NISSAN 370Z AT

Nissan had acquired the DAT Motocar Co in 1933 and renamed it Datsun, the carswere sold under the Datsun brand name until 1986 when Nissan thought of phasing out the brand and got all the Datsun designed cars under the Nissan brand. We are telling you this because the car we have tested also comes from the same Datsun era. Datsun was famous for its sports cars and one of the most famous of the lot was the Fairlady roadster which later Nissan sold as the 240z coupes. Interestingly the Nissan Z series is still sold as Fairlady in Japan. The current Z series is the 370Zwhich is the latest 6th generation avatar from the sports car Z series after the much famous 350Z. Now let’s get the facts correct, Nissan India launched the 370Z in India some time back and we drove the 2 door sports coupe over a few days to get under its skin and try to understand why the Nissan 370Z AT is rated as one of the best front engine sports cars to drive in recent times. As compared to the 350Z, the 370Z has a 100mm shorter wheelbase and is also 69mm shorter than its predecessor. While the overall width is increased by 33mm the rear track also goes up by 56mm. The Nissan 370Z AT has its height reduced by 7.6mm. Nissan engineers claim that this revamp in dimensions along with the usage of lighter materials actually help reduce a lot of weight on the 370Z, we will speak of this in detail a bit later.

Nissan 370Z AT Exteriors

From the moment you look at the Nissan 370Z AT, there is no way you can move away your eyes from it, the shape and design of this car can easily slay every other car on the Indian road. Well that’s a very easy way in describing how brilliantly the Nissan 370Z AT is shaped on the outside. Boomerang shaped Bi-Xenon HID headlamps offer a lot of intimidating look upfront. A very sharp bumper which is low slung has the air dams under, round and long bonnet reminds you of the 70s Datsun 240Z. Even the flipped up quarter windows and the longish hood bring back the Datsun 240Z memories to your mind. This being a sports coupe has two doors on which the door handles are made of alluminium and fitted vertically. The roofline has a big slope that goes down till the tail and meets the boomerang LED tail lamp that look astonishing from any angle. Turn indicators on the side fenders have the trademark Z logo inscribed on them. The wheel arches have huge flares/bulge on them adding to the muscular look to the Nissan 370Z AT. From any angle you view the 370Z it looks handsome. The rear boot spoiler adds to the sportiness and also increases the aerodynamics of the car at high speeds. The front and the rear windshield are at an angle to meet the slopping roof, the rear glass being at a very sharp angle. Huge 19 inches chrome alloy wheels with 245 rating tires upfront and 275 rating tires at the rear give the 370Z a super duper road presence.

Nissan 370Z AT Interiors

Get inside this coupe and everything is in the shade of black, from the soft rubber material dash to the semi leather seats to door pads. The dash is composed with a huge rev-meter on the left which goes up till 9000 rpm and with a nice little speedo meter that is rated till 280 kmph, MID sites to the left of the RPM meter which houses the fuel gauge and other tell-tales and warning lights.

A 3-pod instrument panel sits handsomely right on centre of the dash which has the clock, Amp meter and the engine oil temp gauge. This set of meters are angled towards the driver to make visibility clear. The steering is a 3 spoke affair with buttons to set the cruise control and audio functions plunked on it. The center console bears the high quality BOSE music system along with the climate control.

The auto gear changer has a short stick going with the sportiness the Nissan 370Z AT is also available in an 6-speed manual avatar. A utility box with its door opening upwards is seen just above the Bose system and the US version of the 370Z have the GPS placed in here. Brushed alluminium inserts are abundant on the centre console and everywhere neatly matching with the black interiors.

The seats are one of the best with a capital B we have seen till date, seating height is near ground level as with all sports cars. The best thing here is that the seats kind of engulf you and you begin to feel that you are a part of the car, this makes you feel very comfortable at high speeds and we mean 200+ kmph. Visibility upfront from the driver’s seat is at the road level due to the low seating. The drivers seat has manual height adjust while the reach and backrest adjust is electrical, seats on the passenger side doesn’t have the height adjust while the back and reach is electrically adjustable.

While the wing mirrors offer perfect rear view, the centre mirror is a tad small and does not have the auto-dimming option and has to be set manually when glare from a high beam of a car behind you. Cabin space is enough for a 2 door sports car, remember this isn’t a luxury saloon. Over all the quality and fit-finish inside is good, things work as they are meant to and no real complains except the small rearview mirror that doesn’t even have the auto dimmer.

Nissan 370Z AT Engine – Suspension - Drive

This is the most beautiful bit on the Nissan 370Z AT, stashed away under the bonnet is a 3700cc V6 which is a 24valve DOCH engine code named VQ37VHR. This mighty heart of the 370Z manages to produce 333BHP 7000RPM and a max torque of 362Nm 5200RPM.

It’s a very healthy motor, this naturally aspirated motor (non turbo) is mighty impressive, push the engine start button and the V6 engine roar is very evident. Rev the throttle and the roar starts sounding more angrily. The 370Z feels very eager to be pushed hard right from the word go, we managed speed figures of 0-60kmph in 3.40 seconds and 0-100 kmph in 5.40 seconds, now that’s pretty fast.

The car we drove was the Automatic version with the 7 speed auto transmission, a 6 speed manual 370Z is also available. The huge paddle shift behind the steering is well designed and down shifting or up shifting via the paddles was a pleasure. This is a super high rev friendly engine which going flat out will rarely give you a chance to complain. There is a never ending torque in the engine which propels the 370Z at breath taking speeds.

At low speeds the auto gear box isn’t very comfortable which is understood as it is designed for high speeds. As we mentioned this is a naturally aspirated engine which doesn’t relay on a turbo hence the grunt is very much there all the time which kind of intoxicates you. Overtaking is as easy as adding 1+1for the Nissan 370Z AT, blip down a gear and tap the paddle and before you even wink the car you had planned to over take will blur out in the rear view mirror.

We recorded the over take timings on the 370Z and they were very impressive, 20kmph-80kmph in 4.06seconds while 40-100kmph in an impressive 5.02 seconds. The Nissan 370Z AT is a very lively little car, as it is rear wheel drive, you can have fun with it and get it to move its back out like a rattle snake as and when you want it to. You need to drive this car with a very steady hand and a relaxed mind, this is a fun car to drive but needs to be driven very maturely.

The alluminium panels used to build the car and the weight reduction helps it to shoot like a bullet. The new double wishbone suspension pitches in to attack corners aided by the short wheelbase and the multi-link rear suspension which soaks up all the bad roads and uneven surface. The steering feels nice and has a heavy feedback just what you need from a sports car. This steering is well able to help you corner the Nissan 370Z AT convincingly and the rear sometimes steps out which can be fun at times. The massive 245 rated front and 275 rated rear Bridgestone tires grip the tarmac like vacuum pumps and offer a well planed drive for this high speed car. Brakes are the most important part of any car and this is a high speed one, the ABS and EBD assisted all disc set up work relentlessly to bring this fast car to a safe and sure stop. The ride is on the harder side remember this is not a Luxury saloon and sports cars are meant to be like this, on smooth roads the drive is very well balanced and you can actually hear the tires roll which adds to the fun.

Verdict

If you are looking for a car for fuel efficiency then this is not the one for you, this is a car which is fun to drive, it is seriously fast and will make you enjoy the way it behaves. It has got the look, it has got the punch and a very willing engine. Handling is mighty impressive so is the drive and cornering. Looks and design are 10/10, Nissan has even priced it at a very attractive Rs. 54.50 lakhs for the 7speed automatic 370Z which is well below the German rivals from BMW Z4, Audi TT and Mercedes SLK. The Nissan 370Z AT may have a less brand value as compared to the Germans but it sure is an awesome set of sporty wheels which can bring out the Michael Schumacher in you.

General Specifications
Country of origin	Japan
Introduced	2009

Engine
Configuration	VQ37VHR 90º V 6
Location	Front, longitudinally mounted
Construction	Aluminium block and head
Displacement	3.7 liter / 225.8 cu in
Bore / Stroke	95.5 mm (3.8 in) / 86.0 mm (3.4 in)
Compression	11.0:1
Valvetrain	4 valves / cylinder, DOHC
Fuel feed	Fuel Injection
Aspiration	Naturally Aspirated

Drivetrain
Chassis/body	unitary steel
Front suspension	double wishbones, coil springs, twin-tube shock absorbers, anti-roll bar
Rear suspension	Multi-link, coil springs, twin-tube shock absorbers, anti-roll bar
Steering	rack-and-pinion, power assisted, speed sensitive
Brakes	ventilated discs, all-round, ABS
Gearbox	7 speed Automatic/6 speed manual
Drive	Rear wheel drive

Dimensions
Weight	1543 kgs
Length / Width / Height	4234 mm (166.7 in) / N/A / N/A
Wheelbase / Track (fr/r)	2550 mm (100.4 in) / N/A / N/A

Performance figures
Power	333 bhp / 248 KW @ 7000 rpm
Torque	366 Nm / 270 ft lbs @ 5200 rpm
BHP/Liter	90 bhp / liter
Power to weight	0.22 bhp / kg

PALANQUIN ON WHEELS

The royal Bufori La Joya casts a modern-day spell on a vintage-looking coach. We explore this extraordinary piece of Malaysian craftsmanship.

What would exclusivity mean to someone who has enough money to buy, say, 100 Nanos, wants to own something that is probably the only one in the town, looks classically vintage yet runs like a modern-day car? If you ask the Indian market, there isn't an answer so far. The scenario is set to change, though, with Bufori making an entry soon. Based in Malaysia, Bufori is a brand less heard of in the automotive industry and the founder is responsible for this. Gerry Khouri of Australian origin started building cars in his garage, which later turned into a full-time car manufacturing business. However, he preferred to keep both the production and profile low, keeping in mind the promise of exclusivity and top-notch customisation. Today each car that is manufactured by Bufori takes close to 500 man-hours of hand-crafting and that itself tells us how the company's philosophy is being put into practice.

When Twice Group of Chennai gave me a call and asked me to have a feel of the La Joya, Bufori's first offering that would land on the Indian shores, I was more than just looking forward to getting into this piece of beauty. Certainly, looking at the pictures doesn't do justice to the kind of presence this car has on road. It's huge, but with contours that flow smoothly. The bulbous front wheel arches with headlamps mounted on them, flow downwards as you move towards the rear and suddenly change the line of curve to form the rear arches. The classic old design of the 1930s and '40s oozes from every detail of the car. The rear of the car, however, didn't suit my personal taste with the boot lid sweeping low and elongated. The front bonnet opens like gullwings and, much to one's surprise, has a tool-kit on one side and a six-CD changer on the other. With a fine stainless steel mesh grille at the front and some more steel laid out on the bumpers, there is no denying this car looks vintage.

However, make no mistake, though it looks vintage, the technology and material that go into the making of this car are nothing short of modern. The complete bodywork comes from carbon-kevlar composite material. The engine is a V6 and the driver gets aids like ABS, EBD, airbags and automatic transmission etc. Inside the cabin, there is some confusion with 24-karat gold plated bezels of the clocks lending vintage feel and the four-spoke leather-wood steering wheel, electronic buttons for window panes and seat adjustment and such other bits giving it a modern-day look.

The La Joya engine is encased right behind the seats in a completely soundproof space. The car that I got to drive was the one brought in for homologation purposes and thus came with an outgoing engine, a 2.7-litre V6 borrowed from Hyundai. However, the car that the customers will pay for will be powered by a 3.3-litre V6. A car of vintage looks is not expected to do blisteringly quick zero-to-100 sprints and, hence, instead of concentrating on how fast the two-tonner could gather speed, I was more keen on how well it rode. The suspension is on the softer side as expected and provides a comfortable ride without making it feel like a huge floating boat. The steering was a mite lighter than I expected, but good for manoeuvring within the city.

So, what is the cost of this beautiful piece of automobile craft? The exact tag is yet to be known, but expect an approximate price of Rs 1.5 crore (ex-showroom) for the basic car. Now the question is, apart from a vintage looking car with contemporary technology, what else do you get? Complete customisation is the answer. Once you decide to buy a Bufori, the delivery time is about six months. The first thing the company does after you book your car is take you to their manufacturing facility in Malaysia, where your body measurements are taken for tailor-made customisation of seats and cabin. Thereafter, you are given the option of choosing every bit of the cosmetics - from the leather, its colour, wood inserts to the stitching thread and its pattern, exterior colours, the style of the emblem (you can get one studded with Swarovski crystals too) and what not! You can even put your own signature engraved on a metal plate in the car to mark your exclusive ownership. After that, the car takes about three months to be hand-built. The transport, import and other formalities take some more time before you get the leather-clad key of your own Bufori.

Sounds like a big deal, doesn't it? It is. The company plans to sell about eight to ten cars to start with in the first year and then grow gradually. Twice Group, the sole distributor for the Bufori cars, promises service backup for the cars across the country. Based on the response for the La Joya, the company will also bring in the Geneva later in 2012, which is a four-seater, six-litre machine. Until then, let's wish Bufori the very best for their advent in India!

Source: Car India