Nissan’s hallmark 370Z sports car is entering its eleventh model year in Canada and for the 2020 model year Nissan is rolling out a new special edition celebrating fifty years of the Z-car.
The 2020 Nissan 370Z 50th Anniversary Edition brings retro flash to the Z-car. Building off the 370Z Sport, the 50th Anniversary Edition ups the ante with a retro livery inspired by the #46 BRE 240Z race car that John Morton drove to multiple SCCA victories in the 1970s. Available in either white with red accents or silver with black accents, the livery consists of a contrasting hood, hatch, roof rails, pillars, mirrors, wheel lips, stripes and 50th Anniversary crests. To top the exterior package off, a 50th Anniversary emblem can be found on the back of the car.
Inside, the 370Z 50th Anniversary Edition gains some more flash, including red seat accents, red stitching on the shift boot, console trim, floor mats and door trims, a red insert on the shift knob, and the start button and steering wheel from the 370Z Nismo. The 50th Anniversary Edition crest is emblazoned on each seat facing in such a large size that it’s impossible to miss. Several 50th Anniversary Edition emblems also pepper the interior, ahead of the shifter, on the floor mats and embossed on the seats.
Powering the 2020 Nissan 370Z 50th Anniversary Edition is Nissan’s venerable 332-horsepower 3.7-litre VQ37VHR V6, attached to either a crisp 6-speed manual transmission with switchable automatic rev-matching or an available 7-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Regardless of transmission choice, the 370Z 50th Anniversary Edition puts power to wide, sticky 275/35R19 Bridgestone Potenza S007 rear tires through a carbon fibre composite driveshaft and a viscous limited-slip differential with 3.692:1 rear gears. 19-inch Rays forged wheels are standard, as are huge brakes made by Akebono, the same company that makes brakes for the Japanese bullet train.
In our road test of a mechanically identical 2018 Nissan 370Z Touring Sport we loved the wail of the VQ37VHR engine above 5000 RPM and we appreciated the standard Exedy clutch. We enjoyed the old-school hydraulic power steering and liked the quick and surefooted handling response. We didn’t exactly love the dated interior but that’s just a fault of any car that’s been basically unchanged since the 2009 model year.
Sure, the conspicuous accents aren’t for everyone, but the 2020 Nissan 370Z 50th Anniversary Edition is perfect for the Nissan fan who loves brand heritage or a gearhead looking for a base for a wicked hotboi build. There’s no word on pricing yet, but anyone who’s looking at getting a 50th Anniversary Edition 370Z better act fast because Nissan is only bringing 50 to Canada.
