Video: 2009 Nissan Nismo 370Z

So I wanna look at what makes it different. What are the results of those changes, and then how it compares to the base model. The Nismo 370Z has a number of styling cues that separate from the regular model. In the front there's this chin spoiler that sticks out and gives a little different look. And it also has special 19 inch forged aluminum wheels, they're designed to be lightweight, and they also have a pretty neat look I think. Behind the wheels are also large brake rotors. They're 14 inches in front, and they're gripped by four piston, aluminum calipers. One of the more dramatic styling elements of the 370Z is this rear wing. It's two tiered and it serves to create more down force on the rear of the car. One of it's negative aspects though, is that it blocks rear visibility, which is already limited in this coop. You can also see that this has a larger free flow exhaust system, and that helps boost this car's horsepower. The Nismo 370Z makes 350 horsepower, and that's up from 332 in the base model. And in addition to the new exhaust system, it also gets a revised engine control computer. The engine pairs with a six speed manual transmission. That includes a really neat feature, it's called SynchroRev Match. And what it's designed to do is when you're downshifting, it automatically blips the throttle to help make for smooth gear changes. It works really well in this car. Combined fuel economy for it is 18 miles per gallon in the city and 26 on the highway. Even though the focus of the Nismo 370Z is on performance. It has a premium interior that features nice materials on the dash, and a nice fit overall for the driver. There are some changes from the regular model though, and those include special Nismo badges on the back of the seats, the floor mats and a plaque that commemorates this model as a Nismo model. So what's it like to drive the Nismo 370Z compared to the regular model? Well, the biggest thing you're gonna notice is that it rides a lot rougher. This model has a performance oriented suspension that stiffer, and you definitely feel it on regular public roads. It's almost to the point that it steps over the line of being too far, whereas the regular Z is tolerable. This one could be borderline not tolerable for some people. It's also really loud in the cabin. You hear the engine all the time, and that's one thing that's different from the regular model. So overall it's a much more performance oriented car, which is definitely what Nismo is getting at. So the Nismo 370Z starts at about $40,000 and that compares to a starting price of around $30,000 for a regular 370Z coop. Because the regular 370Z is such a competent performer, you're gonna really have to want the extra performance features this model comes with. If you're gonna step up to it. (car engine humming) <v Narrator>For more car related news, go to cars.com or our blog kickingTires.net