Nissan on the rebound

Just a few years ago, Nissan was looking very unhealthy - we're talking Pope unhealthy.

Before Renault came along with a plan to inject serious funds, but also apply a strict business regime, Nissan was looking like Japan's best carmaker, only with the worst sales.

Today things are very different. Take, for instance, the latest financial figures. We know you'd rather be looking at kW figures, but we'll get to that soon.

This news release arrived on the 24th October:

Tokyo - Nissan Motor Company announced today that it expects to report an 84% increase in operating profits for the first half of fiscal year 2002, to 348 billion yen (AU $5.2 billion).

Not a bad outlook that one, but this impressive result is not just Renault's or CEO Carlos Ghosn's work. The Nissan people have always worked hard to produce powerful engines, and the company is still known for this today, with the likes of the 200SX, X-Trail and Skyline and now 350Z powerplants highlighting this.

Globally, Nissan retail sales soared to 1,386,000 vehicles in the first half of the fiscal year, an increase of 7.5% from the same half-year period of FY 2001. To say that the Nissan Motor Company has been turned around would be an understatement.

And, far from resting on its laurels, Nissan is still forging ahead with new models, updates and concepts, the most important of which is the new Zed.

But strangely, the Zed defies all logic. Nissan has been doing plenty of market research to find out what people want in cars - and that's what they built. The result has been very lucrative.

The new 350Z is somewhat different, as Ghosn explains: "The new Z is one of those rare examples of product out design. That is, we created the absolute best sports car we could without worrying about market niches or buyer profiles.

"Now that it's nearly here, we know the buyers will find its unmatched combination of exotic car performance and entry-level price point irresistible. The new Z is a serious sports car and we're very serious about regaining its original place in the market."

Tough talk, Mr Ghosn, but after seeing the new car in the flesh, we reckon it could well regain its place in today's automotive world.

Unveiled to the Australian media at the Sydney Motor Show, the 350Z brings with it an air of confidence - it's almost as if Nissan knows something we don't, that will ultimately make the new Zed a superstar.

Success is in the wings for the new two-door, two-seat sportster, gauging from its price. Likely to undercut the Mazda RX-8 when in launches mid-2003, and competing in the same marketplace, the 350Z range starts at $59,990.

'Twas quite a surprise to us, as we tipped the magic entry-level number to start with a seven. The car is 'technically' on sale now, with potential buyers asked to place deposits on new cars.

The decision to release early details of the new 350Z follows the outstanding success of pre-sales campaigns held in the United States and Japan, where over 13,000 eager customers ordered the vehicle sight-unseen.

Anyway, for 10 bucks shy of sixty-large, you can pick up the Touring 350Z. There are two models in the range, the Touring and Track models - no prizes for guessing what the latter was designed for...

Both models get the following: a ripping 3.5-litre V6, carbon fibre drive shaft, viscous limited-slip rear diff, dual outlet exahust, drive-by-wire throttle and a six-speed manual gearbox.

A five notch auto can be specified at launch, but only on the Touring model for an extra $2,800. 350Z Track auto's may come into the market mid-2003.

Further to this, the 350Z Track model also gets bigger 18-inch wheels, wider tyres, front and rear spoilers and a rather impressive sports-oriented Brembo Braking System.

This includes 4-piston calipers with 324x30mm ventilated front discs and 2-piston calipers with 322x22mm ventilated rear discs. The track model will set you back six grand over the Tourning at $65,990.

Similar in spec to an STi WRX, the new 350Z range gets the same engine and same specs, but the track model with its improved braking, aerodynamics and wider rubber is likely to pip its cheaper sibling in the quarter mile dash - not to mention on twisty coastal roads.

The 3.5-litre V6, with dual-overhead camshafts, is quite a piece of work - arguably Nissan's best V6 in years. It's all-alloy construction keeps weight down, while a continuously variable valve timing control system squeezes every last drop of acceleration out of a stonking 363Nm @ 4800rpm.

Peak power occurs at 6200rpm, and 206kW is not to be baulked at. Early reports from the States suggests the rear-wheel driven coupe can hit 100km/h from rest in under 6.0-seconds, but at the same token, the Yanks get an 8kW advantage. The US-spec Zed has 214kW.

The new 'Zed' is based on Nissan's FM platform - Front Midship. This refers to positioning of the engine, which will be similar to the upcoming Mazda RX-8, and located slightly behind the front wheels to achieve a better centre of gravity - hence a better steering response.

It has a front to rear weight ratio of 53:47, not quite the 50:50 of the RX-8, but close nonetheless.

Couple this prodigious centre of gravity with independent multi-link suspension front and rear (with a front strut tower brace and an integrated rear strut tower brace combined with front and rear stabilizer bars) and drivers are guaranteed sure-footed handling and dynamics.

While the Touring model gets smaller brakes, they're by no means underpowered: power-assisted 296x24mm ventilated front and 292x21mm ventilated rear discs.

Four-wheel anti-lock braking with brake assist and electronic brake force distribution is standard across the range.

Interior appointments on both models include heated leather sports seats, automatic climate control air-conditioning, a Bose 240 watt sound system with seven speakers (including woofer), power windows, door locks, mirrors and a three-bay gauge cluster for oil pressure, voltmeter and trip computer.

Paul Stead, director of marketing and sales for Nissan Australia, said the interest in the new vehicle has been phenomenal, particularly at dealer level. "Since we first showed the concept Z car at the Sydney Motor Show last year, our dealer group has reported unprecedented enquiry levels, with buyers wishing to leave deposits on the vehicle many times over the past twelve months."

And, while he agreed that the excitement surrounding the new vehicle was very satisfying, Mr Leon Daphne, managing director and CEO of Nissan, emphasised that the new generation Z was more than just a stylish addition to Nissan's extensive vehicle line-up.

"The new 350Z embodies the brand identify of a reinvigorated Nissan - the Nissan ‘DNA’ - which encompasses performance, imagination, heritage and passion and we are delighted to welcome the vehicle to Nissan’s Australian range," he said.

As far as the new look Zed goes - feelings are mixed. At the Wombat, almost everyone agrees that its has a purposeful, if not edgy design. That said, there'll always be dissenters...

The design of the new Z was an international effort, with contributions from Nissan design studios in Japan and the U.S. taking the vehicle from a concept, which was developed at Nissan Design America (NDA), La Jolla, California.

Diane Allen, chief designer at Red Studio, NDA, had this to say about the Zed: "A long wheelbase and wide stance provided a great starting place. Our first thought was to recreate the sensation of an open-wheeled Formula 1 car - all wheels and an intimate center structure."

Mamoru Aoki, product chief designer at the Nissan Technical Center stated: "The Z is very fluid and relaxed, from the curve of the door cut to the freeness and movement of the glass. It looks fast, but not just in a straight line. It's a simple yet exacting design, which gives the Z a polished feeling like you get from classic cars."

While retaining elements of both the first 240Z, such as the headlamp treatment, and the last generation 300ZX, the new Z also reflects a very modern appearance.

"We had to find our own statement, which required a different way of putting the Z together - with a high tech, mechanical crispness balancing the more fluid shapes and sections," continued Allen.

"We've played up the contrasts with the 'negative' center section running through the positive wheel sections. The Z is not all positive and fat - it has a play between elements so you should never get bored with [looking at] it."

Over in the States, the biggest complaints revolve around luggage space (or lack thereof) and the great big strut reducing rearward vision. Mamoru Aoki explains: "The cabin is purposely selfish so there is no mistaking the new Z for a sports coupe or a sports touring car. We even avoided the use of a longer door because we didn't want to suggest that there's access to a rear seat."

Well - there you have it. The new 350Z will be arriving early in 2003, February to be exact, and will revive the classic 'Z' moniker once again. Along with Nissan's return to profitability, the new-look Pulsar and upcoming Zed bode extremely well for the company.

Monaro and Boxster look out - there's a new kid in town and he ain't no slacker!