2006 Nissan 350Z

Storming back onto the world sportscar scene in 2003 following a seven-year hiatus, the legendary Z-car gets its first meaningful tweaks for 2006. Based on Nissan's superb FM (front/midship engine) platform that also underpins the lauded Infiniti G35, this scintillating two-seater becomes even more competent and a touch more comfortable for 2006, while boasting minor cosmetic changes and functional mechanical upgrades. Nissan also shuffled the powertrain lineup and revised the model range of coupes and roadsters to include Base, Enthusiast, Touring, Track, and Grand Touring variants, in that order.

A modern-day embodiment of the original 240Z styling statement, the uniquely contoured 350Z gains new bi-xenon headlamps, detail variations to its front fascia and grille, and high-intensity LEDs in place of conventional taillight bulbs. Save for the Track and new Grand Touring coupes, all other models get redesigned 18-inch cast-alloy wheels mounting W-rated 225/45 front and 245/45 rear tires. The top guns are fitted with new Rays lightweight, forged-alloy rims that now carry 245/40WR18 rubber up front and 265/35WR19s in the rear. Larger wheel offsets needed to fit those super shoes also bring wider fender flares. Roadsters have a padded power top with glass rear window.

The 350Z's driver-centric cabin offers a slightly richer look for 2006. Previously hard plastic, the door panels now match softer-touch uppers with padded cloth or leather lower elements, and each also adds a cupholder. Lesser changes include revamped gauge faces, brightwork accents on the air conditioning controls, and marginally improved console storage areas--although larger items still must travel in a lockable bin behind the passenger seat or in one of two "binnettes" that flank it. While the interior is scaled to easily handle a pair of six footers, the cargo bay in all models holds a mere 4.1 cu-ft. And prominent rear suspension strut towers linked by a signature Z-logo cross-brace cover compromise even that meager space.

Cloth with manual adjusters (Base/Enthusiast/Track) or leather-swathed power units (Touring/Grand Touring), the 350Z's torso-hugging buckets have unique support bolstering for the driver's seat. Universal standards include a leather-wrapped steering wheel, tilt/telescoping column with pivoting main-instrument cluster, power windows/locks/mirrors, keyless remote entry, dual 12V powerpoints, and 240Z-style ancillary gauges in the center of the dash for the trip computer/tire-pressure monitor/oil pressure/voltmeter. Base/Enthusiast/Track models get a six-speaker, 160-watt AM/FM/CD sound system while the Touring/Grand Touring have a 240-watt Bose setup with a six-disc CD changer, plus new MP3 playback capability. All but the Base trim edition get steering-wheel controls. Optional in Touring/Grand Touring models, the DVD-based navigation system is now simpler and more intuitive to use.