2007 Nissan NISMO 350Z

Back in the 1970’s and 80’s when Nissan was still known as Datsun, the Japanese company sought to differentiate themselves in the North American market from other imports such as Honda and Toyota. They figured that the best way to achieve this was by adopting a sports-oriented image, and the result were the first Z cars – specifically the 240Z and 280Z. These small, fun to drive and reasonably quick cars caught the public imagination and became strong sellers for Datsun. As the years moved on and Datsun transformed in Nissan, some of the magic seemed to evaporate from the Z lineup. The last car to bear the moniker before a substantial hiatus, the 300ZX of the early 90’s, was indeed a powerful car but also a vehicle which had grown much heavier and did not have much in common with its ancestors.

Nissan took some time to re-think their approach to the sports car market and in 2002 introduced the 350Z. Still large but bearing several different suspension and engine options destined for track use, the 350Z immediately leapt into the hearts and onto the best car lists of almost every automotive critic. With 300 horsepower and 260 lb-feet of torque, the 350Z was able to hold its own in the stoplight grand prix as well as on local tracks all over the world.

For 2007, Nissan decided to get their performance division involved in the act and created the 2007 Nissan NISMO 350Z. NISMO, or ‘Nissan Motorsports International’ is the title of Nissan’s in-house tuner and modification group, and they were put to work refining, redesigning and re-styling the base 350Z. The end result is a vehicle which wouldn’t look out of place on the front cover of a Playstation racing game. One of the primary facets of the NISMO treatment was a significant alteration of the vehicle’s aerodynamic package. As a result, the NISMO 350Z is visually striking. A double-decker wing graces the sloping rear deck, complimenting the rear air diffuser that carves a rectangular hole out of the car’s curvaceous hind-quarters. The sides of the car bear skirts at the rocker panels, and the front of the vehicle displays an aggressive flat spoiler that juts out from the lower lip of the car. The spoiler is complimented by enlarged air openings in the bumper and a more aerodynamic treatment applied liberally to the front of the car.

The engine remains the same, Nissan’s 3.5 liter VQ engine that now produces 306 horsepower and 268 lb-feet of torque. Unlike the standard 305Z, however, no paddle-shifted automatic transmission is available, and a 6 speed manual is the only option. The car sits lower than stock, and special lightweight 18 inch wheels are provided by Ray’s, the aftermarket parts company. The chassis has also been tweaked and strengthened, with extra braces and dampers installed at key points of the frame to prevent flex and absorb vibrations. The Brembo brake package, with 4 pistons at the front wheels and 2 at the rear is the same as the standard Z car, as is the limited-slip differential, but a NISMO exhaust graces the underside of the car to provide more aural feedback to the driver. The interior of the car bears several small touches specific to the NISMO edition, such as track-oriented gauges and special seats.

Nissan plans to import only 1500 2007 Nissan NISMO 350Z’s to North America, and it is easy to see why they have chosen to limit the number. The NISMO 350Z is striking and an excellent track performer, but the styling is definitely not for everyone. Nissan knows that there will always be a market for over-the-top track cars, and it is this segment that they hope to tap with the NISMO 350Z.






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May 18, 2008, 6:08 am