First look: 350Z heads Nissan onslaught

NISSAN's product onslaught is continuing with thereveal of the roadster version of the 350Z in the USthis week.

The 350Z roadster is due to debut at April's NewYork auto show and go on sale in the US aroundmid-year.

It will come with a power-operated cloth top andglass rear window, and is expected to share much of the 350Z coupe's mechanical underpinnings including its 3.5-liter V6 engine.

Australian arrival is set for year's end, no doubt witha fairly significant price premium over the coupe.

The 350Z isn't all though, with a preview in Europe this week of a newconcept car called Evalia, which will be revealed atthe Geneva motor show next month.

Nissan says the Evalia is a preview of a futureC-segment contender intended to combine thesportiness of a coupe with the practicality of ahatchback. A Pulsar replacement perhaps?Nissan Japan has been busy too, revealing the Teana sedan. This is a production car that relates closelyto the Maxima but is more conservative in its stylingpresentation.

This car is closer to the styling of the next Australianmarket Maxima on sale later in 2003 than the moreaggressive American version unveiled at the Detroitauto show in January.

Nissan Australia has also got in on the new model act, announcing a series ofupdates for its SUV and commercial vehicles range including:* Updating the Patrol wagon range and adding an intercolled 4.2-litre turbo-diesel that generates 360Nm of torque (30Nm more than the previous engine) and reduces emissions.

* The Patrol Cab Chassis also gets the revamped4.2-litre turbo-diesel, as well as aslight exterior styling revision.

* Adding the Pathfinder's 3.3-litre V6 engine to the Navara four-wheel drive utility range and updating the suspension.