The Seductively Styled Z Roadster Adds Open-Air Excitement of New 2010 Nissan 370Z

Less than a year after the introduction of the all-new 2009 Nissan 370Z Coupe – a vehicle that reset the bar for affordable sports car design and performance – comes its dramatic new stablemate, the 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster. The seductively styled Z® Roadster offers everything the hardtop Z® Coupe does – and more. As in more classic open-air sports car driving excitement. More sun, moon and stars. And more refinement than any Z® convertible that has ever come before – including a standard automatic latching power top and Nissan Intelligent Key™. Also offered are an array of technology and convenience features, including the first-ever Z® Roadster-available heating and cooling ventilated net seats, Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System, satellite radio and advanced Nissan Navigation System. The 2010 370Z Roadster is scheduled to go on sale at Nissan retailers nationwide in late summer.

“As expected, the 370Z Roadster delivers an exhilarating connection to the air, wind and environment on top of the new Z® Coupe’s exceptional levels of performance,” said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA). “But perhaps unexpected for a car this sporty is its greatly enhanced refinement and quality – as seen in features such as its one-touch, auto-locking convertible top and beautifully crafted interior.”

2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster Image Gallery:


A Truly Authentic Roadster
The 370Z Roadster’s most obvious departure from the 370Z Coupe is its convertible top. The soft-top roof was designed with an emphasis on three key areas: to provide a sleek silhouette matching the new Z®’s stunning styling with the top up or down, to offer easy single-action open-close operation, and to provide an enjoyable top-down experience with reduced wind turbulence and all-climate driver/passenger comfort.

With convertible top in the closed position, the design provides a sophisticated sloped-back appearance, the perfect balance between the soft top and the Z® body design. The shortened windshield and aerodynamically rounded rear deck enhance the Z®’s kinetic and dynamic character lines. When in the down position, the convertible top is concealed beneath a full body-color hard tonneau cover, which extends forward to help create the Z® Roadster’s classic “double cockpit” style interior.

The standard black cloth convertible top features a fabric inner liner, which provides a quality appearance and helps reduce noise intrusion into the cabin, along with an enlarged (versus the previous generation Z® Roadster) glass rear window with an integrated electric rear window defroster. The top operation takes approximately 20 seconds start-to-finish and is controlled by either a center console-mounted switch or by a button located on the doors. The automatic latch system secures the top to – or releases it from – the windshield header without driver intervention. The shape and position of the glass wind deflector, located between the fixed headrest bars, has been optimized to reduce turbulence into the cabin.

Like the new 370Z Coupe, the Z® Roadster’s new exterior is more aggressive in appearance and lighter and tighter in structure than the previous generation. The wheelbase is nearly four inches shorter (100.4 inches versus 104.3 inches) and overall length is reduced by 2.6 inches (167.2 inches versus 169.8 inches). The new Z® Roadster features an aluminum hood, door panels and trunk for reduced weight. At the same time, the body structure was extensively revised, improving rigidity and stability. The 370Z Roadster includes additional structural reinforcement (over the 370Z Coupe), including in the A-pillars and side sills.

The Z® Roadster’s exterior design incorporates the look and feel of the new Z® Coupe, including its signature long nose/short cockpit proportions, vertical door handles and distinctive new headlight/taillight treatment, which features a fierce “boomerang” shape. High Intensity Discharge (HID) bi-functional xenon headlights with auto on/off feature are standard.

The 370Z Roadster is offered in seven exterior colors: Solid Red, Magnetic Black, Brilliant Silver, Platinum Graphite, Pearl White, Monterey Blue and a special premium color, Black Cherry.

Inside the stunning exterior, true to its sports car heritage, the Z® Roadster’s interior is completely driver-centric, with its three-layer design grouping items by how a driver sees information, operates the controls and is held in place – so drivers feel completely connected and engaged whenever and wherever they drive, top up or down.

The Z® Roadster features high back black woven “Carbon” cloth seats with 8-way manual driver’s/4-way manual passenger’s seat adjustments. Touring models include unique leather-appointed “net” seats with 4-way power/4-way manual operation on the driver’s seat (4-way power on the passenger’s seat). These second-generation net seats are exclusive to the Z® Roadster and have integrated heating and cooling functions – ideal for open air driving no matter what the outside temperature. Adjustable front seat Active Head Restraints are also standard.

The Z® Roadster’s 2-seat layout includes a deeply scooped instrument panel with a full-length center console separating the driver and passenger’s seat. The instrument panel retains the traditional Z® 3-pod cluster with oil temperature, voltmeter and clock, while the speedometer and tachometer now include an “initial sweep” function, coming alive when the car is first started.

The sporty steering wheel is a new “oval” 3-spoke design, which offers baseball-style stitching, improved thumb grips and palm rest areas for improved feel on long drives. The surface of the leather-wrapped wheel is “shaved” to provide a more kidney-like shape to better fit in the hand. The manual transmission shifter is specially padded to improve the accuracy of diagonal shifts and to feel softer in the hand for forward and backward motions.

Standard interior comfort and convenience features include Nissan Intelligent Key™ with Push Button Ignition, power windows with one-touch auto up/down feature, power door locks with auto-lock feature and a center console box with a non-intrusive cover design.

Other features include automatic climate control, two 12-volt power outlets, three cupholders (two in door panels, one in center console) and an AM/FM/CD/AUX 4-speaker audio system with illuminated steering wheel-mounted controls.

The Touring model adds a 6CD Bose® audio system with eight speakers (includes dual subwoofer) and MP3/WMA playback, XM™ Satellite Radio (XM™ subscription required, sold separately), Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System, HomeLink™ Universal Transceiver and aluminum-trimmed pedals. This is the first time Bluetooth® and XM™ satellite radio have been available on a Z® Convertible.

The optional Navigation Package includes the touch-screen Nissan Hard Drive Navigation System with XM NavTraffic™ real-time traffic information (XM™ subscription required, sold separately), 9.3GB Music Box hard drive for digital music storage and playback and a USB fort for iPod® connectivity. The new navigation system offers a number of enhancements (versus previous Nissan Navigation System designs), including four times higher screen resolution, wireless music player audio streaming capability (via Bluetooth®), on-board Zagat restaurant ratings database, an in-dash DVD player and XM NavWeather™ weather information display (XM™ subscription required, sold separately).

The 370Z Roadster interior is available in Black cloth or for 370Z Touring Roadster models, a choice of Gray, Black or Wine leather-appointed net seating.

Open Air, Open Roads – An Unbeatable Combination
Roadster or Coupe, the new Z®s share one of the most advanced drivetrains available for affordable sports cars today. The Z® Roadster’s long list of cutting edge performance-focused technologies includes a standard 332-horsepower 3.7-liter DOHC V6 engine with Variable Valve Event and Lift Control (VVEL), choice of 7-speed automatic transmission or close-ratio 6-speed manual with available “SynchroRev Match” (the world’s first synchronized downshift rev matching manual transmission), refined 4-wheel independent suspension and 4-wheel vented disc brakes (with available Nissan Sport Brakes).

“The new 370Z Roadster lives in the same sweet spot of performance, style and value that the Z® Coupe does,” said Castignetti. “Open air driving just begs for open roads and the new 370Z Convertible is the perfect companion.”

Compared to the previous generation 350Z Roadster, the new Z® convertible picks up 26 horsepower and 2 lb-ft of torque (332 horsepower @ 7,000 rpm and 270 lb-ft of torque @ 5,200 rpm, compared with the previous 3.5-liter V6’s 306 horsepower @ 6,800 rpm and 268 lb-ft of toque @ 4,800 rpm).

Along with its larger displacement, the 3.7-liter engine gives better power delivery all the way to the 7,500 rpm redline, improved low-end power and more high-end torque, creating an entirely new driving experience. Key to the enhanced performance is the VVEL system, which is able to optimize intake valve open/close movements, allowing the needed air to be sent promptly to the combustion chamber at the precisely optimized time. Since the VVEL system can adjust to open the valves slightly, it improves fuel efficiency by reducing camshaft friction and fuel waste. It also provides cleaner emissions by allowing for quicker warm-up of the catalyst and by stabilizing combustion when the engine is cool.

The 2010 Z® Roadster is offered with a choice of two new advanced transmissions – a close-ratio 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic. The 6-speed manual is available with SynchroRev Match™ (included in the optional Sport Package), which allows drivers of any skill level to experience professional-like gear shift performance. The SynchroRev Match™ function automatically controls and adjusts engine speed when shifting to the exact speed of the next gear position, essentially “blipping” the throttle to smooth out any up/down shifts. This not only allows the driver to focus more on braking and steering, it improves vehicle balance and smoothness by reducing the typical “shock” when the clutch is engaged. The system can be deactivated with a button next to the shifter for drivers who prefer less vehicle intervention.

The available 7-speed automatic includes Downshift Rev Matching (DRM) and Adaptive Shift Control (ASC) and is designed to offer quick, manual-like shifting when operated in manual mode.

Drivers can use the standard paddle shifters or the shift lever. The 7-speed’s wide gear ratios offer improved fuel efficiency, while the Adaptive Shift Control is designed to adjust to the driver’s driving style.

Estimated fuel economy for the 370Z Roadster is 18 mpg City/25 mpg Highway for both the 7-speed automatic and 6-speed manual transmissions – increases of 1 mpg City/2 mpg Highway for the automatic and 1 mpg City/1 mpg Highway for the manual transmission versus the 2009 350Z Roadster.

The Z® Roadster also utilizes the Z® Coupe’s advanced 4-wheel independent suspension. The double-wishbone front suspension (which replaces the lower multi-link setup in the 350Z) uses lighter forged aluminum arms and a lightweight rigid aluminum-alloy cradle, along with a lighter stabilizer bar with a 35 percent improved lever ratio. The 4-link rear suspension is also stiffer and lighter, with the rear cradle entirely integrated into a single part. “High response” shock absorbers are utilized on each corner for improved ride comfort.

The standard 370Z Roadster wheel and tire package features 18×8.0-inch front/18×9.0-inch lightweight aluminum-alloy wheels with P225/50R18 front/P245/45R18 rear Bridgestone Potenza RE050A summer tires. Available as part of the optional Sport Package are 19-inch RAYS forged lightweight aluminum-alloy wheels with Bridgestone Potenza RE050A P245/40R19 front/P275/35R19 tires.

The Z®’s standard 4-wheel vented disc brake system includes Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA). The optional Sport Package includes Nissan Sport Brakes with large diameter 14.0-inch front and 13.8-inch rear rotors (versus 12.6-inch front/rear standard rotors) with 4-piston front and 2-piston rear aluminum calipers.

Steering is provided by a vehicle-speed-sensitive power-assisted rack-and-pinion design. Unwanted steering kickback and vibrations are reduced with the addition of a solenoid valve that acts like a damper when there is a harsh impact load. A Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system is standard.

The Nissan 370Z Roadster’s list of standard safety features includes the Nissan Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt and occupant classification sensors; front seat-mounted side impact supplemental air bags; door-mounted curtain air bags; and seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters.

Other standard equipment includes Active Head Restraints, Zone Body Construction with front and rear crumple zones, Nissan Vehicle Immobilizer System, Vehicle Security System and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Two Well-Equipped Models
The new Z® Roaster is offered in two well-equipped models – 370Z Roadster and the 370Z Touring Roadster. The Touring model includes the heated and cooling leather-appointed power net seats, HomeLink™ Universal Transceiver, Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System, 8-speaker Bose® audio system, XM™ Satellite Radio (XM™ subscription, sold separately) and aluminum-trimmed pedals.

Only two option packages are offered (Touring model only): the Sport Package, with 19-inch RAYS forged wheels and Bridgestone Potenza tires, Nissan Sport Brakes, SynchroRev Match (6-speed manual transmission only) and Viscous Limited Slip Differential; and the Navigation Package, with Hard Drive-based Nissan Navigation System, 9.3GB Music Box Hard Drive and USB connectivity.

Source: Nissan official Press Release

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The Crossover Revolution Continues by Nissan Qazana Concept

By introducing an alternative to the traditional family hatchback theme, the Nissan Qashqai revolutionised one of the most conservative sectors of the market. That success has now inspired Nissan to see how it can reshape the small five-door of the future.

“Qazana is a concept car and was created specifically for the Geneva Motor Show… but it should not be dismissed as a just a design study. It gives a clear direction of how a future small car from Nissan could look.”
Alfonso Albaisa, Vice President, Nissan Design Europe

At a glance

• Crossover concept reinvents small five-door
• Inspired by motorbikes and beach buggies
• Compact design – sporty, yet rugged
• Designed in Europe

Cars have been dull for too long. Mainstream machines might perform perfectly from A to B… but sometimes drivers want to take the non-conformist route…

Fortunately Nissan has the answer. Inspired by a simple desire to have fun behind the wheel, Qazana shows that mind-numbing motoring could be a thing of the past.

Nissan Qazana Concept Image Gallery:


Officially it’s a showcar, a study into how a small car of the future could look. But with the announcement that a small crossover – a baby brother to Qashqai – will be built at the company’s Sunderland factory in the UK, Qazana’s significance should not be underestimated.

“The Qazana concept is an intelligent, all-wheel drive crossover which is masculine, agile, lean, and designed for the tough city streets. Our team at Nissan Design Europe in London realized this image with the motif of a modern day beach buggy and four-seat motor-bike,” Atsushi Maeda, Studio Chief Designer, Nissan Design Europe.

According to Matt Weaver, project lead designer at NDE, Qazana was designed to be sophisticated but fun. “It’s a hugely optimistic car, which is no bad thing in these difficult times. Had it been created in the 1960s, it would have counted camper vans, bikes and buggies as its rivals. Infused with that same spirit, there’s nothing quite like it available today.”

Challenges tradition
In the same way that Nissan re-wrote the rule-book when it introduced Qashqai two years ago, so Qazana is ready to do it again. By approaching the small car market from a totally different direction, Qazana invigorates, stimulates and rejuvenates the traditional town runabout.

Compact dimensions
Compact overall dimensions (4060mm in length,1570mm tall, 1780 wide and a wheelbase of 2530mm) mean Qazana would be ideally suited to the urban environment. Yet its advanced specification and energetic styling suggest an ability that goes far beyond the city walls.

By mixing SUV and sports car styling cues, NDE’s design team has created a highly individual Crossover quite unlike anything else on the road. The tall stance, truncated rear styling and short front and rear overhangs underscore its feeling of robustness and strength, but the low roof line, assertive side window graphic and broad shoulders hint at a sporting ability absent in traditional all-wheel drives.

At the same time, rounded elements – notably the wheel arches and bonnet – evoke a friendly ambiance and provide a link with existing Nissan Crossovers. Indeed, Qazana has the signature Crossover design detail in the rising window line at the rear, also found on Murano and Qashqai.

Says Weaver: “Qazana follows in Qashqai’s wheel tracks by challenging convention. Externally Qazana adds a number of existing Nissan design cues – including a variation on ‘boomerang’ rear light theme from 370Z – to a highly distinctive shape that’s unlike anything else in the company’s current design portfolio.”

Crossover styling
The profile is dominated by the prominent wheel arches and by the body’s high waistline, which combine to give an impression of strength and which contrast vividly with the slim side windows. Echoing a style first seen on Mixim, Nissan’s high performance electric coupé concept shown at the 2007 Frankfurt Show, the glasshouse resembles a crash helmet visor.

Although it appears at first glance to be a two-door coupé, Qazana has a further pair of rear-hinged half doors to ease access to the rear compartment. All the doors are electrically operated and for safety reasons the rear pair can only be activated once the fronts have been opened. With no conventional B-pillar, access to the interior couldn’t be easier.

One notable feature of the roof-line is the virtually straight cant rail above the doors which adds further to the strength of the profile. The roof itself has a pair of thin glass inserts running the full length of the roof which allow slithers of natural light into the cabin.

This contrast between sporty performance and all-terrain potential is underlined by the venturi-style skid plate at the rear of the vehicle, Qazana’s extended ground clearance and the soft rubber spats which edge the wheel arches and help to disguise the vehicle’s long suspension travel. The graphite coloured spats contrast vividly with the bold exterior colour, a unique shade called White Titanium, and the strikingly styled 20 inch black chrome alloy wheels.

Distinctive frontal aspect
The car’s face is dominated by four headlamps. Two lower circular lamps set within the bumper contrast with a pair of daylight running strips mounted high on the wings on either side of the bonnet: the look is of a rally car preparing for a night stage.

While the full width grille, dominated by Nissan’s centrally mounted badge, is an interpretation of current Nissan styling, its construction is not. A one-piece acrylic moulding, no cooling air can pass through the grille. Instead, the lower portion of the bumper, finished in a contrasting graphite colour, is dominated by a number of large holes for air to reach the radiator. See through acrylic mouldings are also used for the door mirrors

The interior has been designed as an extension of the exterior thanks to a clever interplay between hard and soft materials. Rather than being completely enveloped in leather for example, elements of the lightweight carbon fibre seat structure are on permanent view, appearing to have ‘broken through’ the covering. The centre portion of the backrests features a mesh material, allowing fresh air to circulate around the occupants.

Like the seats, the metal sections of the centre console seem to have forced their way through the leather covering while the internal door-frame is part exposed so that the door pull appears to be hewn from solid metal.

Motorcycle inspired interior
Adding further to the mechanical feel of the interior, the shape of the centre console and armrest has been inspired by the fuel tank and seat of a sports motocycle. Paul Ray, senior interior designer at NDE, is a keen rider. “I enjoy the sensation of being at one with my bike and wanted to capture that feeling in Qazana,” he says.

“The way the structure appears through the fabric of the interior also reflects motorcycle design and construction.”

Accentuating the practical side of the car, Qazana has ‘floating’ seats centrally mounted over a one-piece rubberised floor covering, creating an openness in the cockpit. Grooves cut in the flooring are replicated on the seats themselves.

The dashboard is dominated by a centrally mounted screen. As well as doubling as a navigation display, it will deliver vital information relating to Nissan’s next generation fully electronic ALL MODE four-wheel drive with torque vectoring system and other advanced technical processes found on board, including integrated communications systems. Using an intuitive touch-screen interface, the driver will be able to adjust the air-conditioning and other key vehicle settings.

Alfonso Albaisa, Vice President, Nissan Design Europe, says: “When it comes to design, Nissan has developed a reputation for constantly delivering something different. The global success of Qashqai has proven that the car buying public is fed up with the conventional… but we are not prepared to sit on our laurels. Qazana might seem a radical solution but important elements of the concept do point to a future Nissan production vehicle.

Source: Nissan News

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2009 Nissan Cube Goes Global

The All-New Third Generation Cube’s Asymmetrical Design and Lounge-Style Interior Provide Unexpected Charm and Witty Functionality

At a glance:

• New Cube comes to Europe
• Distinctive design creates spacious interior
• Asymmetric body guarantees good rear visibility
• Powered in Europe by 1.5-litre diesel and 1.6-litre petrol engines
• European deliveries start in 2010

In 2002, an all-new second generation Nissan Cube was introduced in the Japanese market. More spacious inside, more glass outside, with more power and, more importantly, a few more angles and curved surface details added to its compact, slab-sided exterior. Quintessentially Japanese, this new Cube took Tokyo by storm. A pocket-sized fun-and-function cocktail mixing the charm of Godzilla and the wit of Mothra, buyers were smitten.

The Nissan Cube soon found an audience outside of Japan – not in person, but through its exposure in fashion and automotive magazines, videos and on the Web.

Back to today, more than 10 years since its original appearance and the Nissan Cube is ready to go global next year in an all-new, dramatically rethought third generation design that is clever, quirky, witty, fun and uniquely functional. And still totally square.

Nissan Cube Image Gallery:


More than just unique geometry, however, the new 2009 Nissan Cube is also conceived as a totally different take on an automobile – a car that doesn’t want to be defined as car. “Combining unique design with true spaciousness and a warm personality, Cube will have a unique place on the market,” said Simon Thomas, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Nissan in Europe. “Cube is a vehicle that people of all ages can fall in love with, even if they’re not normally interested in cars.”

Evocative yet rational
Though its uniquely styled, asymmetrical body makes a standout statement against the backdrop of today’s look-alike mainstream vehicles, Cube presents a range of strong rational arguments for purchase as well.

“The new Nissan Cube will be bought by individuals who will see it as an extension of their personality and reflects their individuality,” said Thomas. “Cube customers are not show-offs, but style-conscious and open-minded.”

A “bulldog in sunglasses”
The all-new 2009 Nissan Cube builds on the existing DNA characterised by its non-traditional design, with an improved stance and an added sense of dynamic movement. With Cube’s long wheelbase relative to its overall length (a 2530mm wheelbase against a 3980mm overall length) and wide track, the wheels, in effect, are pushed out to each corner – providing exceptional space utilisation and a confident-looking stance that is described as a “bulldog in sunglasses.”

“The designers, engineers and planners’ effort and passion in creating the next generation Cube was unheard of – perhaps only exceeded in recent memory by that of the Nissan GT-R development team,” explains Pierre Loing, Nissan’s European Vice President for Product Planning. “They were constantly drawing, cartooning, adding thoughts and ideas, which is how the image of the bulldog emerged and evolved. This was not a traditional development process.”

Along with its stance, the “incognito canine” look is aided by the wide headlights and grille treatment, the small but substantial body proportions and the short “tail” section. In the rear, the bar-type taillights reinforce the wide, anchored feel. The Cube’s creators also sought to maintain a sense of “pure design,” reducing the number of character lines to give simplicity and freshness to the styling.

Another unique aspect of the Cube’s exterior is the greenhouse. The A-pillars are positioned far outward and relatively upright, giving a wider range of forward visibility. The front door windows utilize a “photo frame” design patterned after a personal photo frame, while the asymmetrical wraparound side/rear window creates enhanced rear diagonal visibility for lane changes and reverse parking.

“This ‘geometric circle shape in the square’ rear window is Cube’s signature,” said Loing. “Though there are D-pillars on both sides of the Cube, the visual effect of the narrower passenger-side pillar is quite remarkable in the overall appearance, a look aided by the asymmetrical back door.”

Unlike typical top-hinged or clamshell-style utility rear doors, Cube features an easy-access refrigerator-style opening, which makes it possible to open or close it even if parked tight against other cars in parallel parking spaces or when backed in against a wall or other obstacle.

The 2009 Nissan Cube is available in several eye-catching colours, with evocative names like Witty Military, White Pearl, Sea Turquoise and Bitter Chocolate.

And that’s not all. Customers will be able to personalise their Cube, with designs available for the glass roof and also body stickers.

A “casual lounge” interior
“The centrepiece of the new Cube’s universal appeal is its surprisingly roomy interior that offers room for five in a lounge-like comfort. It creates a highly changeable space – for interacting with friends. It’s a space that is highly changeable and adaptable to owners’ evolving lives, with plenty of room for personalisation,” said Loing.

Cube’s clever, inspired and surprisingly open occupant space was conceived with a “Jacuzzi Curve” layout and “floating meter pod” driver’s area. It combines “casual lounge”-style passenger seating with a relaxed driving experience. The interactive interior is anchored by its curve-themed architecture, such as the subtle wavy shaping of the instrument panel, door panels, seat shapes, and the iconic “Water Drop” that can be seen in the cupholders and the climate control design. They are inspired by nature and the calming way that ripples move outward from a drop in water.

The comfortable Cube seating includes individual driver’s and passenger seats, along with a “lounge sofa” style sliding rear bench seat.

The sliding rear seat can be adjusted to three positions and is positioned higher than the front seats, theatre style, enhancing rear passenger comfort and visibility.“The new Cube’s interior leaves room for imagination and personalisation, yet also starts with a solid functional purpose,”explained Loing.

Stress-free driving, room for personalization
Cube’s stress-free driving experience is the result of a number of factors: a tall seating position made possible by the tall body height and an extremely short hood “invisible length” (the area of the hood panel that the driver is unable to see). Additionally, Cube drivers will enjoy good rear visibility for parking and reversing thanks to the asymmetrical design of the body at the rear. The pillar-mounted side opening rear door, giving access to the trunk, is mounted on the driver’s side, giving a clear view of the far corner of the car, ideal for judging reversing manouevres.
The Cube’s interior also benefits from its large sunroof, giving a light and airy atmosphere. As well as the traditional blind to prevent heat build up on sunny days, there is a shoji shade, inspired by traditional Japanese shades made of rice paper which can be drawn across the sunroof, allowing light to enter but minimising heat build up!

Other interior features include the “floating pod” instrument panel with asymmetrical light blue and white gauges, which are designed to make it easier to distinguish between the speedometer and the tachometer. The gauge needles “sweep” when the engine is started to add a sense of flair, while the gradation effect gives a natural ambience similar to the glow of the white moon and the blue earth.

Convenient storage spaces and cup/bottle holders are abundant throughout the Cube interior. There are also detachable multi-hooks for holding bags or hats, which can be moved from place to place – including the instrument panel and rear doors.

The “shelf expression” concept features two “shelves” located on top centre and passenger side of the instrument panel. The shelves can be personalized with accessory wood-like trim or shag carpeting. Cube’s “Magic Rubber Bands,” another clever Cube accessory item, are colourful rubber straps (red, yellow, orange or silver) that slip into cutouts on the door armrests to secure items such as maps, nametags, photos, towels or small stuffed animals.

“The interior concept is really about the Cube conforming to the users’ needs, rather than the other way around – you can put your favourite items anywhere you want, not where the vehicle tells you to,” said Loing. . “The designers intended every aspect of the Cube interior be delightful as well as functional.”

The Cube interior is offered in two colour environments, Black and Beige. Both trims come with a quilted suede-like fabric with special “natural wave” stitching designed to provide a combination of relaxation and genuine “driving enjoyment” attitude.

Petrol and diesel engines for Europe
In Europe, the Cube will be offered with a double engine offer, with both a 106PS DPF-equipped 1.5-litre diesel and a 1.6-litre petrol, producing 110PS. While the diesel engine will be available with a six-speed manual gearbox, the petrol will be offered with five-speed manual and CVT options.

Smart simplicity
“Distinctive, enjoyable and adaptable, the Nissan Cube will offer an unmatched sense of ‘smart simplicity’. It builds on a Cube DNA of individuality and non-automotive style, and adds an enhanced level of humanistic charm and clever design,” said Loing. “We know there will be a community of car-buyers in Europe who will really identify with Cube and will fall for its practicality, as well as its personality.”

Cube will appeal to customers who perhaps aren’t passionate about cars, but are passionate about being individuals. Cube isn’t a fashion statement, it’s a mission statement: I’m serious about enjoying my life.

Deliveries Cube will begin 2010, offering car buyers something unique, distinctive, friendly and fun – a car as a true extension of its owners’ personality.

Source: Nissan Press Release

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2009 Nissan 370Z Sports car Top Performance Coupe

The Nissan Z car is one of those few cars that were the first to show up on American shores. Although various numbers have appeared in front of that Z as the engine displacement rose, each Z car has been a top performance choice among modern sports cars. The 2009 Nissan 370Z coupe carries on this tradition while raising the bar for all sport coupes.

There are clear visual ties between the 370Z Coupe and its successful 350Z roadster predecessor, but from the ground up, every aspect of the Z has been revisited, redesigned or re-engineered to create a more finely polished performance machine. The wheelbase has shrunk and the rear track widened, while 95 pounds have been trimmed from its waistline. Not only does this pay dynamic dividends, but the car now looks trimmer, too. Torsional and bending rigidity have been increased, yet the old structural crossmember that used to reduce valuable cargo space has been relocated out of the way. All of this plus revised suspension tuning results in a car that feels more premium and grown up.

This is a system on which the legendary Z-series is enlivened. Nissan has kept the changes to a minimum, but in making a good mix of variations between the manual and automatic, and between the trims.

2009 Nissan 370Z Sports Coupe Image Gallery:


Models
The 2009 Nissan 370Z is presented in only two models. These are the 370Z, which is offered for $29,930, and the 370Z Touring, which costs $34,460. These are packed into only one body type –the coupe.

The 370Z, the standard, base model, is a good package. It is pretty well-dressed for a basic model, carrying a host of features. For starters, it gets the Nissan Intelligent Key with push-button start; and then, one gets the following among its other offerings: power door locks with auto-lock feature; power windows with one-touch auto up/down feature; automatic climate control; a center console box with a new non-intrusive cover design; two 12-volt power outlets; rear window defroster with timer; dual overhead map lights; a AM/FM/CD/AUX four-speaker audio system with illuminated steering wheel-mounted controls, and four cup-holders, two in door panels and two in center console. A six-speed manual is standard; a seven-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters can be had at $31,230.

On the 370Z Touring, expectedly, one gets more features in the form of a 6CD Bose audio system with eight speakers, which includes dual subwoofer and MP3/WMA playback to start with. Other notable features include XM Satellite Radio, for which XM subscription, which is sold separately, is required; four-way power adjustable heated synthetic suede and leather-appointed sport seats with adjustable lumbar support; HomeLink Universal Transceiver; passenger seat map pocket and Bluetooth Handsfree Phone System. The Touring, too, comes with the standard six-speed manual with the option of a seven-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, which costs $35,760.

The 370Z doesn’t offer too much in terms of options. All that one gets are a Sport package and a Navigation package. At an extra $3,000, the Sport package augments the model with 19-inch forged lightweight aluminum-alloy Rays wheels that come fitted with Bridgestone Potenza RE050A high-performance radials. In this package, the prominent distinguishing feature is the spoilers fitted fore and aft, to lower the car’s drag coefficient from 0.29 to 0.28. In this package, the spec brakes get higher, with 14-inch front rotors and 13.8-inch rear rotors, up substantially from the standard rotor sizes of 12.6/12.1-inch. This comes with four-piston front and two-piston rear aluminum calipers.

And now, the Navigation package –for an additional $1,850, one gets goodies such as a 9.3 Gig Music Box hard drive and interface system for iPods and other MP3 players. By far, the most important addition this package carries is its GPS system that is powered by a hard drive and features a touch-screen display. This comes with real-time traffic information from XM NavTraffic, albeit this is a paid subscription.

Exteriors
As we saw in the beginning, this new version is striking for its smallness. Shorter and squarer than before, the Nissan 370Z has the kind of exterior it has never had in nearly four decades of its launch. The contours are tighter, as is the panels’ surface tension. Another area in which it stands out from its predecessors is in its aerodynamic shape. This is a tad too pronounced for a car of this shape and size, but is perhaps given so spell out its aggressive nature, and highlight its rear-wheel-drive.

While a few fitments are changed, a few remain devoutly loyal to its ancestor. Take a look at the vertical metallic exterior door handle of this 2009 model and compare it with that of the original 1970 model, and it is difficult to tell one from the other.

Turn indicators get a good-looking Z-shaped signal marker. All other elements are sober and just in place. The tires appear a little too bulky at first glance, but it has to be remembered that this is a sports car.

One more change that is brought in, although it is not something that strikes the eye, is the set of doors. These, along with the hood and rear hatch, are all-aluminum, with the steel support it got earlier being done away with. This is a smart way of reducing weight in areas that really can, without making it obvious. The result: a silent weight reduction of 90 lbs.

Interiors
The interiors truly stand out for their looks. They are befitting a sports car that is in its sixth generation. The materials are plush and well-designed. The element that takes the cake is the high-tech steering wheel that it shares with the Maxima. This stands out as the most attractive piece in the dash. To kindle the driver’s ego, a large Z shines out in the center of the steering wheel. At different places of the steering wheel, there are differing circumferences, making it look like an undulating circle of varying thickness. To give a feel of a vehicle that offers good grip, the steering wheel has perforated leather to grip, in the size of the clenched fist. These buttons, of course, stand out for their largeness.

The dash also reflects the sports car spirit. In the instrument panel, there are two rows of LEDs that indicate fuel level and temperature. This sits on the left side, beside a 180-mph speedometer.

The seats too, are slightly redone for this year. They offer more space and support to the passenger, while for the driver; the bolsters are softer and heavier for added padding. This appears to offer the driver the cushion needed for long drives.

Old timers of the 350 will remember that it was given a shock-tower support bar, which would dent the luggage space heavily. Thankfully, that is now done away with in this model. It now carries a cross-car bar that is placed directly behind the front seats. This gives way for more luggage space; when the rear hatch is lifted, there is ample space with good access.

And then, there is vast improvement on the quality and handling of the sound systems, as well. These touch-ups represent a well-rounded and comprehensive improvement on the interiors.

Safety
Well, this is a well-thought out, well laid out performance car. So, who would expect safety to be compromised? You get active safety features such as electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes. To supplement these, there are dual-stage front airbags; side-curtain airbags for head protection and front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags for torso protection. These are in addition to active head restraints and four-wheel tire pressure monitors.

Driving Impressions
One drive on the 370Z and you will realize it is a true-blue sports car. Excitement is coded in its genes. It is a few notches ahead of even its illustrious predecessor. Whatever odd roughness the 350Z had here and there has been totally ironed out. The 350Z’s occasional rigidity at high speeds and sharp turns has been well taken care of.

Let us turn our attention next to another novel feature that is meant to aid smoother riding. The SynchroRev system is provided for this purpose. It is ideal for those who are not used to dual-clutching and using the heels and toes while driving. This system, by cutting the throttle on downshifts in matching engine speed with rear-axle speed gives it a feather-like, smooth synchronization.

Summary
This is a top class sports car; anyone who has had a ride on this car will vouch for this. It is a combination of some wonderful features, great power, terrific feel of the road, smooth glide and total safety. A race car cannot get any more refined, nor can more logic and common sense go into one. This is an exhibition of Japanese technology at its improvising best. Whatever the earlier 350Z had by way of some shortcomings have been well handled. The 370Z is a great fun vehicle to have. It is an owner’s pride, for sure.

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