2004 Nissan 350Z

The 350Z, in coupe or roadster guise, has rolled onto the scene with all of the necessary elements to write its own illustrious chapter in what already stands as a legendary saga.


Sometimes there's more to automotive life than mere sales numbers. One needs look no further than Nissan's iconic Z car for proof. Its departure from the U.S. market in 1996 had, at best, modest impact on the automaker's revenues. The rather gaping conceptual hole it left in the lineup was a different matter altogether. Thankfully, that palpable void has been filled with the introduction of the 350Z. The 350Z, in coupe or roadster guise, has rolled onto the scene with all of the necessary elements to write its own illustrious chapter in what already stands as a legendary saga.
When it last graced our shores, the then-300Z was fighting a losing battle to price escalation, segment decimation and upcoming side-impact regulation. Nissan's precipitous financial situation at the time made a viable business case impossible for what was easily its most interesting offering. Since then, that situation has undergone a dramatic about-face. Today, Nissan not only boasts a far healthier bottom line, but a product portfolio that's the envy of the industry. Recasting the Z car for the fifth time allowed it to effectively deal with all of the issues that conspired against its predecessor. What emerged is a unique package that combines the spirit of the seminal 240Z with modern design and styling elements destined to catapult the new 350Z back to the forefront of the sports car universe.
Intent on retaining fundamental "Z DNA" in both appearance and mechanical makeup, the 350Z development team worked diligently to ensure a proper fusion of cues in its design brief. The result is a dramatically styled front-engine/rear-drive two-seater powered by a potent six-cylinder engine and boasting an exceptional dynamic handling envelope. Although buyers can still fine-tune the new 350Z to their personal tastes by opting for anything from the Base version on up through Enthusiast, Performance, Touring or Track trim levels, all share the same core components and the same born-to-run resolve.
Author: Bob Nagy
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