‘Finding Nismo’: Nissan’s hottest 370Z 2-seater
When I was a lad, my dad had a knack for naming our pets, including a series of all-white Maine coon cats named Fenwick, Figaro, and Thumper.
He also had his own nickname for me: Nemo.
That was based on the mysterious Captain Nemo, who designed, built, and commanded the Nautilus submarine from “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.’’ The Disney/Pixar animated clownfish “Finding Nemo’’ came much later.
Fortunately, I guess, the moniker never caught on among my pals.
Still, my dad would have chortled if he were still around to see us pull up in today’s test car, the 2015 Nissan 370Z Nismo Tech.
The alliterative prospect of the two esoteric names would have been irresistible. I can hear him now, calling to my mom and our old neighbor George Norton, “Hey, come see. Look at Nemo in the Nismo.’’
Nemo can be translated as “no one’’ from Latin, but Nismo has a much more dynamic meaning in Nissan terminology. There, it represents the essence of Nissan’s performance arm for both track and street vehicles.
Lately, the 370Z Nismo has been in the midst of the effort to produce factory-direct vehicles for the motoring enthusiast, a Nissan endeavor that also includes the GT-R Nismo and Juke Nismo RS.
2015 Nissan 370Z Nismo Tech
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Our 370Z had the Nismo Tech package, which includes standard navigation and a new option for 2015, a seven-speed automatic transmission. It also provides upgraded audio and a much-needed rearview camera because pronounced blind sports are the downside of the 370Z’s exterior styling.
If this were a family coupe, we’d be panning it for lack of rear visibility. Instead, we advise you to carefully adjust side mirrors. Even then, we’d like to see a blind-spot warning system and cross-traffic alert in future editions.
These systems have become so good today that there are two truisms for those who drive without them.
1. On average, drivers over age 50 are losing the ability to turn their head and look behind the car as they back up.
2. Backing up can be perilous without aid. The best thing that can happen is nothing.
After driving the Juke with the manual transmission, it was a letdown to see that this 370Z had an automatic, but this is one sports car that still is fun to drive using the standard paddle shifters. The built-in rev-matching in the powertrain makes downshifting for corners, looming stops, and off ramps a blast.
The naturally aspirated (non-turbo) 3.7-liter V-6 produces 350 horsepower, compared with the standard 370Z’s 332 HP. It goes to the rear wheels via that 7-speed automatic (or a 6-speed manual).
So what does the Nismo version of the 370Z give you other than red brake calipers and a neat logo on the rear?
Glad you asked.
The engine is tuned more aggressively and shows it with a signature red engine cover should you open the aluminum hood.
The specially tuned exhaust system ends with a pair of polished exhaust tips that might have come from the bugles used to announce last weekend’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, not all that far from Nissan’s Nashville area headquarters.
The suspension is tuned tightly with suspension tower braces and performance-level dampers.
The Nismo rides on special 19-inch, charcoal-toned, alloy wheels and comes in only four colors: red, white, silver, and black.
Outside, there’s an aerodynamic body package, including unique front and rear fasciae, body side sills, and rear spoiler. The slash LED running lights and air intakes incorporate features from full-race vehicles into a head-turning sports car.
Inside, Nissan has co-designed special Recaro seats with leather appointments. The seats are extra high, have pronounced side bolsters, Nismo stitching, and Recaro embossing plus large Alcantara inserts for the seating and backrest surfaces.
Our test driving was an opportunity to experience Alcantara, the Italian-made suede-like material.
The steering wheel also has a combination of Alcantara, wood, and leather wrapping, and there’s signature Nismo red stitching throughout the interior.
A Z feature has the main gauges—speedometer, tach, and driver’s information display—attached to the adjustable steering column so they move up and down for easier visibility for the driver.
Storage is limited to a pair of hard-to-reach small shelves, one behind each seat, and some decent (for a sports car) cargo space under the hatchback.
Other gauges include a Nismo-red tachometer. There’s also a throwback to the Z’s progenitor, the original Datsun 240Z with three center-mounted gauges atop the middle of the dashboard (oil temperature, voltmeter, and digital clock). That got a big nod of approval from my friend Ken Nadler, who is ready to reminisce about his original 197X 240Z any time someone mentions Nissan or Datsun.
On the road, the Z is just fun to drive—quick, responsive, and with a stiff enough suspension that makes it clear this isn’t a Sentra, Altima, or Juke. The exhaust note isn’t heard as much inside as the sound of the engine when it’s pushed.
The Nismo has eight-way manually adjustable driver and passenger seats that are controlled by three rotary knobs and a lever in front. All are easy enough to use except the rear knob, which is jammed against the back of the door frame. It controls the seatback, and is one I have to use to find my preferred upright driving position. It was a challenge to get it right, but unless someone else were going to drive the car, it wouldn’t have to be changed again.
And this is one car you want to drive yourself.
2015 Nissan 370Z Nismo Tech
THE BASICS
Price, base/as tested (with destination): $47,600/$47,725. Fuel economy, EPA estimated: 19 city/26 highway/21 combined. Fuel economy, Globe observed: 23.2. Drivetrain: 3.7-liter V-6, 7-speed automatic transmission, rear-wheel-drive, limited-slip differential. Body: 2-door sports car.
THE SPECIFICS
Horsepower: 350. Torque: 276 lb.-ft. Overall length: 170.5 in. Wheelbase: 100.4 in. Height: 51.8 in. Width: 73.6 in. Curb weight: 3,394 lbs.
THE GOOD
Styling, handling, visual impact.
THE BAD
Blind spots, interior storage, road-engine noise, Nismo stiff ride won’t appeal to some.
THE BOTTOM LINE
It pretty much stands alone as a near-luxury sports car.
ALSO CONSIDER BMW
2-Series, Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang, Subaru BRZ, and Toyota FR-S.
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