2016 Nissan 370Z NISMO
NISMO, the heart and soul of Nissan performance for both the track – including the stunning GT-R LM NISMO Le Mans challenger – and on the street, continues to raise the bar for straight-from-the-factory enthusiast vehicles. For 2016, the lineup of production NISMO models available in the United States again includes the 600-horsepower GT-R NISMO, JUKE NISMO and JUKE NISMO RS models and the Nissan 370Z NISMO and 370Z NISMO Tech.
As the flagship of the Nissan Z® portfolio, the Z® NISMO, since its introduction as part of the original Nissan 350Z lineup, has embodied the spirit of NISMO – race-proven engineering that is attainable. The 370Z NISMO takes that motorsports mojo, and the balance between street and track, to a new level of distinctive style and performance.
Significantly revised just last year with a new exterior design and redesigned RAYS aluminum-alloy wheels, the 370Z NISMO and 370Z NISMO Tech receive a new Bose audio system incorporating Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Active Sound Enhancement (ASE) for the 2016 model year.
The ANC system generates canceling sound to remove undesirable low frequency engine noise while preserving invigorating sounds of engine performance, providing a more "pure" sound. The system is also utilized on the Nissan GT-R. The ASE enhances natural engine sounds to help bolster the driver's acceleration experience.
Striking Exterior Design
The most striking aspect of the 2016 370Z NISMO is its dramatic exterior design. Its GT-R-inspired functional and fully integrated aerodynamic body pieces provide an aggressive, aerodynamic appearance – as well as optimizing front and rear downforce.
Upfront, the deep front fascia with Hyper LED Daytime Running Lights and black headlight bezels provides a greater level of visual differentiation from standard 2015 Nissan 370Z Coupes.
A fully integrated chin spoiler enhances the sense of dynamic movement, while enhancing airflow and downforce for exceptional aerodynamic performance. The front also features a NISMO emblem and signature NISMO red stripe accents that continue from the spoiler down the special side sill protectors. In addition to a bold rear fascia, the unique NISMO rear spoiler completes the distinctive NISMO design. The 370Z NISMO – at 170.5 inches in overall length and 73.6 inches in overall width – is 3.0 inches longer and 1.0 inch wider than a standard 2016 370Z Coupe.
Other exterior features include an aluminum hood, bi-functional xenon headlights with automatic on/off function, distinctive vertical door handles and heated outside mirrors with integrated turn signals and a pair of large chrome-tipped exhaust outlets. Four exterior colors are offered: Pearl White, Magnetic Black, Brilliant Silver and Solid Red.
Also adding to the distinctive 370Z NISMO appearance are twin-five spoke 19-inch NISMO super-lightweight forged aluminum-alloy wheels by RAYS. The wheels are mounted with Bridgestone Potenza S001 Y-rated high-performance tires (245/40ZR19 front, 285/35ZR19 rear).
NISMO-styled Interior
The 370Z NISMO model's motorsports-inspired look and feel continues inside the driver-centric 2-seat cabin. The unique NISMO-styled interior is enhanced with black-and-red Recaro® leather-appointed seats with Alcantara® accents. The seats were designed with Recaro® specifically for the 370Z NISMO. They are designed to provide more uniform body pressure and better all-direction holding during spirited acceleration, braking and cornering. Both the driver and passenger's seats feature standard 8-way driver's/4-way passenger manual adjustments.
The interior also features red seat trim and stitching with NISMO logo, an Alcantara®-appointed leather-wrapped steering wheel and NISMO red tachometer. The tachometer and speedometer include an "initial sweep" function, coming alive when the 370Z NISMO is first started.
Like all Nissan 370Z interiors, the layout is built around a deeply scooped instrument panel with a full-length center console separating the driver and passenger's seat. In the rear is an open cargo area with easy accessibility. The instrument panel includes a 3-pod cluster with oil temperature, voltmeter and clock, power windows with one-touch auto up/down function, power door locks with auto-lock feature and automatic climate control. Other interior details include a smooth leather-wrapped shift knob and aluminum-trimmed pedals.
Standard interior comfort and convenience features include Nissan Intelligent Key® with Push Button Start, Bose® in-dash AM/FM/CD/AUX 6-speaker audio system, two subwoofers, with illuminated steering wheel-mounted controls, USB/iPod® interface and Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System. NISMO Tech models add SiriusXM Satellite Radio (SiriusXM subscription required, sold separately) and Streaming Audio via Bluetooth®.
The new Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Active Sound Enhancement (ASE) systems are standard on both the 370Z NISMO and 370Z NISMO Tech models.
The 370Z NISMO Tech model also includes a standard hard drive-based Nissan Navigation System with 7.0-inch VGA touch-sensitive display, along with a RearView Monitor, auto-dimming rearview mirror and HomeLink® Universal Transceiver.
Advanced 350-Horsepower VVEL V6 and NISMO-Tuned Suspension
As in previous years, the 2016 370Z NISMO is powered by a 3.7-liter DOHC V6 engine with Variable Valve Event and Lift Control (VVEL). The advanced powerplant is rated at 350 hp @ 7,400 rpm – 18 horsepower more than a standard 370Z Coupe – and 276 lb-ft of torque @ 5,200 rpm.
The VVEL system helps optimize intake valve open/close movements, allowing the needed air to be sent promptly to the combustion chamber at the precisely optimized time. The 370Z NISMO's enhanced engine power and acceleration (versus non-NISMO 370Zs) is provided through use of an exclusive H-configured exhaust system design and muffler tuning, along with optimized ECM (Engine Control Module) calibration.
Two transmission choices are offered on Z® NISMO models. The close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission features standard SynchroRev Match, the world's first synchronized downshift rev matching manual transmission, which allows rev-matched heel-toe-like downshifting.
The SynchroRev Match® function automatically controls and adjusts engine speed when shifting to the 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 the smoothness of gear shifts 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 to shift on their own.
Also available is a refined 7-speed automatic with Downshift Rev Matching (DRM), Adaptive Shift Control and manual shift mode with paddle shifters.
The standard 370Z Coupe double-wishbone front/4-link rear suspension design suspension is specially tuned for the 370Z NISMO, offering exceptional handling – including higher spring and stabilizer bar rates and increased roll stiffness and front and rear damping factors, as well as a 0.6-inch wider track width (compared to non-NISMO models).
The 2016 370Z NISMO also features a tight, rigid body structure with a strut tower bar brace and a pair of performance dampers, which quickly and efficiently react to help control body vibrations from road input via the tires, contributing to the 370Z NISMO model's outstanding handling and performance feel.
Braking is provided by NISMO Sport Brakes with large diameter 14.0-inch front and 13.8-inch rear vented rotors with 4-piston front and 2-piston rear aluminum calipers. The braking system includes a variable ratio brake pedal, high-rigidity brake hoses, R35 Special II fluid and red-finish calipers.
Also standard is a Viscous Limited-Slip Differential (VLSD) with shorter final drive ratios than standard 370Z for better acceleration feel – 3.692 vs. 3.357 (A/T); 3.916 vs. 3.692 (M/T).
The 2016 370Z NISMO's long list of standard safety and security features includes the Nissan Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt sensors and occupant classification sensor; front seat-mounted side impact supplemental air bags; roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags; seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters, Zone Body Construction with front and rear crumple zones, Nissan Vehicle Immobilizer System, Vehicle Security System and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
