| First Drive | San Jose, California | Nissan 370Z Roadster |

Nissan's 370Z range has doubled with the inclusion of a new Roadster. Big power, big backside and big improvements in dynamics and quality make for a real Porsche Boxster S rival. All for a lot less money. Nissan's Z car has stepped up, and it's closer to the benchmark than ever before.

In the Metal

If you thought the 370Z coupé was an overt looker then the Roadster is going to shock. The 370Z's shorter wheelbase mated to the wider track makes for a squat, purposeful looking car in the hard-top and the effect is enhanced in the Roadster thanks to the loss of the coupé's sloping roofline. The result is a big ass on a bad ass, the Roadster's styling rather aggressive. And it's got the firepower to back up its posturing.

The wheelarches are filled by vast, technical looking alloys, while the tyres look like they've been painted on so shallow are their sidewalls.

Nissan has gone to great lengths to improve the canvas roof too, the multi-layered, fully electric hood folding in just 20 seconds at the touch of a button. Up or down it looks good, the hood's more tapered shape lengthening the 370Z's lines despite shorter dimensions overall than its 350Z predecessor.

What you get for your Money

The Z comes pretty comprehensively equipped as standard, though for most it's not the toys that matter but the 326bhp V6 under the bonnet that drives the rear wheels. It's a great engine, which has got the measure of the competition at its price level and many above. That's a huge part of the Z's appeal: the big performance it brings for relatively little money.

Driving it

Nissan's Z cars have a reputation for being demanding, involving drives. The 370Z Roadster is no different, though it has been civilised a bit - the exhaust note lacks the naughty burble of its predecessor for example. What is also evident is the increased ability of the chassis, the 370Z Roadster more multi-dimensional than the 350Z. Exhibiting a greater depth to its ability the Z is still obviously rear driven, but it's no longer the defining feature. The steering is beautifully sharp on turn in and resolute in maintaining your chosen path without allowing understeer to build. That neutrality can be overcome with the mobile rear, but the Z's outright composure is far greater than in its predecessor.

The ride is firm and relatively roll free, but it's not at the expense of comfort, and the big brakes giving repeated stopping power and reassuring pedal feel. Ultimately the 370Z Roadster has still not got the detailed level of precision of Porsche's Boxster, but neither is the regular Boxster - at the 370Z Roadster's price level - able to match the Nissan's pace.

The 326bhp 3.7-litre V6 is a flexible unit that combines free-revving zest with low-rev muscularity, the increase in power and drop in weight helping the 370Z Roadster feel quicker than the old 350Z Roadster. Quite how much is still to be confirmed, but with only around 90kg of extra weight to stiffen it all up the drop-top Z isn't going to be far behind the coupé's 5.3-second 0-62mph sprint time.

That stiffening is effective, the Roadster only betraying its open-topped status when dealing with road surfaces bumpier than a teenager's face. On smoother roads there's little between the Roadster and the closed coupé. The gearbox in both is a crucial part of the car's make up, the meaty, mechanical action of its movement unique to the Z. The inclusion of an automatic blipping, rev-matching programme on downshifts allows even the most ham-fisted drivers execute smooth gear changes, though there's an off switch if you prefer to dance on the pedals yourself. An optional automatic seven-speed transmission is also offered if you're more inclined to using two pedals.

To do so would rob you of one of the Z's most appealing facets; the physicality it demands behind the wheel. It's a rewarding, interesting and involving car to drive, the drop-top adding a breeze in the cabin yet bringing few compromises elsewhere.

Worth Noting

Nissan took note at the criticism levelled at the 350Z's interior. The 370Z retains its predecessor's few stand out styling cues - the three dials atop the dash, the technical looking instruments and circular door handles - and places them in a far higher quality cabin. The materials, styling and fit and finish are at a level befitting of a car starting at around £30,000. There are a few shortcomings inside: the steering still doesn't adjust for reach - only rake - for example. Visibility isn't great with the hood up and the boot is tiny too, but these aren't issues unique to the 370Z Roadster, more a defining feature of cars of its type.

Summary

Overt styling, big performance, a leap in quality and greater breadth of ability allow the new Nissan 370Z Roadster to fight more convincingly with the premium roadster players. Factor in the Z's pricing and it's a hugely compelling package indeed.