What’s going on?
With the 50th anniversary of Nissan’s many-year Z-Car looming in 2019, Nissan has released details about the 2018 370Z Heritage Edition ahead of the New York International Auto Show.
The Heritage Edition Z separates itself from the basic Z specification with the inclusion of two completely new colors, Chicane Yellow and Magnetic Black, with black and silver exterior graphics and yellow interior trim, respectively.
If you squint enough, you will find that Heritage Z also transfers updates applied to all Z models for 2018. This includes the factory-installed Exedy clutch, as well as soft facelift on headlights, taillights, rear trim and door handles.
Word. Any more power?
The 370Z still transfers power to the rear wheels from the venerable Nissan VQ37 powerplant. The naturally aspirated 3.7L V6 still produces 332 bhp. and 270 lb-ft of torque using either a six-speed manual gearbox or an optional seven-speed automatic transmission.
Available for purchase in 2008, the 370Z was a gradual upgrade to the widely popular 350Z model released in 2004. Fourteen years after the 350Z, fans had to puzzle over what the next Nissan Z-car would expect, if it was under development at all. In an era when manufacturers are focusing their efforts on producing “models that sell” (read: crossovers), throwing an ax at models designed for enthusiasts with smaller pockets (RIP Nissan IDx), and rebranding sports cars as crossovers (I’m looking Mitsubishi on you), the future for car lovers looks a bit bleak.
-Jack Wilson