102 July 2013 www.bahrainthismonth.com DAVID M. ROBERTSON Model Nissan 370Z Model year 2014 Engine 3.7-litre V6 Displacement 1,197cc Horsepower 332 hp Torque 365 Nm Transmission seven-speed automatic Transmission seven-speed automatic Top speed 260 km/h Bahrain This Month has a go in the latest incarnation of Nissan’s ‘muscle car’, the excellent 370Z. In the beginning, there was the Nissan 240Z (also known as the Datsun 240Z), produced in 1969. This was the model that was to spark a long line of hugely popular ‘Z’ cars from Nissan. Now something of an icon and a collector’s item, you can still spot the occasional one of these being driven round Bahrain by proud owners. This was followed by the 280ZX, the 300ZX (Z31), and the 300ZX (Z32), but unfortunately at this stage, the rising price of the Japanese yen and market trends killed the profitability of these great cars and, in 1996, international sales of the 300ZX ceased. Then came the partnership between Nissan and Renault, and a firm commitment to re-launching the ‘Z’. This gave birth to the hugely successful 350Z in 2002, which is the genetic predecessor to the 370Z you see today. While the 370Z shares much of the DNA of the 350Z, there have been significant design changes to it, including the front and rear headlights, the more pronounced wheel arches and a shorter and yet wider wheelbase. It is also lighter and has a lower drag coefficient, all improving handling and performance. Unlike the 350Z, instead of Nissan’s 3.5-litre V6 that is featured widely in the Nissan range in cars like the Altima and Pathfinder, the 370Z gets their 3.7-litre V6, as featured more prominently in the Infiniti range, as well as in former versions of the Skyline. In the 370Z, it has been tuned to produce 332hp and 365Nm of torque, which is 32hp more than the 350Z. So, enough facts and figures — how does this all translate to the driving experience? The coupé model we drove was the seven-speed automatic with paddle shifters, and we can tell you that after several hours spent barrelling along the desert roads of Sakhir, the experience was fantastic. These roads are twisty, bumpy, hilly and full of potholes, requiring a high level of concentration and nimble handling if you don’t want to shatter your alloy wheel on an unexpected crater. However, the 370Z makes a drive like this pure enjoyment. Mount a crest, and hit the brakes and shift down for a sudden curve, and the balance and grip of the car have you powering through without drama. At one point I hit a particularly bumpy patch of road in a long, quick corner, yet the coupé soaked it all up with only minimal input from my side — just a quick shimmy on the wheel and a slightly raised heart rate, and we were back in business. The 370Z comes in four options — the automatic coupé and roadster, and the same two manual options. All have the same well-appointed interiors — you get an eight-speaker BOSE stereo system with CD and MP3, controlled through a touchscreen driver interface on the dash. You get leather seats, Nissan’s intelligent keyless entry and start keyring, and so on. And yes, you heard right, they have MANUAL models available for sale. And the best part — they’re almost TWO GRAND cheaper! Y.K. Almoayyed & Sons is the exclusive distributor for Nissan in the Kingdom. E Call 17 732-732. motoringwheels The Power of ‘Z’
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