Nissan's SynchroRev Match: Driver Friend or Foe?

Blasphemy is what I cried when first reading about Nissan’s SynchroRev Match option. It automates the fancy-foot technique of rev-matching a manual transmission for smooth downshifts. Driving a true sports car like the 2010 Nissan 370Z should be a full control experience. At least that was my old way of thinking, but it’s executed so flawlessly I’ve learned to embrace the sacrilege.

Cars.com Podcast: 2010 Nissan 370Z and 2011 Jaguar XKR

 
This week we talk sports packages, high-tech performance options, levels of luxury and throw in a little open-air driving — and that’s just in discussing two models that recently came through our test fleet. Editors Joe Wiesenfelder, David Thomas and Mike Hanley discuss the 2010 Nissan 370Z coupe and the refreshed 2011 Jaguar XKR convertible. Find out what makes these two stand out and what we didn’t like about both.

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2010|Nissan|370Z

2011|Jaguar|XK

2010 Nissan 370Z Video

In this video, we take another look at Nissan’s 370Z, which is in its second model year. The first time around, we checked out the 2009 Nismo 370Z and found it was pretty unforgiving as a daily driver. But that’s not the case with the base 2010 370Z we tested this year, according to senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder. The Z is pretty smooth for a sports car. The driver-oriented cockpit is nice, and Joe especially likes the shifter. But poor rear visibility and a costly asking price make it a tough tossup between the Z and the Ford Mustang GT. Which one is the better choice? Watch the video to find out.

An Unabashed Car Comparison

We took great pains to include as many useful parameters as possible to discover the best $25,000 family sedan in our $25,000 Family Sedan Shootout a few weeks ago. The folks over at Autoblog went in a different direction when they compared the V-6 powered Ford Mustang, Nissan 370Z and Hyundai Genesis coupe. They just wanted to know which one is the best sports car.

Nope, no worries about features, price or cupholders! We’re guessing they didn’t even check to see how well the child-safety seats fit into these cars.
How brazen.

Go read the whole thing over at Autoblog to see which car won. We figured it out in the beginning …

Battle of the Sixes: Ford Mustang V6 takes on Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 and Nissan 370Z (Autoblog)

Nissan Says Eight New Models On The Way

USA Today got the inside scoop on Nissan’s product plan for the next 12 months. We already knew about most of the models, but there is some good news for minivan and truck fans, as well as for Infiniti.

2010 Nissan 370Z Navigation Video

Cars.com senior editor David Thomas has long been a fan of Nissan’s navigation systems, yet he’s still very impressed with the latest upgrade. Nissan has gone all out with a system that includes a high-resolution screen, 3-D images and a 9-gigabyte hard drive. Check out this video of Thomas showing off the nav system on the 2010 370Z.

2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster Video

Nissan introduced the 370Z last year, and this year we get a look at the roadster convertible. The 370Z is one of the best performance buys around, according to Cars.com senior editor David Thomas. On the other hand, this praise does not translate into everyday driving. Check out the video to find out where the Z excels but how it might make your legs fall asleep.

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

2010|Nissan|370Z