First Drive: 370z Driving Impressions
So the LA Auto Show is about to hit and you’re all wondering how great the new 370Z is right? We have received a review from someone lucky enough to have driven the car. Under orders not to reveal our source we’re publishing his impressions anyway.
First Impressions
There is a great force behind the visuals of the new Fairlady Z when you see it in the flesh. Something you can’t see in photographs. Something powerful and even sexy. The wide rear flared guards particularly are something the current model Z33 cannot match. The overall length has shrunk but this just makes the car look wider and consequently, bigger than it’s predecessor. When you look at this car, these visual cues evoke a feeling of solidity.
As for the styling of the new Z, it may not be easy for the generation of us who still have fond memories of the 260z to accept but… is there a hint of that history shining through? If you look from the front, surely the silhouette looks as though they have taken the body of the S30 and modified it to give a contemporary look?
Those feelings leave you quickly though once you sit in the cockpit and that’s a good thing. The steering wheel and shift lever have a great tactile feel that is superior to their predecessors. In a nutshell we’d say the texture and feel overall of the cabin is improved.
Now to driving the car and the first thing that strikes is the response of the 370z’s 3.7 litre V6 VVEL engine. While this is the same powerplant as in the Skyline/G37 Coupe it appears more polished, sporty and could it be even more torquey? This VQ is an engine that just keeps getting better year on year, it makes me stop to wonder how they can possibly keep improving it in years to come.
When describing the handling I want to reach for the words “sharp” and “light”. After all, shortening the wheelbase by 100mm should have that effect. However the nimbleness in the turns isn’t as marked as expected, it is satisfying to feel however that sense of solidity comes again when you put your foot down. An overwhelming feeling of being planted on the road can be felt at all times. I’d like to see how this car handled itself on the Hakone Skyline.
Finally we get to one of the best innovations in the new Z, the 6 speed manual transmission with Downshift Rev Matching (DRM). This thing is a revolution, it makes heel and toeing practically obsolete and allows the driver to focus on steering and braking. This makes it too easy on the circuit and something we hadn’t thought of ourselves. This brings to mind a comparison with the dual clutch gearbox in the new GT-R and a thought that this is a great middle ground in between that and a conventional manual.
Interesting indeed, personally my first drive can’t come soon enough!
Translation: 370zblog.com
Related posts: