Nissan 350Z starts under $60,000

NISSAN has revealed the pricing and model line-up for the 350Z two-seat sports coupe which goes on sale from February.

Kicking off the range at $59,990 is the 350Z Touring equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox, while the optional five-speed auto with manual mode adds $1800.

Standard mechanical equipment includes the 206kW VQ35 3.5-litre V6 engine, independent multi-link suspension front and rear, traction control, viscous limited slip differential, drive-by-wire throttle, 17-inch alloy wheels and dual outlet exhaust.

Safety and comfort features include six airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners, ABS with EBD and brake assist and load limiters for the seatbelts, cruise control, heated leather sports seats, automatic climate control air-conditioning, Bose 240-watt sound system with seven speakers and a trip computer.

Then there's the 350Z Track, which adds 18-inch alloy wheels, Brembo brakes, rear spoiler and front under spoiler and Vehicle Dynamic Control.

The Track starts at $65,990 for the manual, with the auto an additional $1800.

Nissan is aiming for 600-800 sales in 2003, but is hoping to gain a clearer picture from a pre-sell campaign launched at the Sydney motor show, where it also showed the production car in Australia for the first time.

Nissan also confirmed at the show that a 350Z roadster would be on sale here in late 2003.

Nissan Australia is confident it will sell every 350Z it can get its hands on, declaring that the car has no "primary competitor" in the market, particularly at its entry price.

"The 350Z has $100,000 performance for $60,000," said Nissan Australia national marketing manager Philip Brook. "It is designed to out-perform the Porsche Boxster S in every category."The Pulsar hatchback was presented in updated form in Sydney also, with new-look front and rear and the addition of standard ABS with EBD, a lap-sash centre rear seatbelt, 16-inch alloy wheels, new seat fabric two-tone dashboard treatment and new four-spoke steering wheel and gear lever knob. The Q model adds a one-touch facility for its power windows.

Nissan will be looking for a rise in hatchback sales to help push Pulsar back up higher into the teens, although still well short of the 25,000 sale it has achieved in the past.

In five-speed manual form the ST hatch goes up $300 to $21,990, while the Q is unchanged at $23,990. Add $1800 for the four-speed auto option. The British-built hatch continues to only be available with a 1.8-litre engine.

In other Nissan new model news, the Maxima mid-size V6 sedan range was refreshed with a new sports-oriented ST-R model added and the base S dropped.

The range now comprises the $39,990 ST (down $300), the $42,990 ST-R and the top-spec Ti, for an unchanged $47,990.

On top of a comprehensive level of kit, the ST changes its trim, gets a new dash design and a new alloy wheel design. The ST-R adds a bodykit including side skirts and rear spoiler, gunmetal dash and door surrounds, powered sunroof, front foglights and 17-inch alloy wheels. The Ti gets the trim, dash and alloy wheel changes.

Finally, the venerable Pathfinder soldiers on through another adjustment, with the ST base model rising $1000 to $41,490 in exchange for standard ABS, a passenger airbag and luxury seat trim previously seen on the top-spec Ti.

That model also goes up $1000 also, to $48,490, and for that Nissan has added black leather seat trim, a leather steering wheel and front foglights.