American fans of Nissan's fantastic new 370Z can order their cars in Chicane Yellow, but up until now, their counterparts in Blighty have been out of luck if they've wanted a sunburst Z of their own. Until now. That's because Nissan UK has cooked up a special new limited-edition (if unimaginatively named) 370Z Yellow.

Apparently inspired by the Japanese automaker's European GT4 series racers, all Yellows will receive 19-inch forged RAYS alloys, a black leather and suede interior, along with illuminated door sill plates, special floor mats, and so on. Did we mention the bespoke lower body graphics? They remind us of less subtle, billboard-sized versions of the graphics packages on certain Porsche 911s.

Nissan assures that there will be a "strictly limited volume" of Yellows for sale in the UK, with "exclusivity guaranteed." But tellingly, perhaps, the company isn't divulging just how many it plans to produce in the model's press release (available after the jump). If you're interested, prepare to shell out £31,650 (nearly $52,000 USD)
for a six-speed manual or £33,050 for the automatic (just over $54,000 USD – as usual, bear in mind the UK's comparatively inflated pricing structure for new cars).

While Nissan has been trying to master the Nürburgring in its flagship GT-R supercar, it was the one-rung-down 370Z which the Japanese automaker fielded at the track's 24-hour race last month. To commemorate the occasion, Nissan is reportedly preparing to drop a special commemorative edition of its 370Z on the European market.

Although photos are still unavailable at this time, the Nissan 370Z Nürburgring edition is apparently set to be differentiated by a set of 19-inch OZ Racing alloys wrapped in Dunlop rubber, a sport exhaust system and the requisite batch of special badges. Only 80 examples will be made, each individually numbered, and the model will apparently only be available in yellow. And just to sweeten the deal, Nissan is throwing in a gift card good for over $200 of track time on the Nordschleife.



[Source: CarScoop]

We're expecting Infiniti to launch its first hybrid sometime in either 2010 or 2011, likely based on the M35 luxury sedan. Unlike past hybrids from Nissan, parent company of the Infiniti brand, this new technology will not be a licensed version of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive. Interestingly, reports out of Japan indicate that this new hybrid tech could filter on down the line to find itself under the shapely hood of Nissan's new 370Z.

If these rumors are accurate, expect the fuel-saving sports car to be equipped with a lithium ion battery from corporate partner NEC that feeds power to a lone electric motor sandwhiched between the Z's 3.7-liter VQ V6 engine and transmission. The dual-headed powertrain is reportedly expected to achieve 35 miles per gallon on the mixed cycle, though those are likely Japanese figures that don't often jive with U.S. EPA numbers.

[Source: 370Z.com]

After strapping two separate Autobloggers behind the wheel of the 2009 Nissan 370Z, we feel completely justified in suggesting that the latest Z car is the best yet. It also performs rather well when compared to its closest competitors, and that includes the pricier Porsche Cayman. Regardless, the current gloomy state of the global economy is just as powerful at dictating sales levels as any given vehicle itself, regardless of how good it may be. This being the case, nearly every automaker has adjusted its sales expectations downward from earlier projections.

According to Automotive News, Nissan initially planned to sell 30,000 370Z coupes globally, but it has since reduced its expectations by two-thirds. Of the 10,000 370Zs that AN says Nissan now hopes to sell in 2009, 7,000 would be destined for the United States and the remaining 3,000 units would be sold in Europe. The industry publication did not publish Japanese domestic market (JDM) sales predictions for the car (known locally as the Fairlady Z).

We thought those numbers seemed low, so we called Nissan USA for clarification. According to Darryll Harrison, manager of Nissan's Product Public Relations Group, the Japanese automaker sold 1,452 Zs in the U.S. market (a small percentage of which were older 350Zs) in February and another 1,632 in March in the United States alone. That figure represents about 30% of America's two-door, two-seat sports car market, sales of which generally pick up in the summer months. In other words, Nissan could actually sell well over 10,000 370Zs here in the U.S. in the 2009 calendar year.



[Source: Nissan, Automotive News - sub. req'd]

We got our first sneak peak of the new NISMO 370Z yesterday afternoon, and we decided the car was worth a second look when we spotted it on the floor of the New York Auto Show today. The jury is still out on whether the fast and furiously styled body kit is simply boy racer or just way overdone, but we all seem to like that Nissan decided to pull some teeth and deleted the fangs from the Z's front grille. The NISMO 370Z isn't all about looks, though, and benefits from 19-inch lightweight wheels wrapped in Yokohama Advan Sport tires, a stiffer suspension and a bump in horsepower to 350 thanks to optimized air intake into the cylinders. Full details on the NISMO 370Z are after the jump, and high-res live shots can be found in the gallery below.



Photos copyright ©2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc

Tomorrow night in Manhattan, Nissan will officially drop the top on the new 370Z Roadster, but before then, a teaser site is up with a singular image of the convertible Z for the world to see. A webcast of the event will take place tomorrow at 7 PM EST, where the 370Z Roadster will be shown alongside the NISMO variant of the new Z car.

The convertible Z will be fitted with a power-retractable soft-top rather than the all-too-fashionable folding hard-top, which should keep both weight and complexity in check. The NISMO version is expected to be equipped with a new aero package, along with upgraded suspension, braking and rolling stock and possibly a few tweaks underhood. We'll be on hand Tuesday evening with cameras and laptops in hand, so check back tomorrow for all the details.

The first Datsun 240Z rolled into American showrooms in 1969. Four decades later, we've got our hands wrapped around the thick, leather, multi-function steering wheel of its direct descendant, the all-new 370Z. With a 332 hp V6 and a six-speed manual transmission directing power to the rear wheels, our outlook is decidedly positive as we head out on the street (our First Drive on the track was back in December). Is all of the hype surrounding this new coupe justified? How does it compare to the GT-R? Just how did the all-new Z-car fare after a week in our garage? Find out after the jump...

Photos copyright ©2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

As many of you have likely noticed, the 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue has hit newsstands. We're not sure what skimpy swimsuits have to do with sports, but we're sure most subscribers aren't complaining. SI has also been pushing its models on YouTube, where body painting is apparently a big draw these days.

It seems SI has been doing some cross-promoting, too, as we've come across a video containing gorgeous SI swimsuit models Damaris Lewis, Jessica Hart, and Melissa Haro doing power slides and donuts in three brand new (and nearly as stunning) Nissan 370Zs. Talk about a match made in heaven Vegas. Hit the jump to view the three models exit the Luxor (gracefully), enter the three Z cars, and go for what appears to be a very entertaining ride. All this video needs is Danica behind the wheel for a perfect 10, but we'll settle for a 9.95 instead. Hat tip to reader Matt T.

[Source: YouTube]

With Nissan anticipated to launch the convertible version of its 2010 370Z in a few months' time at the New York Auto Show, a batch of outline drawings of the new roadster managed to walk out of the EU patent office last week. But revealing as those blueprints are, they still require some degree of imagination. Fortunately, the guys over at GlobalMotors.net have precluded the need for imagination by coloring inside the lines for us and providing a batch of renderings that give us a preview of what the 370Z Roadster will look like when it hits the roads later this year. Follow the link to check 'em out, with our thanks to Andrus for the tip.

[Source: GlobalMotors.net]

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]