2010 Nissan 370Z Convertible & 370Z Nismo Edition - The Z-car Lineup is Now Complete
First Drive
370Z NISMO EDITION
Too often OEMs will add a special badge to a car and call it tuned or track ready, when in reality it’s a simple marketing ploy with some new body panels, bigger wheels and a large spoiler—hardly anything that improves performance. The Nismo 370Z has broken that stereotype and provides a large improvement in all areas of performance over the standard 370Z. It’s so well done that I think it’s arguably the best Z ever produced.
However, that comes at a cost of nearly $40,000. Is it worth it? For the enthusiast, you bet. Thanks to a recalibrated ECU and H-pipe configured exhaust, an additional 18 hp (350 hp in total) is extracted over the standard VQ37VHR. While it might not sound like a lot, the sensation says otherwise. The Z screams to redline with utter urgency—I just wish you could hear it roar. The Nismo exhaust, although enhanced for power, wasn’t enhanced with a proper exhaust note, which it desperately needs.
With a recalibrated ECU and a better-flowing exhaust, the Nismo version of the VQ37VHR put
Thankfully, you’ll be more occupied with the road ahead than the noise from out back, thanks to razor-sharp handling that’s accomplished by all-new suspension components. Stiffer sway bars—15 percent up front, 50 percent in the rear and increased damping in the shocks, as well as stiffer spring rates, all work in unison to increase overall roll stiffness by 15 percent. The numbers may not mean much to you, but once you drive the Nismo Z its immediate feedback, precise turn-in and neutral feeling speak louder than any statistics can. At speed, it’s an incredibly composed and well sorted car. Push harder, and unlike other vehicles, it obeys and responds favorably. But don’t expect a comfy ride—all this handling prowess comes at a cost; let’s just say your kidneys won’t be happy.
We mustn’t overlook the menacing exterior, which has received an unmistakable aero kit that happens to look as good as it works, reducing aerodynamic drag and creating an additional 150 lbs of downforce at 75 mph over the conventional Z. Add 19-inch forged RAYS wheels shod with some meaty Advan Sport tires and the entire package intimidates as much as it pleases. Looks aren’t what really make the Nismo 370Z a grand slam hit. It’s how hardcore the vehicle really is, a true sports car in every sense. The masses may hate it, but for us enthusiasts, we wish every car was built this way—just begging to be driven harder and harder.