2004 Nissan 350Z

Sometimes there's more to automotive life than mere sales numbers. One needs look no further than Nissan's iconic Z car for proof. Its departure from the U.S. market in 1996 had, at best, modest impact on the automaker's revenues. The rather gaping conceptual hole it left in the lineup was a different matter altogether. Thankfully, that palpable void has been filled with the introduction of the 350Z. The 350Z, in coupe or roadster guise, has rolled onto the scene with all of the necessary elements to write its own illustrious chapter in what already stands as a legendary saga.

Modern design and performance combined with the spirit of the seminal 240Z has catapulted the 350Z to the head of the sports car pack.

When it last graced our shores, the then-300Z was fighting a losing battle to price escalation, segment decimation and upcoming side-impact regulation. Nissan's precipitous financial situation at the time made a viable business case impossible for what was easily its most interesting offering. Since then, that situation has undergone a dramatic about-face. Today, Nissan not only boasts a far healthier bottom line, but a product portfolio that's the envy of the industry. Recasting the Z car for the fifth time allowed it to effectively deal with all of the issues that conspired against its predecessor. What emerged is a unique package that combines the spirit of the seminal 240Z with modern design and styling elements destined to catapult the new 350Z back to the forefront of the sports car universe.


Intent on retaining fundamental "Z DNA" in both appearance and mechanical makeup, the 350Z development team worked diligently to ensure a proper fusion of cues in its design brief. The result is a dramatically styled front-engine/rear-drive two-seater powered by a potent six-cylinder engine and boasting an exceptional dynamic handling envelope. Although buyers can still fine-tune the new 350Z to their personal tastes by opting for anything from the Base version on up through Enthusiast, Performance, Touring or Track trim levels, all share the same core components and the same born-to-run resolve.

This brash performer boasts a blatantly aggressive posture that suitably complements its equally scintillating performance.

Visually, the long-nose/short-deck hatchback configuration introduced on the original 240Z carries over to the new car, as does the triangular-shaped cabin. However, the 350Z takes a far different path when it comes to the details. Bolder front/rear fascia treatments, a higher beltline, a relatively longer (104.3-inch) wheelbase, wider (60.4-inch/60.8-inch front/rear) track dimensions and even shorter overhangs endow this brash newcomer with a blatantly aggressive posture that suitably complements its equally scintillating performance. Where some find the interplay of contours and angles in its sheetmetal suitably futuristic, others see it as a bit contrived. The only common denominator is that no one is neutral when it comes to the 350Z's looks.


Inside, this high-profiling approach continues. Here too, there are a handful of stylized touches that, frankly, do more to enhance appearances than functionality. On the upside, a solid ergonomic foundation starts with comfortable, supportive seats, a steering wheel and instrument pod that adjust for tilt as one unit to ensure the highly legible gauges remain so at all times, and well-placed pedals—drilled aluminum in all but the base-level 350Z. While the reprise of a tri-binnacle readout (multi-meter/oil pressure/voltage) in the 350Z's central upper dash works well, mounting the tach rather than the speedometer in the center of the main instrument cluster is clear affectation—and the awkward positioning of various storage bins and compartments smacks of overt afterthought rather than enlightened design. Aesthetic considerations aside, the car's fairly wide C-pillars and flowing back glass also impact the quality of side and rear views. Thankfully, all of these negative nits quickly fade into deep background about two seconds after you turn the ignition key.