To us, the biggest news about Nissan's 370Z sports car is what hasn't changed for 2018: the car's $29,998 base price, which continues to make this one of the best performance values in the marketplace.
While that attractive coupe price remains in effect, Nissan has made a few changes to its most affordable sports car, including revised exterior styling that includes dark head- and taillight treatments and blackout lower rear fascias and new Rays 19-inch wheels, replacing last year's 18-inchers. There are a couple of mechanical updates too, including a revised torque curve for the 3.7L V6 that Nissan says optimizes the car's acceleration, and an Exedy-branded high-performance clutch for manual transmission models.
The peak-performance NISMO trim is back, too, with its own Exedy clutch set apart by what Nissan calls light pedal effort, as well as new Dunlop tires modeled after those on the GT-R supercar that provide the same handling performance as last year's Bridgestones, but with less rolling resistance and road noise.
As before, that base price tag only applies to the coupe, but the Z is still also available as a slick-looking roadster.
Other changes to both coupe and convertible models include two more sound system speakers for the base model, for a total of six and a new Passion Red paint colour, The Coupe gains a Sport trim that picks and chooses bits from the last year's Touring and Touring Sport models to include trim-specific 19-inch wheels, chin and rear spoilers, sport brakes, limited slip differential, Bose stereo and heated side mirrors.
This car's dirty bits remain fundamentally unchanged: that big V6 still cranks out 332 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque, and the six-speed manual maintains its rev-matched downshift function that makes even a novice stickshift driver look like a heel-and-toe pro. The transmission option is a seven-speed automatic with the requisite paddle shifters.
Otherwise, the 370's list of standard features remains the same, including automatic Xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights, passive keyless entry with push-button start, automatic climate control, power windows, locks and mirrors, Bluetooth, manual eight-way driver and four-way passenger seats, leather-trimmed steering wheel, shifter and parking brake, and tire pressure monitoring.
The next step is the Sport package detailed above, and it's followed by the Touring trim (for both coupe and convertible models), which adds navigation, backup camera, active noise cancellation, garage door opener, auto-dimming rearview mirror, heated leather seating and an upgraded stereo with two subwoofers.
Touring Sport trim (again, for both body styles) is where you'll find the rev-matching transmission.
Finally, the coupe can be had in a peak-performance NISMO trim boasting Recaro leather-and-Alcantara seats on top of a sport-tuned suspension, upgraded brake fluid and hoses, front strut tower brace and a trim-specific body kit.
