2009 Nissan 370Z

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(via Carscoop.blogspot.com)
We've been seeing official and unofficial photos of the new Nissan 370Z for quite a while now but for the first time we've got our hands on the press release that was leaked into the web ahead of the Japanese sportscar's debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Wednesday, 19 November. Aside from the performance figures which are still being kept secret, the release gives away everything you always wanted to know about the 370Z but were afraid to ask.

First of all, the brand-new 370Z Coupe is scheduled to go on sale in North America in January 2009 with a base MSRP of around $30,000, followed shortly after by the 370Z Roadster for the 2010 model year. The line-up has been simplified compared to the 350Z and it will include only two models, the 370Z and the 370Z Touring.

Either way, power comes from Nissan's new 3,7-liter V6 unit which is rated at 332HP @ 7,000 rpm and 270 lb-ft of torque @ 5,200 rpm - compared to the 350Z's 3.5 V6 that delivers 306HP @ 6,800 rpm and 268 lbft @ 4,800 rpm (U.S. spec model). The new engine can be hooked up to either a new 7-speed automatic transmission or a close-ratio 6-speed manual that includes an available world's first synchronized downshift rev matching system that automatically controls and adjusts engine speed during shifting.

Despite the power boost, Nissan says that estimated fuel economy is 18 mpg City and 26mpg Highway for both the 7-speed automatic and 6-speed manual transmissions meaning increases of 1 mpg City and 2 mpg Highway for the automatic and 1 mpg Highway for the manual transmission versus the 2008 350Z.

A lot has been said about the 370Z's exterior dimensions but now we can give you all the details: according to the Japanese automaker, the 370Z's wheelbase is nearly four inches shorter than the 350Z (100.4 inches versus 104.3 inches) something that was accomplished by moving the rear wheels forward in the revised FM platform. Furthermore, the coupe's overall length has been reduced by 2.7 inches (167.1 inches versus 169.8 inches) while the overall width has been increased by 1.3 inches, the rear track by 2.2 inches and the overall height, reduced by 0.3 inches.

Thanks to the car's more compact dimensions and the expanded use of lightweight materials like the aluminum door panels (first time in a Z) and the all-aluminum hood (the previous aluminum hood utilized steel reinforcements), the 370Z weighs less than its predecessor. In particular, Nissan says that the net weight reduction is 95 pounds or 46 kg for the 2009 Nissan 370Z over the comparable 350Z Enthusiast model. Nissan engineers also revised the coupe's body structure improving front body torsion rigidity by 30 percent.

While we wait for Nissan -or anyone else for that matter- to release the high-resolution gallery of the new 370Z, check out the detailed press release below and stay tuned for more...