Road Test

Nissan 350Z

Test date 21 October 2003  Price as tested £25,500

A clever mix of smooth surfaces and sharp creases, the defining characteristic is the hollowed-out surface above the waistline. Out of this inverse surface 'grow' the pronounced wheelarches, giving the 350Z a butch, aggresive stance.

Overhangs are minimal, especially at the front where the bodywork tapers inwards in front of the wheel. At the rear the shape is smooth, with the tail lights constructed from the overlapping lines swept back from the side glasshouse. A subtle spoiler lies below the rear glass, part of the aero kit fitted standard to Euro-spec cars.

Once again, Nissan has elected for a big, normally aspirated six-cylinder engine, but unlike the 240Z, the 350's has its cylinders arranged in a vee. By no means a bespoke unit, the 3498cc quad-cam all-aluminium motor has been substantially reworked to produce 276bhp at 6200rpm and 267lb ft at 4800rpm. Drive is fed to the rear wheels from a six-speed gearbox by a carbonfibre propshaft that turns through a limited-slip differential.

A Brembo braking system with ventilated discs all round is standard. Suspension is by a sophisticated multi-link set-up front and rear with tasty forged aluminium components. If there's a disappointment when scanning the spec sheet, it's the portly 1545kg kerb weight. Despite having a 51bhp advantage over a 225 TT, their power-to-weight ratios differ by only 20bhp due to the Audi's 1395kg kerb weight.

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