First UK drive

Specifications
Model tested: Nissan 370Z Roadster GT Pack
Price: £34,750
Date tested: March 2010
Road tester: Andy GoodwinThe 370Z hits you right between the eyes, with its striking looks and amazing performance. Now it will ruffle your hair too, thanks to its fabric drop-top roof, which goes up and down in 20 seconds.

Developed alongside the 370Z coupe from the outset, the Roadster promises to be a more polished proposition than the 350Z Roadster which went before. That car is still real looker, and it's only when you line it up against the new car you realise the 350Z is starting to show its age.

Sharp-edges, jewel-like headlights and turbine-style alloy wheels give the 370Z Roadster a contemporary look, straight from a Manga comic book.

Its engine is certainly heroic, having grown to 3.7-litres and 324bhp, with a rippling 264lb/ft of torque; you'll rarely want for more power.

Acceleration to 62mph takes 5.5 seconds, 0.4 seconds quicker than the entry-level Porsche Boxster, and just 0.2 seconds behind the £42k Porsche Boxster S.

The 370Z Roadster is as much as 100kg lighter than its predecessor - mainly thanks to an aluminium bonnet, doors and boot lid.

This has helped economy, which has improved from 23.5mpg to 25.2mpg on the combined cycle (manual gearbox), and its CO2 emissions fall to 262g/km.

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Undulating and bumpy lanes expose the weaker body of the Roadster, which flexes more than the Coupe's, and can feel slightly more unsettled.

But most drivers will be having far too much fun to notice. The Roadster scythes through bends with great agility, and its revised suspension soaks up bumps pretty well too. All the while, the meaty steering and precise six-speed manual transmission add to the experience.

The black hood can be folded up and down using a button on the centre console, or via the key fob. It has a smooth inner lining, which improves the look and feel of the cabin and makes the car more refined. A hydraulic opening mechanism (versus the electric motor fitted to the 350Z Roadster) for quieter operation.

Nissan has a reputation for equipping its cars well, and the Roadster is no exception. A stop/start button, intelligent key, 18-inch alloy wheels, electric seats, steering wheel mounted controls and Bluetooth connectivity are all standard.

GT Pack cars gain 19-inch RAYS alloy wheels, heated and cooled seats, cruise control and a six-CD changer with Bose sound system.

The 370Z Roadster might not be as clever as a Porsche Boxster, or as sophisticated as a Mercedes SLK, but its heart is in the right place. With its thumping V6, great looks and affordable price we expect people to be queuing up to buy one.