Leaked: Nissan 370Z Roadster patent drawings
Click above to view the Nissan 370Z Roadster drawings
We're betting that automakers are getting plenty ticked off at the European Trademark Office, because it seems that bureau has more leaks than a colander. Following leaked drawings of the new Mazda MX-5, Mazda3 and Suzuki Kizashi, the latest to slip out appears to be the upcoming Nissan 370Z Roadster. Of course it's no surprise that Nissan is preparing to launch a convertible version, since the previous 350Z made for a very handsome roadster, and even its premium stablemate, the Infiniti G37, has now spawned a convertible version. But this would be our first glimpse at the shape the new Z-Z-Topless will take.
From the leaked process renderings, we can see that the 370Z will keep a soft top like its predecessor, rather than go with a retractable hardtop like the Infiniti. We trust the roof will be less leaky than the European Trademark Office, though. While the 350Z Roadster had a sloping rear deck, the new version appears to be more bulbous. Which looks better is a matter of taste, and this writer at least liked the old one, but we'll reserve final judgment for when it appears in the flesh at the New York Auto Show in April.
[Source: The Motor Report]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
firstplace 1:12PM (1/18/2009)
cool but the coupe is better. for convertable pay more and go Z4.
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Nick Vrana 1:30PM (1/18/2009)
Why pay more? Get a Sky Redline. With the GM stage 1 you'll have similar power to weight, a car that can handle incredibly well (beats the lotus guys in scca), and was equal to or cheaper. You also get great gas mileage (2l direct injected turbo) when cruising. What's not to like?
firstplace 1:35PM (1/18/2009)
sorry , brother does own a solstice GXP, it rattles, it dosent have a convertible hard top, it just feels cheap. BMW has DSG and for less then 1grand 400hp. Not saying it isnt a deal (the price is right) but in this case its not comparable to the BMW, even the older Z4 in anything but speed, and the new Z4 with a few mods would eat it for breakfast.
Nick Vrana 1:49PM (1/18/2009)
I own an 08 Sky RL and I completely disagree. I have no rattles, the sky's interior is nicer than the Solstices, and spending equal money on a sky, you would be able to easily outpace a Z4. The stock LNF block is forged and has been proven to handle 400+ at the wheels with ease. For the price of a Z4, you could strap a big turbo on the sky, a KW coilover suspension, and some sticky tires.
firstplace 2:10PM (1/18/2009)
of course this begs the question why the austin martin badge logo... different strokes for different folks, didnt mean to offend your ride, but it wouldent be my choice for a performance starting point either. Think corvette, or viper.
R 3:16PM (1/18/2009)
I think i would consider the Sky or Solstice in coupe form, but not vert. Isn't it true it's a pita and it takes up the whole trunk, too?
Nick Vrana 4:24PM (1/18/2009)
PITA: not really. I could see how it would be considered that way for people spoiled by motorized tops, but it really isn't bad. I can put it down from my seat (I have long arms) and I can put it back up in 10-15 seconds. There really is no trunk space though, top up or down. I can fit a little more than a backpack. With creative packing you could pack a weekend trip in it ok, and if there's no passenger much more. I moved into and out of college with it.
As far as my Aston badge, I have fortunately been able to drive all three of the current model Astons and I believe them to be the ultimate GT car at each individual price point. If I had unlimited funds, I would be driving a DBS daily, which is reflected in my avatar.
You didn't offend my car, as you said, different strokes for different folks, but your original comparison was a Z4 to a 370z roadster and in that situation I feel the Sky/Solstice combo must be considered. There are people with a few issues, but I have been fortunate and very much love my car.
Both the corvette and viper are in completely different price categories all together, and do not factor into this. We are comparing roadsters in this specific class category (of which the Z4 is stretching, by a long shot). My previous vehicle was a 2000 Corvette Coupe, and my tuned sky (no aftermarket parts, all ECU work with HPTuners) is quicker than my vette was.
notYou 1:18PM (1/18/2009)
(head scratch)
I don't mean to insult anybodies skills, but I could swear that my 5 year old nephew might have drawn those.
Sure, I suspect the copyright office doesn't want artistic sketches, but I'd at least expect them to be technical drawings, not kindergarten level scrawls.
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P.V. 1:28PM (1/18/2009)
This is obviously an extremely preliminary sketch, not a final sketch. That's probably why it looks like a "kindergarten level scrawl[]".
waiownsyou 1:26PM (1/18/2009)
I never understood why they need to patent small variants of an established car. Yeah, there's protection from "intellectual thieves" but come on.
And what's the difference between this and the 350Z roadster short of the new headlights/taillights, grille, slightly modified interior, and engine?
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Torrent 1:30PM (1/18/2009)
a new name.
Gator 4:03PM (1/18/2009)
"And what's the difference between this and the 350Z roadster short of the new headlights/taillights, grille, slightly modified interior, and engine?"
You just answered your own question. Not to mention it's smaller. Great update if you ask me...
JDMlover 1:33PM (1/18/2009)
Dont like the look of the New Z at all.....
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notYou 2:41PM (1/18/2009)
Ditto. And, I'll throw my .02 on what Nissan shoulda' done as well:
The 350Z did a good job of straddling the line between where the 300Z left off (as a GT/Boulevardier) and the 240Z started (as a real sportscar).
Nissan should have polished and updated the 350Z into a 370Z and made it a true GT, a spiritual successor to the 300Z.
This (the 370Z) should have debuted as a 340Z, the spiritual successor to the 240Z.
Sure, you could argue that the Infiniti G37 is my envisioned 370Z, but Nissan fans aren't digging it as such (trust me, 300-era Z Nismo fans are not consoling themselves with G37s). You could also argue that such a 370Z and a 340Z are too close, but I disagree - they are two totally different mindsets, just like the 240Z and 300Z were.
Nissan successfully cultivated two totally different classes of fans through the 240, 280, 300 and 350 history. At this point, they're abandoning half that market by perpetually trying to only target one at a time. The 350Z was a good compromise for the middle of the spectrum, but even it left the edges unsatisfied (hard core sports car people thought it was fat, serious GT buyers thought it was cheap).
Mazda FTW! 1:34PM (1/18/2009)
The 350Z conv. was really ugly. That shape did it not convert well to a drop-top. The 370Z's shape is probably even less suitable for the coupe -> drop-top conversion. But hey...we live in a market where if it has a import badge, it will sell no matter what it looks like (ask the BMW and Acura guys).
Look at the new Mazda3.
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addictive 11:37AM (1/24/2009)
Correction: "since the previous 350Z made for a very [ jellybean shaped ] roadster"
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Seminole 1:44PM (1/18/2009)
What is that square shape between the two exhausts? The coupe has it too and it looks like crap.
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Steve Neill 2:00PM (1/18/2009)
I see alot of Toyota 2000GT Convertible in those sides...
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Rev 2:03PM (1/18/2009)
I just don't find this attractive from any angle and those illustrations aren't too flattering. The Z has become a very awkward looking vehicle to me since the last couple versions. I wish they would've tossed out the 4th generation's looks and went throwback like the 240z concept or something.
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eb110americana 2:15PM (1/18/2009)
"...since the previous 350Z made for a very handsome roadster..."
Really? The only less attractive droptop I could think of is the Toyota Camry Solara. The 350Z had a high beltline because the cowl is shared with sedans and coupes like the G35/37, M35/45, and even shared the architecture with the FX35/45/37/50 and new EX35 SUVs. The large, bulbous rear end was exacerbated by this high beltline. To top it all off, rather than try to carve some mass out of the awkward plateau of a rear deck, they instead ADDED additional height with 2 giant goofy looking half domes behind each seat.
For some reason, any kind of faring of this type makes every automotive publication wet themselves with praise, which apparently Nissan was well aware of, and the reviews were as glowing as the layman's were disgusted. Even something as simple as elongating the fairings to stretch to the rear deck would have helped, but it was not to be. Hopefully the 370Z has eliminated these eyesores in the same way that its curvaceous diving shoulder line has helped to cut vertical mass from the old model. I liked the 350Z coupe, I like the 370Z even more, I hope they don't disfigure it similarly for the sake of dropping the top.
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