Feature: 2010 Nissan 370Z design philosophy

October 5, 2009

In an age where it seems even many sports cars are becoming more refined with every redesign, the 370Z is satisfyingly raw. Certainly, it’s a very easy car to drive, but it makes all kinds of great mechanical noises. Move the notchy shifter and let out the clutch and you can hear the gears engaging when you shift, and the whine of the differential gears rises in pitch as the car accelerates. That unapologetically mechanical aspect of the car, says Rodriguez, is there on purpose.

2009 Nissan 370Z Touring. Click image to enlarge

“The philosophy behind the car’s overall design was ‘Erotic Mechanism,’” he says. “The Z is a romantic sports car with attractive forms and surfaces, but with lots of mechanically high-tech details,” including the car’s soundtrack. He adds that his only wish is that the stock exhaust was louder. (Rodriguez owns a 370Z that he drives daily.)

All the mechanical fun makes this a difficult car to drive sedately. The clutch and shifter are very well-matched, though getting used to the clutch takes a few minutes; same goes for the grabby, but strong, brakes. The SynchroRev Match system, which automatically revs the engine when the driver downshifts, sounds gimmicky at first, but it works very well. Only a very skilled driver could perform heel-and-toe downshifts as consistently smooth as this car can on its own.

One of Rodriguez’s favourite aspects of the car is that it’s a hatchback, as was the original 240Z. “As a recent first-time homeowner, I take mine to (the hardware store) all the time, and people are always surprised at how much stuff will fit in the back.” A nice touch is the parcel shelves behind each seat.

Rodriguez didn’t have a part in designing the 370Z’s interior, but the finishings are just as attractive as the sheet metal. There are plenty of soft-touch surfaces, easy-to-use controls and, despite the low seating position, the car never feels claustrophobic. However, the view out the back leaves much to be desired; reverse with caution in busy parking lots.

2009 Nissan 370Z Touring. Click image to enlarge

Rodriguez is a young designer, and he says that many of his older peers were surprised that he had such a feel for this car’s aesthetic. That’s not by accident: he grew up around Z cars (his first car was a 1971) and his love for cars in general was spawned by his father, a mechanic who owned a garage in the family’s hometown of Surrey, B.C.

He’s proud of the final design, which he says includes many elements that he thought would be scrapped for being too impractical. After seven years working with Nissan, he says he still tries to push the envelope in his designs, drawing inspiration from everything he sees.

“My personal ties to the Z were an advantage in this case, I think,” Rodriguez said. “(To stay inspired as a designer), you have to experience as much as possible, and you have to get into the customer’s mind no matter what kind of vehicle you’re designing, so having that personal link to the Z helped.”

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