It soon dawned on me though that I had the 370Z’s SynchroRev Match system activated, which meant that technology was doing the throttle blips for me—provided I didn’t mess it up by prodding the throttle with my own clumsy foot.
SynchroRev is a first for a manual gearbox. It makes downshifting like a pro no more difficult than flicking a light switch—okay, that’s a little too simplistic an example, but you get my point. Pull the stick from 4th to 2nd in preparation to exit a corner, and vrooom. The engine snaps to attention at the perfect RPM for 2nd gear to slot and the clutch to hook up flawlessly.
It took a few miles of driving before I came to fully appreciate the electronic genius of SynchroRev Match, but I can tell you this, once experienced you’re not likely to go back—especially when putting a little enthusiasm into your driving. And if that’s the case, the 370Z will reward in spades.
Gusto of 332 horses
The fourth-generation, award-winning Nissan VQ-series V6 engine supplies the 370Z with 332 able-bodied ponies. To achieve the bump in hooves, the VQ mill has been punched out to 3.7 litres. Nissan boasts about the potency of the Z’s low-end torque, and I’m a believer.
Torque hits a maximum of 270 pound-feet @ 5,200 rpm, but it’s in abundance well before that. In fact, I found very little need to downshift, even when accelerating from below 2,000 rpm. And accelerate is something this little rocket does with viciousness reserved for junkyard dogs.
Zero to 100 km/h is rated in the 5.6-second range, accompanied by a guttural roar apt to intimidate grown men. I had actually expected a little more refinement from this mill, given my experience with it in other applications—but that’s not a particularly bad thing. The raunchiness gives the Z a little more operational hostility and personality.
Behind the wheel brings exceptional handling and braking
The 370Z tracks beautifully, feeling cemented to the tarmac in the most aggressive of cornering manoeuvres. Steering response is instantaneous and razor sharp, but there’s a price to pay for all the pavement bravado, and it’s a stiff ride and plenty of tire noise.
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| The fourth-generation, award-winning Nissan VQ-series V6 engine supplies the 370Z with 332 able-bodied ponies. (Photo: Rob Rothwell/Auto123.com) |
SynchroRev is a first for a manual gearbox. It makes downshifting like a pro no more difficult than flicking a light switch—okay, that’s a little too simplistic an example, but you get my point. Pull the stick from 4th to 2nd in preparation to exit a corner, and vrooom. The engine snaps to attention at the perfect RPM for 2nd gear to slot and the clutch to hook up flawlessly.
It took a few miles of driving before I came to fully appreciate the electronic genius of SynchroRev Match, but I can tell you this, once experienced you’re not likely to go back—especially when putting a little enthusiasm into your driving. And if that’s the case, the 370Z will reward in spades.
Gusto of 332 horses
The fourth-generation, award-winning Nissan VQ-series V6 engine supplies the 370Z with 332 able-bodied ponies. To achieve the bump in hooves, the VQ mill has been punched out to 3.7 litres. Nissan boasts about the potency of the Z’s low-end torque, and I’m a believer.
Torque hits a maximum of 270 pound-feet @ 5,200 rpm, but it’s in abundance well before that. In fact, I found very little need to downshift, even when accelerating from below 2,000 rpm. And accelerate is something this little rocket does with viciousness reserved for junkyard dogs.
Zero to 100 km/h is rated in the 5.6-second range, accompanied by a guttural roar apt to intimidate grown men. I had actually expected a little more refinement from this mill, given my experience with it in other applications—but that’s not a particularly bad thing. The raunchiness gives the Z a little more operational hostility and personality.
Behind the wheel brings exceptional handling and braking
The 370Z tracks beautifully, feeling cemented to the tarmac in the most aggressive of cornering manoeuvres. Steering response is instantaneous and razor sharp, but there’s a price to pay for all the pavement bravado, and it’s a stiff ride and plenty of tire noise.
 |
| Zero to 100 km/h is rated in the 5.6-second range, accompanied by a guttural roar apt to intimidate grown men. (Photo: NIssan) |