Japan's drift culture reflected in Nissan 370Z coupe

While the Japanese automotive industry is renowned as an pioneer of small city cars and reliable, affordable motoring, there is no doubting that it has a darker, much more performance oriented underbelly.

Cars like the Mitsubishi Evo, Subaru Impreza, Honda S2000 and, of course, Nissan’s Z cars, Skylines and (more recently) GT-R encapsulate a Japanese obsession with power and speed.

And the only thing that the Japanese petrolhead likes more than a car that can go fast is a car that can go fast sideways.

Driver focussed coupe with hooligan undertones

If ever a car felt capable of hanging loose in the corners it is Nissan’s new 370Z.

More tightly controlled yet more agile than its 350Z predecessor, thanks in part to a 100mm shorter wheelbase, 33mm wider track and 10mm lower stance, it maintains the previous Z’s muscular approach to deploying power.

Sat behind a long bonnet, driver and passenger are positioned over the rear wheels, within the cars bulging haunches.

A pair of heated sports seats are comfortable and supportive and are clad in Alcantara and leather while an integrated Sat-Nav system, array of dash-top dials and a prominent centrally positioned rev-counter heightens the sense that this is a driver focussed cockpit.

Only the use of faux aluminium for the door pulls and gear-lever surround cheapen an otherwise accommodating and classy interior.

The rearward driving position puts the driver at the centre of the action in a car that revels in its front-engined, rear-wheel-drive layout.

It’s the perfect place to meter out the grip offered by those 275mm wide rear tyres, putting any wannabe drifter at the heart of the action.

State-of-the-art gearbox technology creates a quick-shifting hero

There is brand new technology to be found within the 370Z package but there’s also a sense—as with the 350Z—that it’s something of an old-school hooligan in the muscle car mould.

The all-of-a-piece muscularity of its panels communicate this brawn while stylish new light clusters use a distinctive arrow head shape.

From behind the wheel a weighty, deliberate feel pervades throughout the steering, brakes and a heavy, slightly long-of-throw, six-speed gearbox.

There’s a structural and mechanical integrity but never the sense that this is a coupe that can be thrown into corners with a delicate flick of the wrist like a Porsche Cayman or Mazda RX-8.

The 370Z is a heavy hitter which needs guiding into a corner before its superior power can be metered out via a long throw accelerator pedal.

Of course, there have been advances in the Z car formula since the 350Z, and the 370Z has a few state-of-the-art tricks up its sleeve.

The world’s first Syncro Rev Control gearbox uses a series of sensors to anticipate gear-shifts and deliver a measured, heel-toe-style throttle blip with each down shift.

The result is super-smooth changes and a fraudulently earnt reputation as a skilled driver if you keep it under your hat that the car is doing all the hard work for you.

Increased power...and practicality

An increase in engine capacity from 3.5 to 3.7 litres brings a power hike of 17bhp over the 350Z—to a Porsche Cayman S beating 326bhp—and 5lb.ft. of torque (to 270lb.ft.).

Using aluminium doors, bonnet and tailgate, have also knocked 32kg off the Z car’s kerb weight.

A sprint to 62mph takes 5.3 seconds and the top speed is 155mph. Average fuel consumption stands at 26.9mpg.

That’s a lot of performance considering that, in mid-range GT Pack form tested here, the Nissan undercuts the similarly endowed Porsche Cayman S by a whopping £11,572, at £33,195.

Nissan have also worked to improve practicality and shifting a once obtrusive bracing strut, which intersected the 350Z’s boot space, forward a few inches liberates the 235-litres of available space.

The only thing the 370Z lacks is refinement

The only real downside to the 370Z is a lack of refinement.

While tolerable, road noise from the rear tyres is pretty intrusive at anything other than slow speeds, drowning out a disappointingly subdued engine note.

There’s a gruff, multi-layered six-cylinder presence but no fireworks from the exhausts.

In the 370Z Nissan have created a car moulded with real honesty. It’s a stylish coupe which wears its heart on its sleeve and endears itself to its driver through a mix of predictable responses and sheer brawn.

With the help of its ingenious and effective Syncro Rev Control system it will entertain at most speeds, feeling polished and well built.

It might not be the subtlest tool out there, but the 370Z is an excellent interpretation of the 21st century muscle car, and I imagine it will look fantastic going sideways...