| First Drive | San Jose, USA | Nissan Nismo 370Z |

Nissan's new 370Z is a great car, over-delivering on performance and costing less than its premium rivals. An impressive effort then. But there's a rawer, more intense Z experience available from Nismo. It's currently only a US model, but there's a very good argument for bringing this more focussed Z to the UK. Start lobbying Nissan now.

In the Metal

The 370Z is a far more overt looker than its 350Z predecessor, the Nismo gaining an even shapelier look thanks to the addition of a bigger rear spoiler, a rear diffuser-style bumper and a longer front bumper containing a less fussy air intake. It's enough to elevate the already head-turning 370Z into a real hold-your-gaze machine, the effect helped by the massive 19-inch lightweight alloy wheels and Nismo badging.

What you get for your Money

Aside from the external styling differences there are some interior highlights like a numbered build plaque, Nismo branded seats and rev counter, red stitching and aluminium pedals. There's nothing obvious under the bonnet, though a new exhaust and some ECU trickery does liberate an additional 18bhp to raise the 3.7-litre V6's output to 345bhp. There's a 6lb.ft increase in torque too, and the maximum power figure is reached a few hundred revs higher than the 7,000rpm peak in the standard Z.

It's in the chassis where the changes are most obvious. The Nismo rides on unique settings that see the spring rates increased by 10 percent at the front and 15 percent at the rear. The anti-roll bars are stiffer and the dampers have had their roll-stiffness rates increased by 40 percent front and a massive 140 percent at the rear.

Driving it

Initially the suspension changes dominate the 370Z Nismo. It can be a touch harsh at low speeds, but up the rate of progress and the suspension reveals a compliance that's quite at odds with the numbers associated with it. What's immediately apparent is the change to the steering: it's more linear, more direct and incisive on turn-in. From the initial turn of the wheel there's no slack, the Nismo's nose utterly resistant to understeer. There's feel at the chunky, red-stitched rim too, though like the rest of the Z range there's oddly no reach adjustment of the wheel.

Grip levels are higher than the standard Z, but the Nismo is still able to break traction at will. Do so and the traction and stability systems keep things in check, though the intervention levels are high enough not to detract from the fun. Switch off the electronic nannies and the Nismo will hang its tail out in the familiar brawny Z-car style, though there's a bit more finesse to how it reacts to your input at the wheel and accelerator. The engine doesn't feel massively more powerful, but there's a greater eagerness to rev, it feeling more forceful when in its upper reaches stretching for the shift light.

The entire experience remains as physical and involving as with the standard Z coupé, but the Nismo adds to it with a slightly (though still not loud enough) louder exhaust and some accompanying gear-whine inside. Underlining the more hardcore appeal is its availability in manual only, though the SynchoRev Match virtual heal-and-toe system remains for those without the ability to dance on the pedals themselves. Thankfully there's a switch to disable it if you're inclined to get involved in enjoyable throttle-blippery yourself.

Worth Noting

Nissan USA hasn't published any performance figures for the Nismo, but as the regular coupé's quoted 5.3 seconds to 62mph feels conservative it's not unreasonable to expect the Nismo to manage the benchmark sprint in around five seconds dead. The ride may be a bit stiff for our less than perfect roads, but if Nissan were to bring the Nismo into the UK it's likely its experts at Nissan's Cranfield Technology Centre could find a sensible compromise.

Summary

Nissan's 370Z is a good sports car in standard guise, but the Nismo builds on this, adding a new level of intensity to the drive. We can't help but feel that UK customers would relish the changes American buyers are offered. Being a US-only model at present there are no official prices, but it's not unreasonable to expect Nissan GB to offer Nismo bits for the 370Z in time. Really, that time should be now.