2013 Nissan 370Z Roadster Press Kit: Overview
04/28/2012
Nissan
For 2013, the Nissan 370Z Roadster offers a dynamic new look - with a revised front fascia with LED daytime running lights, a red reflector for the rear fascia (replaces black center cover), a new 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheel design with Sport Package and two new exterior colors: Midnight Blue and Magma Red. The Sport Package also adds red finish caliper color and Euro-tuned sport shocks.
As in previous years, the 2013 Nissan 370Z Roadster offers an unmatched balance of dynamic performance, sculptured styling, innovative technology and exceptional value - along with the exhilaration of pure open-air motoring provided by the standard 332-horsepower 3.7-liter DOHC V6 engine with Variable Valve Event and Lift Control (VVEL). A choice of 7-speed automatic transmission or close-ratio 6-speed manual with available SynchroRev Match(R) (370Z Roadster Touring with Sport Package only) is offered.
Unique Z Roadster equipment includes available high back net seats, added structural body reinforcements (compared to the 370Z Coupe) and the stylish convertible top. The 370Z Roadster's standard power automatic latching top was designed with an emphasis on providing a sleek silhouette with the top up or down, offering easy single-action open-close operation, and providing an enjoyable top-down experience with reduced wind turbulence and all-climate driver/passenger comfort. Key features include available heating and cooling ventilated net seats, Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System, satellite radio (SiriusXM subscription required, sold separately) and advanced Nissan Navigation System.
The 2013 Nissan 370Z is also available in two hardtop models: the 370Z Coupe and the NISMO 370Z. For information on those vehicles, please see NissanNews.com.
An Authentic Roadster
Now in the fourth year of the current generation Z design, the 370Z Roadster combines the legendary high-value performance attributes of the 370Z Coupe with the open-air fun of an authentic convertible sports car. The 370Z Roadster's roof is designed to provide a sleek silhouette, matching the Z Coupe's stunning styling, while offering an easy, single-action open-close operation. The quiet, all-weather cloth top provides an enjoyable top-down experience with reduced wind turbulence and all-climate driver/passenger comfort.
With the convertible top in the closed position, the design provides a sophisticated sloped-back appearance, the perfect balance between the soft top and the Z body design. The shortened windshield and aerodynamically rounded rear deck enhance the Z(R)'s kinetic and dynamic character lines. When in the down position, the convertible top is concealed beneath a full body-color hard tonneau cover, which extends forward to help create the Z(R) Roadster's classic "double cockpit" style interior.
The standard black (a Bordeaux color top is available with the Wine colored interior) cloth convertible top features a fabric inner liner, which provides a quality appearance and helps reduce noise intrusion into the cabin, along with a large glass rear window with an integrated electric rear window defroster. The top operation takes approximately 20 seconds and is controlled by either a center console-mounted switch or by a button located on the doors (top lowering only). The automatic latch system secures the top to - or releases it from - the windshield header without driver intervention. The shape and position of the glass wind deflector, located between the fixed headrest bars, has been optimized to reduce turbulence into the cabin.
Like the 370Z Coupe, the Z(R) Roadster's exterior features an aluminum hood, door panels and trunk for reduced weight. It includes additional structural reinforcement (over the 370Z Coupe), including in the A-pillars and side sills. The Z Roadster's exterior design incorporates the look and feel of the Z Coupe, including its signature long nose/short cockpit proportions, vertical door handles and distinctive headlight/taillight treatment, which features a fierce "boomerang" shape - along with a new fascia design with integrated LED daytime running lights.
The headlights themselves are a High Intensity Discharge (HID) bi-functional xenon design with auto on/off feature. In the rear, a new red reflector replaces the previous black center cover for 2013. Two new exterior colors are offered for 2013 - Midnight Blue and Magma Red - along with six carryover colors: Solid Red, Magnetic Black, Brilliant Silver, Gun Metallic, Black Cherry and Pearl White.
Inside the stunning exterior, true to its sports car heritage, the Z Roadster's interior is completely driver-centric, with its three-layer design grouping items by how a driver sees information, operates the controls and is held in place - so drivers feel completely connected and engaged whenever and wherever they drive, top up or down.
The Z Roadster features high back black woven "Carbon" cloth seats with 8-way manual driver's/4-way manual passenger's seat adjustments. Touring models include unique leather-appointed seats with 4-way power/4-way manual operation on the driver's seat (4-way power on the passenger's seat). These seats are exclusive to the Z Roadster and have integrated heating and cooling functions - ideal for open air driving no matter what the outside temperature. Adjustable front seat Active Head Restraints are also standard.
The Z Roadster's 2-seat layout includes a deeply scooped instrument panel with a full-length center console separating the driver and passenger's seat. The instrument panel retains the traditional Z 3-pod cluster with oil temperature, voltmeter and clock, while the speedometer and tachometer include an "initial sweep" function, coming alive when the car is first started. The fuel gauge/trip computer finisher has been refined for 2013 with a new dark finish.
The sporty steering wheel is an "oval" 3-spoke design, which offers baseball-style stitching, improved thumb grips and palm rest areas for improved feel on long drives. The surface of the leather-wrapped wheel is "shaved" to provide a more kidney-like shape to better fit in the hand. The manual transmission shifter is specially padded to improve the accuracy of diagonal shifts and to feel softer in the hand for forward and backward motions.
Standard interior comfort and convenience features include Nissan Intelligent Key(R) with Push Button Ignition, power windows with one-touch auto up/down feature, power door locks with auto-lock feature and a center console box with a non-intrusive cover design. Other features include automatic climate control, two 12-volt power outlets, three cupholders (two in door panels, one in center console) and an AM/FM/CD/AUX 4-speaker audio system with illuminated steering wheel-mounted controls.
The Touring model adds a 6CD Bose audio system with eight speakers (includes dual subwoofer) and MP3/WMA playback, SiriusXM Satellite Radio (SiriusXM subscription required, sold separately), Bluetooth(R) Hands-free Phone System, HomeLink(R) Universal Transceiver and aluminum-trimmed pedals.
The optional Navigation Package includes the touch-screen Nissan Hard Drive Navigation System with NavTraffic Real-Time Traffic Information and NavWeather (SiriusXM subscription required, sold separately), USB connectivity that is iPod(R) compatible, Bluetooth(R) Streaming Audio, on-board Zagat Survey(R) restaurant ratings database, along with an in-dash DVD player and RearView Monitor.
The 2013 Nissan 370Z Roadster interior is available in Black cloth or for 370Z Touring Roadster models, a choice of Gray, Black or Wine (available exclusively with Pearl White and Black Cherry exterior colors) leather-appointed A/C and heated ventilated seats.
Open Air, Open Roads - An Unbeatable Combination
The 2013 370Z Roadster once again features one of the most advanced drivetrains available for affordable sports cars today. The long list of cutting edge performance-focused technologies includes a standard 332-horsepower 3.7-liter DOHC V6 engine with Variable Valve Event and Lift Control (VVEL) and choice of 7-speed automatic transmission or close-ratio 6-speed manual with available SynchroRev Match(R), the world's first synchronized downshift rev matching manual transmission (manual transmission offered with Touring model only).
The VVEL system is able to optimize intake valve open/close movements, allowing the needed air to be sent promptly to the combustion chamber at the precisely optimized time. Since the VVEL system can adjust to open the valves slightly, it improves fuel efficiency by reducing camshaft friction and fuel waste. It also provides cleaner emissions by allowing for quicker warm-up of the catalyst and by stabilizing combustion when the engine is cool.
The 6-speed manual's available SynchroRev Match(R) system (included in the optional Sport Package) allows drivers of any skill level to experience professional-like gear shift performance. The SynchroRev Match(R) function automatically controls and adjusts engine speed when shifting to the speed of the next gear position, essentially "blipping" the throttle to smooth out up/down shifts. This not only allows the driver to focus more on braking and steering, it improves the smoothness of gear shifts by reducing the typical "shock" when the clutch is engaged. The system can be deactivated with a button next to the shifter for drivers who prefer to shift on their own.
The available 7-speed automatic includes Downshift Rev Matching (DRM) and Adaptive Shift Control (ASC) and is designed to offer quick, manual-like shifting when operated in manual mode. Drivers can use the standard paddle shifters or the shift lever. The 7-speed's wide gear ratios offer improved fuel efficiency (versus a 5-speed automatic), while the Adaptive Shift Control is designed to adjust to the driver's driving style.
Estimated fuel economy for the 2013 370Z Roadster is 18 mpg City/25 mpg Highway for the 7-speed automatic and 17 mpg City/24 mpg Highway for the 6-speed manual transmission.
The Z(R) Roadster also utilizes the Z Coupe's advanced 4-wheel independent suspension. The double-wishbone front suspension uses lightweight forged aluminum arms and a lightweight rigid aluminum-alloy cradle, along with a hollow construction stabilizer bar. The 4-link rear suspension integrates the rear cradle into a single part. "High response" shock absorbers are utilized on each corner for enhanced ride comfort. New Euro-tuned shock absorbers are now offered with the optional Sport Package (Touring models only).
The standard 370Z Roadster wheel and tire package features 18x8.0-inch front/18x9.0-inch lightweight aluminum-alloy wheels with P225/50R18 front/P245/45R18 rear Bridgestone Potenza RE050A summer tires. Available as part of the optional Sport Package are new design 19-inch RAYS forged lightweight aluminum-alloy wheels with Bridgestone Potenza RE050A P245/40R19 front/P275/35R19 tires.
The Z(R)'s standard 4-wheel vented disc brake system includes Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA). The optional Sport Package includes Nissan Sport Brakes with large diameter 14.0-inch front and 13.8-inch rear rotors (versus 12.6-inch front/rear standard rotors) with 4-piston front and 2-piston rear aluminum calipers. For 2013, the Sport Brakes now include a red finish caliper color.
Steering is provided by a vehicle-speed-sensitive power-assisted rack-and-pinion design. Unwanted steering kickback and vibrations are reduced with the addition of a solenoid valve that acts like a damper when there is a harsh impact load. A Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system is standard.
The 2013 Nissan 370Z Roadster's list of standard safety features includes the Nissan Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt sensors and occupant classification sensor; front seat-mounted side impact supplemental air bags; door-mounted curtain air bags; and seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters. Other standard equipment includes Active Head Restraints, Zone Body Construction with front and rear crumple zones, Nissan Vehicle Immobilizer System, Vehicle Security System and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
The 2013 Z(R) Roadster is offered in two well-equipped models - 370Z Roadster (7-speed automatic only) and the 370Z Touring Roadster (6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic). Two option packages are offered with the Touring model, the Sport Package and Navigation. A spare tire is optionally available with both models.