United States.
See also
*
List of Nissan vehicles
Nissan has designed, assembled and/or sold the following vehicles. The main markets column are meant to roughly show which region the vehicle is targeted to, and where roughly the car is currently being on sale. It might not accurately show the ...
*
Nissan VQ engine
The VQ is a family of V6 24V automobile engines developed by Nissan with displacements varying from 2.0 L to 4.0 L. It is an aluminum block DOHC 4-valve (per cylinder) design with aluminum heads. It is fitted with Nissan's EGI/ECCS s ...
*
Nissan Z-car
The Nissan Z-series is a model series of sports cars manufactured by Nissan in seven generations since 1969.
The original Z was sold in October of 1969 in Japan as the at Nissan Exhibition dealerships that previously sold the Nissan Bluebird ...
References
Notes
External links
*Nissan Japan pages
2002-20072007-2008Nissan 350Z Official US SiteNissan 350Z Official UK SiteNissan 350Z Official Australia Site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nissan 350z
350Z
Sports cars
Coupés
Roadsters
Police vehicles
Rear-wheel-drive vehicles
Cars introduced in 2002