Nissan 370Z NISMO 2014 Review

Sharper, more engaging and more aggressive, the new Nissan 370Z NISMO is an early taste of what Nissan's hot-shop can do. With several chassis tweaks, a mild power hike and GT-R-inspired visuals, the go-fast two-seater is tailor made for track work, something we discovered after hammering it at full-tilt on the Silverstone circuit.

The sooner Nissan Australia green-lights the NISMO performance brand in Australia, the better. Having just thrashed the pants off the new Nissan 370Z NISMO on the race track, it's clear the Japanese brand's motorsport (and now production car-tuning) arm knows a thing or two about making cars go faster.

Power and torque levels in the new NISMO-fettled 370Z rise slightly over the regular 245kW/363Nm to 253kW/371Nm, thanks to engine management tweaks and a new dual exhaust system, while more aggressive aerodynamics improve high speed stability. But it’s the reworked chassis that makes the top Z model a far more decisive apex predator than its donor car.

Fitted with savvy new RAYS 19-inch alloy wheels that are almost 2kg lighter and slightly wider at the rear, and GT-R-inspired body work that is functional as well as pretty, the car has a more assertive look. Downforce has been increased thanks to a deeper chin spoiler, and the redesigned front-end with larger air apertures and brake cooling vents also gets schmick new LED daytime running lights.

Attach a new rear spoiler, road-hugging side skirts and new mirrors, then finish with red pin-striping that runs from the front of the car, along its flanks and toward the rear and you're looking at Nissan's motorsport take on the 370Z.

Helmet on, heart-rate rising, stepping into the 370Z NIMSO reveals new sports leather seats, a red rev counter and a Porsche-like Alcantara steering wheel, but that's about it.

Easing the car out of the pits at the Silverstone circuit, the car immediately feels tighter, and after shifting into second gear via the short-throw six-speed manual gearbox, I pin the throttle and the ever tractable engine sees the car pounce.

The 3.7-litre V6 is more tractable now and, thanks to the power hike, the car feels properly fast. It fires from 0-100km/h in 5.2 seconds, certainly nothing to sneeze at, and top speed is limited to 250km/h.

Whether trundling out of the pits from low speed or punching out of high-speed chicanes, the car accelerates in a beautifully linear fashion, but there's a subtle ferocity that was previously missing, aided by a slightly deeper exhaust note.

Gear shifts are fast and decisive and the rev-matching on down-shifts is gratifying, particularly for those who aren't great at heel-and-toeing.

While acceleration has improved and the firmer suspension tune ensures the car gets its power down more decisively, the way the car scythes through corners is what really impresses.

The steering is slightly sharper now and there's enough communication through the tiller and seat to figure out the car's attitude. With lower, firmer suspension the car dives into corners with assertiveness and tracks through them with enormous confidence thanks to a lack of body roll.

The fitment of a strut tower brace, 14 per cent stiffer front springs and firmer shock absorbers front and rear allows the car to change direction with little care for concepts such as physics or gravity, even if front/rear weight distribution remains 53/47.

Perhaps the best part of the Nissan motorsport-tuned 370Z is the brakes. Hot diggity damn, this car can dive into corners like a demon, such is the stopping power on offer. Some bright spark at NISMO decided it would be a lark to fit the GT-R's brake lines and brake fluid to the 370Z, so while the discs aren't bigger, pedal feel and bite is massively improved.

Throwing the NISMO around a race track is a huge amount of fun, and it should translate well to the road too, because while the firmer suspension sharpens up the car's handling, it's certainly not bone-jarringly stiff.

This NISMO-fettled two-seat sports car takes everything that made the 370Z engaging – sharp steering, agile handling, tractive engine and a tenacious attitude – and adds a level of clarity that'll have enthusiasts grinning from ear to ear. I know I was.

It's effortlessly rapid and supremely satisfying to drive hard.

During the track test, which was held amid the chaos of the 2014 GT Academy, there were a handful of US-spec left-hand drive cars, but we managed to snag the sole right-hand drive model, which of course will be coming to Australia.

The question of when and how much is coming into focus. The current car starts at $56,930, and the NISMO mods could add a premium of $10,000. The fact that a seven-speed rev-matching auto is available will sweeten the deal too.

Nissan Australia says it’s on the "cusp" of signing and sealing the business deal to launch the NISMO brand in Australia and it's possible the modified 370Z will be the first model from the performance brand offered here.

And it would be a very, very tasty introduction to NISMO for Australians -- an ample showcase of the company's tuning capabilities.

Two other NISMO models are available but the GT-R NISMO will be uber expensive and the JUKE NISMO perhaps a little too quirky.

Timing for the launch of NISMO Down Under is now looking more like next year rather than 2014 as Nissan had previously hoped. Whatever the case, I hope it's sooner rather than later because I really want to drive this car again.

2014 Nissan 370Z NISMO pricing and specifications:
Price: $70,000 approx (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.7-litre V6 petrol
Output: 253kW/371Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Fuel: 10.5L/100km approx
CO2: 250g/km approx
Safety rating: N/A

What we liked:
>> Handling and grip
>> Linear power delivery
>> GT-R-inspired brakes

Not so much:
>> Interior a bit dull
>> Exhaust could be louder
>> It's not here yet!