Structural reinforcements were made, however, to combat the loss of rigidity you normally see when you take the top off of a vehicle. These enhancements include a center floor V-shaped cross bar connecting the side sills and a front A-shaped cross bar reinforcing the front end. Additionally, the doors openings were reinforced, along with a "triple member" added to the seating area connecting the sides to the floor structure to beef up rigidity.

The top of a coupe is very important to its structure, and roadsters related to coupes can be disappointingly flexible, leading to inferior handling and increased interior noise and vibration. In many cases, increased bracing of the convertible's lower structure adds more weight than rigidity. Such is not the case with the 350Z. Yes, the top is gone, but careful engineering of the lower structure, with extra crossbars and reinforcement around the door frames and in the floor pan, gives it nearly as much rigidity as the coupe. Cowl shake and noticeable flex are as close as possible to nonexistent, so handling does not suffer--the wheels go where you want them.

Considerable effort, in the form of extra cross-bracing and other structural enhancements, went into ensuring that the chassis was rigid enough for ragtop duty. The effort paid off, and we're impressed by the Z's solidity and lack of cowl-shake

While the 350Z was initially designed and engineered with a convertible model in mind, the roadster still weighs a little more than its hard top sibling
- 216 pounds to be exact. This is due to extensive stiffening of the A-pillar and windshield surround, beefier rocker panels that connect at four points to a rigid X-brace, a completely new rear bulkhead and dramatically reworked rear floor construction, etc, etc.

2010 Nissan 370Z - Car News

Shorter, wider, lighter, and more powerful Z in the works.
BY ALISA PRIDDLE, PHOTOGRAPHY BY TOM DREW AND THE MANUFACTURER
May 2008


The lighter and more powerful Nissan 370Z coupe and roadster could take its first formal bows in January at the 2009 North American International Auto Show prior to going on sale in the fall of 2009.

That is not to say Nissan can’t jump the gun and opt to unveil the new sports car this November at the 2008 L.A. auto show. Either way, the car is being designed as a formidable placeholder below the hot Nissan GT-R, while still leaving room for an affordable front-wheel-drive car positioned below the Z.

The big news, as evidenced by the name change from 350Z to 370Z, is the 3.7-liter V-6 that goes under the hood. The bigger engine, which produces 330 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque in the Infiniti G37, will power a new Z that is lighter than the one it replaces—a perfect recipe for fun. Icing on the cake is speculation it may borrow the seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission from the GT-R.

“Both performance and design are much more sporty,” is how Shiro Nakamura, Nissan senior vice president and chief creative officer, describes the 2010 370Z for us. The design of the second-generation roadster represents a “super evolution,” the design chief says in a recent interview. The expectation is that the new Z is wider and shorter.

While the original Z rode on Nissan’s FM (for front midship) platform, the 2010 370Z rides on the new E platform that encompasses former FM vehicles as well as some international vehicles on the FR-L architecture, which denotes “Front-engine, Rear-drive, and Large”—all part of Nissan’s platform consolidation efforts. The 370Z will share the E platform with much of the Infiniti lineup including the FX, EX, M, and G coupe and sedan.

Meanwhile, Nissan officials say they still are interested in a more entry-level, small, front-wheel-drive sports car for the brand, but not immediately. The automaker does not want to take the spotlight away from the launch of the new Z and is dealing with a full portfolio right now, says Larry Dominique, Nissan North America vice president in charge of product planning and strategy. But something that takes cues from the Nissan Urge concept—it would compete with the Mazda MX-5 Miata, Pontiac Solstice, and Saturn Sky—is expected in a few years.