Nissan 350Z

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Information about Nissan 350Z

The Nissan 350Z is a two seat sports car that was manufactured by Nissan Motor Co, LTD. The 350Z is the fifth generation of Nissan's Z-car line, originally introduced in 1969 (43 years ago) (as a 1970 (42 years ago) model year) as the Datsun 240Z. The 350Z entered production in late 2002 (10 years ago) and was sold and marketed as a 2003 (9 years ago) model. It was available in several trim packages and is sold as both a coupé and roadster before being succeeded by the 370Z for the 2009 (3 years ago) model year.

History

After the Nissan 300ZX was withdrawn from the U.S. market in 1996 (16 years ago), Nissan initially tried to keep the Z name alive by re-creating the 240Z the following year. The car was conceived by Nissan's North American design team in their free time, and the concept was introduced in a four state Road Show in Jul. 1998 (14 years ago) to various car media, dealers and employees. Yutaka Katayama, regarded as the "Father of the Z" unveiled the Z concept sketch to the public when he received a motor industry award. The design, representing a modern vision of the 240Z, did not please the original 240Z designer Yoshihiko Matsuo, who compared it to the Bluebird and Leopard.

The 240Z concept was produced for the Detroit Motor Show for the following January. Nissan was unhappy with the first design as they felt the original 200 bhp (149 kW; 203 PS) 2.4 L engine known as the KA24DE that was going to be assigned made the car feel underpowered, they also felt the car was considered too "retro" or too "backward" resembling a futuristic 240Z; thus, a redesign was commissioned. During a press conference in Feb. 2000 (12 years ago), president Carlos Ghosn announced plans to produce the car as he felt the new model would help to assist the company's recovery.

Z Concept was unveiled in Detroit Motor Show two years later, which was similar in body shape but with a new front end. The car then underwent a minor redesign and was eventually assigned the VQ35DE engine, hence becoming known as the 350Z. The car would break its tradition of being of the first Z not to be produced at the Shatai plant.

Awards

The 350Z has been given extensive coverage in the automotive press, and has obtained generally positive reviews. Eddie Alterman, senior editor of Automobile Magazine, said of the 350Z "An outstanding performance value. They got all the important stuff right." While David Swigg of Motor Trend said "With a competent driver at the wheel and the traction control switched off, many Boxster drivers would be hard-pressed to post better lap times than with this Z." However, Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear had mostly negative things to say about the car, giving it a C- or three points out of ten and referring to it as that Datsun with a Renault engine, despite the engine being a Nissan design begun in the early 1990 (22 years ago). Despite Clarkson's harsh criticism, Top Gear magazine later awarded the Nissan Designers with 2004 (8 years ago) Top Gear Magazine Car of the year award.

Automotive journalists tend to praise such features as the 350Z's value, performance, handling, and braking. Criticisms tend to be directed towards the grade of interior plastics, greater curb weight than its competitors, cabin ergonomics and engine refinement. Other reviews have criticised reflections of the back strut in the rear windows.

At present, the 350Z has won over 40 international awards from various media and industry sources.

Japanese Performance Car of the Year 2007 (5 years ago) TopSpeed Magazine
10 Best Cars 2003 (9 years ago) Car and Driver Magazine
Most Significant Vehicle of the Year. Two years running Edmunds.com
Editors' Most Wanted 2003 (9 years ago) Edmunds.com
International Car of the Year: Most Sex Appeal Award 2003 (9 years ago) Road and Travel Magazine
Canadian Car of the Year 2003 (9 years ago) Automobile Journalists Association of Canada
Best New Design 2003 (9 years ago) Automobile Journalists Association of Canada
Driver's Choice Best Performance Car 2003 (9 years ago) MotorWeek TV
Winner 12 Best Cars Under 30K Road & Track Magazine
Car of the Year 2004 (8 years ago) Top Gear Magazine

Source: en.wikipedia.org

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