2012 Chicago Auto Show: 2013 Nissan 370Z Gets a Refresh

I didn't mind the teeth, but those LED strips look out of place, like Nissan felt as though all cars needed them but the original design never took that into account. Those wheels are horrible. And is the fuel gauge still just digital dots?

Well, it looks like less than a catfish, but still not in love.

Lame.

Can we all just agree that the only 370Z that looks good is the Amuse version, and that's what the car should have looked like from the start?

Don't worry, ed124c. The market-driven elimination of sports cars is well under way. At this rate, they'll all be gone soon.

mrbacon,

I don't think the looks are responsible for the poor sales of 370Z. 350Z didn't sell that well either and based on the demise of RX8, it's evident that Americans much prefer their muscle cars (Mustang, Camaro, Challenger). In general, there are hardly any successful 2 door sports coupes in America that sell well because Americans just don't like small sports cars unless it's American (like the Corvette).

WTF. They put the 350Z front fascia on the already cool looking 370Z front fascia? Step backwards IMO.

Another loser for nissan. Those folks have no idea how to make a good looking car. Maybe it's not quite as ugly as the gtr, but it's pretty durn ugly.

Check out the best of the ZR1MAN on IL. Go to Google and search "ZR1MAN Says".

Be Proud. Buy American.

Sales In America - 2011 Year End

Large/crappy interior/drive like boats for the most part (except Corvette), have no precision, massive body roll, huge nose dive under breaking -- sell really well!

Chevrolet Camaro - 88,249
Ford Mustang - 70,438
Dodge Challenger - 39,534
Chevrolet Corvette - 13,164
Total = 211,385

vs.

Nimble/small sports cars/roadsters, a lot of them have quality interiors, all handle with knife precision, for the most part are light on their feet -- sell very poorly:

Nissan 370Z - 7,328
Mazda MX-5 Miata - 5,674
BMW Z4 - 3,479
Mercedes-Benz SLK - 3,220
Audi TT - 2,236
Porche Boxster - 1,773
Porsche Cayman - 1,377
Mazda RX-8 - 759
Honda S2000 - 5
Total = 25,851

Americans don't want traditional small nimble sports cars (or just don't want to pay the premium for them).

YAY!!!! NO TEETH!!! I can finally enjoy looking at this very capable automobile now.

Not so sure I agree that US buyers just want muscle cars over smallish sports cars. Price does come into it, and so do other factors. @bestjinjo's comparison is interesting, but note that all the German cars are pretty pricey, especially when optioned as they are usually equipped. A decently optioned 370Z isn't cheap either, and still has it's share of crudity. Then look at the cheaper offerings. Let's face it, the Miata sold well for a long time, but Mazda just refuses to significantly update its specific power, and has fallen well behind in the performance for the dollar game. The RX-8's rotary quirks are well-known and off-putting, and Honda never intended to sell many of the S2K... even when demand kept it going, they refused to update it and then killed it off.

The Nissan 350/370Z has always had a chance to be the popularly priced, more traditional sports car that sold well, but IMO they have always just missed the mark for a number of reasons. I and at least two other people I know at one point or another gave the Z car serious buying consieration but came away unconvinced for one reason or another.

They just forgot one important option that matters the most Nissan engineers. No scoping option for the steering wheel!!!

preferred the catfish look and dislike the new LED's

this would be my first choice of those listed by bestjinjo; of course it'd be second if I could afford a Cayman

no longer want a convertible, though as a former Miata owner I'd buy another one as a toy but not a daily driver and would definitely buy used rather than new

kjgood,

I definitely agree with you that price is a very large factor in the decision as well. In terms of bang for the buck, it's difficult to compete with the Camaro SS or the Mustang GT (especially once you consider their straight line acceleration). For about $35,000 or so, both of those can be attainable with leather, 400+ hp, etc. However, while the Nissan 370Z, which comes close to them in performance (but might ultimate lose in a 1/4 mile slightly), it still would cost much more $ once optioned up with the Sports Package, Leather, Navigation, etc. And in general it's simply a smaller car with no backseats. That probably plays into it.

I also agree with you that Miata needs a more powerful engine. 230-240 hp+ would put it back in the game. If we look at how far the Porsche Boxster has come by the 3rd generation, the Mazda Miata has not moved as much from a performance perspective in the same timeframe.

But one has to ask him/herself if they want a more well-rounded sports car or all out performance for the $?

ZR1MAN, you might want to take a look at this comparison Head 2 Head comparison where Motor Trend puts 911 vs. Corvette. No one can deny the outstanding performance of the Corvette but it lacks refinement, precision and balance to be considered a well-rounded sports car in my personal opinion (and that of many others). The car feels 10 years old (and well it soon will be).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24MFkUnpY6s

Some people might choose slower acceleration performance and go for a more nimble well-rounded sports car such as the 370Z or Cayman. A stock Cayman would lose to the 370Z or the Camaro SS or the Mustang GT. Price aside though, is it a better sports car? I think so.

Usually companies wait 30 years before reviving a retro style, Nissan did it in 3.

All I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth!

They dusted off the 350 front fascia and brought it back.

I'm sorry Americans aren't buying 2 seater sports cars the following reasons and it's not because they don't like the cars. This list shown by bestjinjo of cars that don't sell are all expensive weekend cars. The last 5 years our economy has been in the dumps, with some people still ,today, out of work after the real estate bubble bursting. I mean common sense tells you a crappy economy, higher gas prices and and uncertainty for you future mean people can't afford to purchase that $35K sports car to rot in the garage. These are not practical cars. just depreciating property. They offer no trunk space, very if any room inside and the ability to transport only one other person. Every car that is selling from the Mustang to the Charger are vehicle you can have fun with, but also use as an everyday transport (i did notice you fail to include the Genesis). I also think some of you have never driven today's so called Pony cars (Mustangs and Camaros are Pony cars not Muscle) yet act like they are a 1980's caddy that would sag from one side to the other in a turn. I mean come on most of these cars are solid handling vehicles. Yeah they won't out handle stock for stock, but some handle better then most and that can always be improved on the after market for those that want it.

Then comes the financial aspect. Having a nice sports car sitting in your garage collecting taxes is another downside (yes some states charge vehicle taxes on the cars you own yearly). I do like the direction Subaru and Toyota are taking with their new affordable sporty cars, but again is it enough to replace your everyday car and provide the same convenience. Lets face it, people just don't have the extra cash today to squander on a nice sports car. Those that do have the money may question if they should waste money on a car they rarely use.

(i did notice you fail to include the Genesis)

^^ I didn't fail to include the Genesis because that data was not available:

http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/search/label/Sporty%20Car%20Sales?max-results=5

The financial argument does make sense to some extent but a Mustang GT with leather, etc. is still going to be $32-35k. That's not really what anyone would call "easily affordable" since Nissan 370Z isn't much more expensive.

BTW, I have driven a Mustang GT just last week, stick shift, convertible too. It is extremely loud and it doesn't handle well at all. It drives like a large car that goes fast. Doesn't have any of the precision of a sports car such as the Genesis Coupe, 370Z or RX8. To each his own of course. All I am saying is if you want a sports car that drives like a sports car, then the extra seats and trunk space in the Mustang GT are not going to overcome the fact that it still drives like a large car that goes fast but doesn't feel nimble or precise at all. I mean some people don't care that a car is fun to corner and just want 400+ hp and fast acceleration times. And the point is in this <$40k, more people in America want a large car that goes fast, than a small nimble car that handles well. That's their preferences. You can't blame Nissan for delivering a good sports car; it's just not what most Americans want in this price range.