2006 Nissan 350Z Track

When it comes to having bellowing V8 power, it seems like the only ones that engrossed with it are American car companies, and more recently the German ones. But half a world away, Japan Inc. has steadfastly developed its four- and six-cylinder sports cars into winners. As proof, witness the original Acura NSX, several generations of Toyota MR2s, the Honda S2000, three generations of Mazda MX-5 Miatas, and Nissan's 350Z, spiritual descendent of the original 240Z.

Design

When the V6-powered Nissan 350Z came out in 2002, it looked as muscular and sexy as all get-out, and more importantly it was a pure sports car. The Corvette and Mustang may be married to big honking V8s forever, but if Porsche can enjoy a run of over 40 years with six-cylinder sports cars (except one under-appreciated effort with the 928 V8), so can Nissan. We recently sampled the 350Z Track on a real live racetrack and found that it's highly accomplished and fun to drive.


First there is its size. At just over 14 feet long and scarcely over four feet high, with a five-foot wide track, it's proportioned just right for performance duty. And its front-engine/rear-drive powertrain is what most enthusiasts consider the preferred layout for street performance. Then there is the unmistakable 350Z shape. Unlike some of the more pedestrian car designs out there, the 350Z is as bullish as a Pamplona stampede. With a cabin shape reminiscent of the Porsche 911, and a bulldog front end and bunched up hindquarters, it looks all business.


Under-hood lives a smooth 3.5-liter DOHC all-aluminum V6 twisting out 300 hp at 6,400 rpm. Given the 350Z's 3,400-lb. curb weight, that's a weight-to-power ratio of 11.3:1—in the same league as the sporty Porsche Boxster S and Subaru WRX STI. Its 260 lb.-ft. of torque arrives at 4,800 rpm, but thanks to CVTCS, Nissan's continuously variable valve-timing system, the powerband is actually very flexible, pulling well down low as well as screaming to its 6,250-rpm redline, where a red light flashes a warning.

Cockpit

Though the short-throw shifter is direct and the six ratios are well suited for performance driving, we found the shift action stiff. In fairness though, our test car was almost new and perhaps the effort will lessen as miles accumulate. Regardless, the drilled-aluminum pedals return a significant bit of fun because they're ideally placed for heel-and-toe operation.