Nissan 370Z 2014 News

A model cull is coming as Nissan aims to pique buyers' palates.

New-car prices will hit new lows between now and the end of the month as Japanese brands push to reach their sales targets before the end of the Japanese financial year, which is March 31.March is typically the second-biggest month of the year for new-car sales behind June, the end of the Australian financial year. The good news for car buyers is that the heavy discounting from the Japanese companies also brings down prices across the industry as rivals try to compete.The profit margins on some cars are so slim that dealers claim they only make money on window tinting -- and finance if arranged through the dealership. Last year, the Toyota Corolla and Nissan Pulsar had their prices wound back by 20 years to $19,990, and others followed.The Japanese Government has for the past 12 months artificially devalued the Yen to boost exports and keep their car factories running at full capacity. Car companies and dealers refused to comment on-the-record about the "D-word" -- discount -- but a search across the industry found some sharp deals on popular cars.The cheapest models from Japanese brands are the Suzuki Alto ($11,990 drive-away) and the Mitsubishi Mirage ($12,990 drive-away), both about $3000 off their full recommended retail prices. Despite their bargain prices both five-door hatchbacks come with the latest safety features, including six airbags and stability control.Meanwhile Suzuki has the cheapest small car below $20,000 with a built-in navigation system: the special edition Swift Navigator is $16,990 drive-away, about $3500 off.Nissan's website says its Pulsar small car is $22,315 drive-away but we found several dealers prepared to sell one for $18,990 drive-away, more than $3000 off. "We'll sell you a car but there's nothing in it for us," said one Nissan dealer who did not want to be named. "That's a white car with manual transmission and standard-issue number plates." Automatic transmission typically adds $2000, metallic paint adds up to $550 on some brands and, in NSW, premium number plates cost about $60 more than standard-issue plates.The only people not celebrating the sharp new-car prices are the dealers. "It's not uncommon to not make a dollar on the car," said a Mitsubishi dealer. "We hope to make it back on accessories, finance or when the customer comes back to get the car serviced."Car dealers typically get a commission of about $1200 on the finance on a $20,000 car -- if the finance is arranged through the dealership. "That's more than the profit on the car," said another dealer. Buyers might also get lucky if the dealer is a few cars short of their monthly sales target."Sometimes you'll rip up a car (sell it below cost) in the last one or two days of the month, just to get over the line," said one multi-franchise dealer principal with more than 20 years' experience in the trade. "That sale could mean the difference between getting a big bonus from the factory, or nothing."The biggest discounts are on the dearest cars. The Nissan 370Z sports-car is now $59,990 drive-away, it was $72,000 plus on-road costs the same time last year, a saving of about $15,000. The Nissan Leaf electric car is now $39,990 drive-away, compared to $51,500 plus on-road costs when it was launched two years ago, a saving of about $14,000 off the full RRP. The Mitsubishi Pajero GLX-R 4WD wagon is now $54,990 drive-away -- it is normally $60,000 drive-away -- but dealers we spoke to said there was at least a further "$1000 to $2000 wriggle room" left in this deal.For those looking for a family sedan the locally-made Toyota Camry can be bought at a discounted price of $29,990 drive-away with Toyota's 1 per cent finance, about $3000 off the full RRP -- and more than $3000 off the repayments at market interest rates. This deal is unique because, customarily, low interest rate offers apply only to the full RRP of the car, which is how the car companies fund the deal.In most cases it is cheaper to arrange your own finance and haggle hard on the price of the car. But Toyota has bucked this trend by offering a low interest rate as well as a drive-away price on the Camry to keep the struggling Toyota factory at Altona running.Meanwhile the Mazda CX-9 Luxury SUV normally sells for $52,980 plus on-roads, but it is now $51,990 drive-away, a saving of about $5000 off the full RRP. But as with the Mitsubishi Pajero deal, Mazda dealers say there is still a further $1000 to $2000 to negotiate off the luxury version of the Mazda CX-9 if buyers sign on the dotted line by the end of the month.This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling 

It’s one of the most anticipated models since the 2007 return of Nissan’s GT-R, but Mazda is still yet to officially confirm a rotary-powered replacement for the RX-7 and RX8 sports models.However, the latest of a series of reports suggests that an RX-7-succeeding two-door sports coupe is under development at least, with the Nissan 370Z’s 86/BRZ-Porsche Cayman splitting market territory firmly in its sights.An idea of what the model might look like has been created by master artist Theophilus Chin, based on Mazda’s Shinari concept that evolved into the current model 6.According to Autoweek, industry buzz suggests that a lightweight two door coupe based on the upcoming 2015 MX-5 is being developed, with a next-generation rotary engine.With the MX-5 expected to drop its price nearer to the 86/BRZ rear-drive performance bargains, a higher performing RX-7 is expected to target the 370Z’s upcoming replacement, which is also expected to lower its current $56,930 entry point.The Mazda is yet to receive a production green light however, with a “no concrete plans” official line, but Autoweek reports that Mazda executives have made off the record confirmation of the development program.A 2015-16 completion date has also been suggested, which would be a logical fit for the rotary engine’s 50th anniversary in 2017 or the RX-7’s 40th anniversary in 2018.Mazda’s chief designer Ikuo Maeda is also the son of the design boss who oversaw the original RX-7’s development, and reportedly wants to see the new sports coupe reach production before he retires.Mazda plans to use a smaller-scale rotary engine design as a generator for agricultural applications, and has explored its potential as a range-extending engine for hybrid vehicle applications as showcased in the Mazda 2 prototype driven by Carsguide late last year. The rotary used in this model is a 330cc single chamber design, unlike the twin-rotor 1.3-litre Renesis unit used most recently in the RX-8 that ended production in 2012.The report suggests that a production Mazda sports coupe will not use a hybrid drivetrain and will be naturally-aspirated like the RX-8. The new model will also likely deliver significantly improved fuel consumption over the RX-8’s 12.9L/100km combined fuel figure.A capacity of around 600cc per rotor has been suggested – slightly down from the RX-8’s 650cc – and it’s unclear whether twin or triple-rotors will be employed. A twin-rotor like the RX-8 is most likely, which would result in an overall capacity of around 1.2-litres.Given the new engine’s efficiency focus, power output is not likely to climb significantly from the RX-8’s 170kW, with a realistic figure of about 186kW. However with the upcoming MX-5’s expected weight savings, such a figure could prove more than adequate in a coupe version of the same platform.This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn 

Nissan is stoking up its sports car mojo. It's developing the next-generation GT-R, looking at developing the IDx Concept, and has unveiled a slew of hot variations of the GT-R, Juke and Pulsar from its Nismo tuning arm.So what's happening with the Z car, with the 370Z having been around for six years and starting to now look a little long in the tooth against new rivals like the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ?Expect to see a departure from the current car, with a smaller vehicle powered by a similarly downsized engine -- a turbo-charged four-cylinder, according to Autocar -- rather than the 3.7-litre V6 carried by the 370Z. Power is likely to slightly rise over the six's 245kW, while torque will likely at the least match its 363Nm, depending on the expected lighter weight of the new Z (the 370Z rings the bell at 1468kg).The design is yet to be signed off but Nissan design boss Shiro Nakamura confirmed to the Britsh site that a plan was already in place and that the coming Z "could be smaller" while product chief Andy Palmer pointed to the turbo four engine, adding that we'll see both a standard version and a Nismo one.With Nissan Australia still working on a business case for the Nismo offerings, there's no certainty we'll see that model here, but we're sure to get the cooking Z, following in the footsteps of the 370Z that arrived first in 2009, and a lineage of 44 years that stretches all the way back to the Datsun 240Z in 1970.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

The fanfare surrounding Nissan’s IDx and BladeGlider concepts at last year’s Tokyo motor show was such that the Japanese brand has green-lit plans for production versions, according to Autocar.

In a stronger push for sales before the close of the 2013 books, Nissan has sliced the price tags of the 370Z range, and is offering driveaway pricing on the entry level six-speed manual Coupe until December 31. The price movement means the formerly $69,890 Coupe is $12,960 cheaper at $56,930 and can be driven away for $59,990 until the end of the year.  The seven-speed auto Coupe also drops $12,960 from $72,890 to $59,930. The Roadsters models each slice $10,960, with the manual dropping from $76,890 to $65,930 and the auto from $79,890 to $68,930. To date, Nissan has sold 290 370Zs for 2013, compared to 372 last year – with the sports hero Toyota 86 moving 5892 in that time.  "We certainly hope it will invigorate sales," Nissan Australia spokesman Chris Jordan says. "We're confident in the product and now we're confident the adjusted pricing will let more sports car fans consider the 370Z. It's about opening the car up to a larger slice of the market." The 370Z is powered by a 3.7-litre, double overhead cam V6 petrol engine developing 245kW of power and 363Nm of torque. Standard features include 19-inch alloy wheels, leather trim, climate-control airconditioning,  satellite navigation and a 9.3GB hard disk with a Bose sound system. Nissan 370Z range 370Z Coupe (Manual): from $56,930 (-$12,960) $59,990 driveaway 370Z Coupe (Auto): from $59,930 (-$12,960) 370Z Roadster (Manual): from $65,930 (-$10,960) 370Z Roadster (Auto): from $68,930 (-$10,960) This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott  

...in all its glory.

It is not aiming for first overall, but believes it can overtake Mazda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi to become the country's favourite all- import brand. Nissan is already doing better with everything from the supercar GT-R to the Maxima, 370Z and Murano, and believes the next-generation Tiida - which could revert to the Pulsar name when it lands in 2011 - will push it to the top. "Our market apsiration is to be the number one full importer in this company. That's the objective for 2012," says Dan Thompson, managing director of Nissan Australia. "Where we sit now is number two or number three. Mazda is now clearly the number one . . . in recent times Hyundai has joined the party so we have three players vying for that spot. We want to leapfrog Mazda by 2012, with two years of brand building and the next generation of cars." It sounds like a big call, and it will not be easy, but Thompson believes Nissan will have the vehicles to get the numbers for position one. "This business isn't rocket science. You have the right products ... and the rest ... and you have market success," he says. Thompson says the next piece of the product puzzle, following the front-wheel drive Dualis price fighter revealed last week, is the Z Roadster. "It's all falling into place. The results are being delivered just as we had planned," he says. "The goal is to be sitting at six per cent. We were at 5.9 last year." It won't dramatically change in fiscal 2010 until the core volume volume models - that's the new Micra and Tiida - arrive." Nissan has tagged its plan as GT2012, but it's not just about numbers. "G is for growth and T is for trust," Thompson says. "The GT-R is a fantastic story. It's not about volume, it's about branding. We sold 300 cars but we had 20,000 visitors to our site each week to check out the car. "Murano, Maxima, Z and GT-R have far exceeded our planning. The Dualis is the fifth piece." He says the biggest problem for Nissan in 2009 is getting sufficient stock of its biggest sellers, including the Navara. "We're restrained by limitations on stock. Even outside of that the big challenge for all of us is what is the natural level of demand."

Those familiar with the venerable 240Z from the 1970s will see some of its classic design cues in the 370Z.The newcomer boasts a sleek aerodynamic shape with a dramatic cantilevered roof — shared with the GT-R — and a road-hugging profile.The bigger-engined 370Z replaces the 360Z, which established itself as a favourite with enthusiasts.The 370Z’s sleek silhouette is defined by its upswept rear-quarter window design, echoed in the upward curve of the sheet metal around the rear wheels that gives the car a moulded look.Nissan designers have paid attention to the car’s detailing and functionality.The turn indicator has been integrated into the Z logo mounted between the front wheel and door, while both the front and rear light clusters curve into the bodywork. Quality is up and the cabin has a luxury-car feel.The new Z’s wheelbase is 100mm shorter than the previous generation Z (a more compact 2550mm instead of 2650mm).The car’s overall length has been shortened by 70mm too, from 4320mm to 4250mm.At the same time, the overall width has increased by 33mm and the rear track by 55mm, bringing a purposeful look.The use of lightweight materials, as well as a more compact approach to the exterior dimensions have reduced weight, which in turn helps performance and dynamics.Nissan engineers have also delivered a much stronger body, with extensive reinforcement to improve rigidity.Joining the 370Z will be the refreshed Maxima, new Murano V6 off-roader and heart-stopping GT-R performance coupe.Even with a price tag starting at $148,800, Nissan Australia has had no problems finding GT-R buyers.Nissan will also showcase its Micra, X-Trail, Navara and Dualis at the show. The 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show... 

Icy winds and snow are blowing across Motown, dumping on the auto capital of the world at a time when American politicians are applying relentless pressure for a major shift in the way that General M