As predictably as a month of rain follows a day of British sunshine, Nissan has followed the
new 370Z with a drop top version. Or, should we say, a latching power top version, because that's what Nissan calls the roof. It's basically an electric folding soft top, but it's fully lined like the Queen's curtains to keep wind and road noise at bay.
It's always difficult to make these things sound really exciting, to be honest, because they're invariably the same as the coupé or saloon on which they're based (obviously), except a bit heavier and less practical. Still, the makers always try their best, using phrases like 'sun seeking' and 'open top thrills' - and Nissan is no different. Let's give the maker some credit, though, because it seems to have engineered the pants off this thing to make it as good as the coupé.
Starting with the roof - which as we've already said is quite thickly insulated -there's a heated glass screen built into it and it takes 20 seconds to open or close. And because making something that should be inherently rigid out of something that's fundamentally floppy generally causes structural problems - just ask one of the three little pigs - there's extra chassis strengthening, which means more weight. Thankfully, Nissan has crafted the hood, door panels and boot lid from aluminium, so the weight premium isn't too hefty.
It's also the first Z Roadster to feature heated and cooled ventilated front seats, and it gets fixed roll bars and a glass wind deflector to keep things as calm as possible in there with the hood down. Nissan still promises a proper hairy-chested sportscar experience, mind, and make no mistake; it retains the coupé's 327bhp 3.7-litre V6 and is available with either a seven-speed auto 'box or a six-speed close ratio manual with the 'SynchroRev Match' throttle blipping thingy. It's 26bhp better off than the
previous Z Roadster too, if you're interested, and has 2lb.ft more torque, though eating a bag of crisps before you drive might negate that.
Due on sale in September this year, probably for just over £30,000 (prices aren't confirmed yet), the 370Z Roadster comes in two trim levels: Roadster and Touring Roadster. The latter gets the aforementioned ventilated chairs. Bluetooth, a Bose sound system and aluminium pedals, while the former's still not badly equipped, with leather and air conditioning both standard. There's a Sport package too, with 19-inch Rays alloys shod in Bridgestones, the SynchroRev Match and a limited slip differential. We'd go for that every time.
Mark Nichol - 9 Apr 2009