2009 Nissan 370Z Nismo: Through Ian's Lens

At the 2009 New York auto show, I featured the soft-top roadster version of the newly redesigned Nissan 370Z in a Through Ian's Lens post. How could I pass up the chance to show off the same car with a hardtop, whale-tail spoiler, Nismo badge and — above all else — in candy apple red? It's too delicious.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Z.  In those 40 years Nissan (and Datsun) hasn't lost sight that this car is 1) about the driving experience and 2) about how awesome you look experiencing the driving. The newest edition delivers on both points. In spades. Did I mention that our test car was in candy apple red? I'll let my photos do the talking. Check out the full-screen player after the jump.

Cars.com Podcast: Sports Car Edition

It seems iTunes ate our latest podcast, which is why we couldn’t bring it to you earlier. Sure, we could have just posted it via the player below, but we held out hope that it’d also be available in iTunes — just a few days later than usual. We apologize for the iTunes’ mishap.

In this week’s long-awaited podcast, the editors of Cars.com discuss the new Nissan 370Z roadster and Nismo edition as well as the thoroughly awesome Aston Martin DBS Volante, the most expensive car to ever be left unattended in our hands.

Cars.com Podcast #30

Cars.com Reviews the 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster

Conceived alongside its coupe sibling, the 2010 Nissan 370Z roadster was designed to dispel the notion that convertibles have to be heavier, flimsier versions of their hardtop counterparts. Now that the 370Z convertible has fallen into the hands of Cars.com reviewer David Thomas a year after he had the hardtop version, he’s prepared to render his judgment. How does the convertible hold up? Read Thomas’s full review to find out.

2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster Review

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2010 Nissan Nismo 370Z Video

Starting at almost $40,000, the 2010 Nissan Nismo 370Z keeps your attention because it is the ultimate Z, says Cars.com reviewer Mike Hanley. Despite a few shortcomings, Hanley had his hands full with the Nismo — a performance-oriented sports car with power to spare. Watch this video for his full take.

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Reader Review of the Week: 2009 Nissan 370Z

“My First Real Sports Car” from Pennsylvania traded in his Ford Mustang GT for a 2009 Nissan 370Z — a big risk that he feels paid off in full. Not only does the 370Z satisfy his need for power that can turn heads, he has a few complimentary words for its handling, as well. Read the full review after the jump, then please post your own review here.

2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster Starts at $36,970

September isn’t the best time to start selling convertibles. In much of the country, the weather is just starting to turn cold, and that may chill some to the idea of dropping nearly $40,000 on a droptop. Nonetheless, that’s when Nissan will send its new 370Z roadster to dealers nationally, with a starting price of $36,970.

The 370Z roadster is completely redesigned and sports a more powerful engine, which you can read about here. However, the new starting price is just $100 more than the outgoing 350Z roadster.

Full pricing details for the four 370Z models are below.

2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster: Through Ian's Lens

With round hips and flared wheelwells, the new Nissan 370Z Roadster carries on the longstanding design tradition of Z cars. With its sharp front and back light clusters contrasting with the curvy front and rear ends, the lack of a roofline gives this Z a winding-road-on-a-sunny-day feel. I was worried the soft-top would ruin the overall design of this car, but let’s be honest — no one is going to drive this bad boy in the rain or snow. Sun lovers rejoice.

A full set of photos is below; please leave your remarks in the comments section. Feel free to use the full-screen mode on the photo browser.

2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster Video

Kelsey Mays walks us around the 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster straight from a busy Manhattan sidewalk. That’s not exactly the ideal place to check out a new convertible sports car. While it’s nice to hear Kelsey make Eddie Murphy jokes in such a setting, you also get to see the top in operation, along with the cargo area’s decent size.

2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster: Up Close

One of the sexiest cars on display at this year's New York auto show is definitely Nissan's 370Z Roadster, and I got a good look at it last night.

Rest assured car-styling snobs and Z enthusiasts, it’s OK to exhale: The 2010 370Z Roadster does not have a crook in its backside, à la 350Z droptop. The union between roof and trunk is gentler and far less abrupt; the rear still comes across as a bit oversized, but it’s far from the 350Z Roadster’s carrier-deck hindquarters. Credit the beltline: The 370Z rises, straightens out and rises again over the rear fenders. It’s interesting at least and alluring at best, and it helps the convertible look every bit as good as the coupe.

2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster at 2009 New York Auto Show

• Competes with: Mustang convertible
• Looks like: Nissan built a better-looking convertible than coupe this time around
• Drivetrain: 332-hp, 3.7-liter V-6 with six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic
• Hits dealerships: Late summer

The last generation of Nissan’s Z had both a coupe and convertible model, but the droptop always looked like an afterthought. That’s not the case with the new 370Z; the Roadster is simply stunning. While the new coupe has a few odd angles thanks to its shorter length, the roadster looks sleek and stylish. It appears as if the car was meant to be a convertible first, not a coupe.

Of course, the company hasn’t provided a photo of the car with the canvas top in place, which will undoubtedly be not as appealing as the topless images. However, there were some improvements made to the top’s operation that should make buyers happy. It has one-button open and close that takes 20 seconds to complete and automatically latches to the windshield header.

The Z Roadster comes in two models, a base trim and a Touring model. Standard on the base are manual cloth seats, a CD stereo with steering-wheel-mounted controls, and smart key entry and keyless ignition.

The Touring adds cooled and heated leather seats, a six-disc Bose stereo with eight speakers and a subwoofer, satellite radio and Bluetooth. An optional navigation system and Sports Package are also available, but only on the Touring trim level.

Both trims come with the same 332-hp V-6, however, which Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays tested in the coupe in February. “Pulling power is fierce, particularly at higher revs, and there's no sign of letting up through the 7,500-rpm redline,” Mays raved.

Sales of the new coupe have been brisk, which means that, come summer, this may be one highly sought-after convertible.  

More photos below.