Nissan 350Z

A real sports car, the Nissan 350Z remains affordable. The model was launched in 2002, with another remake is planned in late 2009. The recent engine remake, though much rumored, brings little improvement.

Even if Nissan said proudly that the powerplant was “over 80 percent new or revised”, only 6 hp are added, to a total of 306. Torque is the same value of 286 lb-ft, only spread over a wider band. So what has Nissan brought new ? The V6 engine of the 350Z has a new block, cylinder heads, connecting rods, pistons and intake. The intake and exhaust cams are now both much straighter, for better and smoother airflow.

However, most of the additions to the 350Z bring not that much engine boost as consumption issues, as that seems to be priority number one for car producers nowadays. So the 350Z now eats only less by 1 mpg in city (meaning 20 mpg) and 2 mpg on the highway (27 mpg), this being the manual transmission model. The automatic goes up to 19 mpg city and 26 highway. Tires are now Bridgestone Potenza RE050A, as the former models on the previous Z aroused a complaint or two. Wheels remain 18-inch, only the Touring Coupe model benefits from 19-inch in the back. Speed is not extraordinary, for a sports car, still pretty fast, the 350Z going to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds



source: globalcarfans.com/index.php/archives/111