Nissan 350Z: The Z33 That Carried the Z-Car Into a New Century

Known as the Fairlady Z (Z33) in Japan, Nissan's 350Z carried the Z-car name from 2002 until 2009. It kept the long-bonnet, short-tail proportions of the family and paired them with a modern V6 and, from 2004, a roadster body. The result was a car that found a loyal following well beyond showrooms.

The 350Z's story starts with a difficult question for Nissan: what should the Z become after the 300ZX left the American market? The answer ran through a retro concept that the company rejected, a redesign, and a production car that went on to win races and drifting titles.

Where did the 350Z idea come from?

The project grew out of Nissan's decision to withdraw the 300ZX from the US market in 1996. A North American design team developed a concept in its own time, and the idea was shown on a four-state Road Show in July 1998. Yutaka Katayama, who was called the Father of the Z, is part of that story.

Carlos Ghosn announced production plans in February 2000, and the Z Concept followed at Detroit two years later. The original 240Z designer, Yoshihiko Matsuo, disliked the early concept.

The production decision also reflected a wider recovery plan at Nissan. The Z was a halo product that could carry the company's performance image while the rest of the range was reworked.

A front mid-engine V6 Z that found its second life on the track and in the drift arena.

How did the 240Z concept shape the final car?

The 240Z concept appeared at the 1999 North American International Auto Show with a 2.4-litre KA24DE four-cylinder making 200 bhp (149 kW). Its design sketch came from Manny Baker, and the car was created in only 12 weeks. It served its purpose by creating interest in a new Z.

Nissan then moved away from the concept's four-cylinder layout. The Z Concept underwent a minor redesign before production, and the production car was given the 3.5 L VQ35DE V6 instead. That change restored the six-cylinder character the Z badge had always carried.

Designers had worked from an original 240Z for inspiration, which tied the new car's proportions to its ancestor while the mechanical package was fully modern. That balance of heritage and new engineering became the heart of the car's appeal.

What was the 350Z's design and layout?

The 350Z was a front mid-engine, rear-wheel drive two-seater styled by Ajay Panchal. A design team led by Diane Allen at Nissan Design America in San Diego worked on the car, and it kept the long-hood, short-deck proportions of the Z-car family.

Mid-engine placement kept the car's mass between the axles, which gave it the balance that enthusiasts prized. Combined with rear-wheel drive, that layout set the car apart from many front-engined rivals.

External highlights included brushed aluminium door handles and bulging fenders. Inside, the main gauge pod sat on the steering column so that it moved with the wheel. Touring cars carried a Bose system with a six-CD changer and an 8-inch subwoofer, and there was no conventional glove box.

Which engines did the 350Z use?

The production car used the 3.5 L VQ35DE V6. Early 2005 cars with the automatic made 287 bhp (291 PS; 214 kW) and 274 lb ft (371 N m). A Rev-up version of the VQ35DE, rated at 300 HP, followed on the manual models.

For 2007 Nissan replaced the engine with the VQ35HR, which made 306 bhp (310 PS; 228 kW) at 6800 rpm and 268 lb ft (363 N m) at 4800 rpm. The redline rose to 7500 rpm and the torque curve was broader across the range, which suited the car's sporty brief.

The later VQ35HR offered a broader torque curve than the earlier unit, which gave the car more usable pull across the rev range.

What trims and body styles were offered?

The coupe launched with Base, Enthusiast, Performance, Touring and Track trims. The roadster arrived in 2004 with a soft top that retracted electrically, and the Grand Touring trim joined it for 2005. Europe sold only the Track trim, badged as 350Z.

The Base model had cloth seats and no limited-slip differential, while Touring offered the luxury end of the range. The Track model had Brembo brakes and 18-inch wheels.

Choosing a trim was therefore a question of priorities: comfort and equipment on the Touring, or stiffer hardware and track readiness on the Track.

What was the 35th Anniversary Edition?

The 35th Anniversary Edition marked the 35th anniversary of the Datsun 240Z, and it went on sale in January 2005. Manual cars carried a 300 hp V6, while the equipment list included 18-inch wheels, Brembo brakes, special Z badging and a Bose 6-speaker system.

Buyers could choose from Ultra Yellow, Silverstone grey, Super Black and Pearl Blue paint, and an interior with a black set configuration was also available. A version with a Gran Turismo 4 video game tie-in was made as well, which shows how far the car had reached into popular culture.

How did the Nismo range work?

Nismo, Nissan's performance division, began producing modified 350Zs shortly after launch. The R-Tune kit of 2004 was sold direct to customers and voided the factory warranty, aimed at track racers who wanted more power. The S-Tune GT of 2005 raised output to 316 PS (232 kW; 312 hp) and a 7,200 rpm redline.

The Nismo 350Z of 2007 and 2008 used the VQ35HR with a six-speed manual, a limited-slip differential and Brembo brakes. Nissan built 1,607 units across the two model years, and the US price for 2007 was $38,070. Output was capped at 10% of total 350Z sales.

The range showed how far Nissan's performance division was willing to push the platform. Some kits were sold for owners who accepted the warranty loss, while the Nismo editions brought factory-built changes to the road.

What were the Type 380RS and its race sibling?

The Type 380RS was the road version of the Type 380RS-Competition race car. It used a detuned race engine rated at 349 PS (345 hp), and only 300 units were built from 2007 through 2008. The race car's 3,798 cc VQ38HR engine produced 400 PS (294 kW) at 7,500 rpm.

The road car was priced at 5.397 million yen, while the race car reportedly cost 26.25 million yen. The gap between the two shows how far the Nismo model sat above the standard 350Z in both price and purpose.

How successful was the 350Z in racing?

The 350Z raced in Grand-Am from its 2003 debut, and Schuitemaker Motorsports took third place in the 2003 Grand-Am Cup before finishing second in 2004. In Super GT the car replaced the Skyline GT-R in the GT500 class, and Nismo won the 2004 GT500 championship.

Hasemi Sports won the 2003 GT300 title with the 350Z. Nissan's 2004 race car weighed 2,450 lb (1,110 kg), and the car was also entered in Japan's Super Taikyu series. A privateer 350Z competed in the British GT Championship until 2006.

In the United States the car found a second life in club racing. NASA created a Spec Z class for it in 2012, giving owners a single class where close, cost-controlled competition could showcase driving skill.

The mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout made the car a natural fit for club events, where cost control mattered as much as outright speed. That is why it kept a place in amateur competition.

Did the 350Z succeed in drifting?

Yes. Tanner Foust scored a perfect 100 at the 2006 D1 Grand Prix exhibition in Las Vegas, and he later won the Formula D title in a 350Z. Other drivers used the car in D1 and Formula D as well.

Drift teams valued the car's rear-wheel drive layout and its V6 character, which made the 350Z a practical base for modification.

How was the 350Z received by critics?

Reviewers praised the car's value, handling and braking. Criticism aimed at interior plastics, the car's curb weight and engine refinement. Top Gear named Nissan's designers Car of the Year in 2004.

Other honours included 10 Best Cars 2003 from Car and Driver, Automobile of the Year 2003 from Automobile magazine, and Canadian Car of the Year 2003. Japan's Performance Car of the Year followed in 2007, giving the car a steady run of recognition.

Reviewers who ran the car against rivals often found that a capable driver could match more expensive machinery, and that point featured in much of the praise. Criticism was more specific, and it focused on details that owners would notice in daily use.

What was the 350Z's safety record?

Frontal airbags were standard, while side and curtain airbags were optional. The two-door car recorded 143 deaths per million registrations, which made it one of the least safe 2005-2008 models in the United States.

That figure is the main safety criticism of the model, and it sits alongside its strong driving reputation. Buyers who prize the car for its handling should weigh that record against the car's other strengths.

Nissan's marketing leaned on the car's sporting image, from a short film shot in Prague to a Veilside-kitted car in a major film. That kept the 350Z visible with younger buyers long after launch.

Specifications at a glance

The table below lists the key figures for the production car and its main variants. Where a value belongs to one model only, the table names it so that the figures do not blur together.

Frequently asked questions

Did Nissan build a roadster version?

The roadster went on sale in 2004 with a soft top that folded away electrically. Grand Touring trim was added for 2005, and the roadster was offered alongside the coupe.

How many Nismo 350Zs were built?

Output of the Nismo model was 1,607 cars across 2007 and 2008. Nissan capped it at 10% of total 350Z sales, so the model stayed rare. Its six-speed manual, limited-slip differential and Brembo brakes set it apart from the standard coupe on the road and at the track.

What was the Top Gear award for the 350Z?

Top Gear gave Nissan's designers its Car of the Year award for 2004. That recognition sat alongside several awards from the US and Canadian press, including Car and Driver's 10 Best list for 2003 and Automobile magazine's Automobile of the Year for 2003.

When did the 350Z give way to the 370Z?

The 370Z replaced the 350Z for the 2009 model year, although the roadster was offered alongside the coupe for that year. Production of the 350Z ended in 2009, which closed out the fifth generation of Nissan's Z-car line.