Maybe you've driven one on a Gran Turisimo game, drifting the Nissan Xanavi NISMO 350Z through the turns, the exhaust snarling on your surround sound as it screams on screen.
Or maybe you will be lucky enough to get your hands on one of only 1,500 NISMO 350Z cars - looking a lot like that Gran Turisimo racer and the Super GT championship-winning Zs that race in Japan - for yourself.
For a few days, No. 166 was mine, the first time NISsan MOtorsports' high-performance aftermarket parts have been molded into a Nissan sports car by the factory for stateside sale.
The current Z has been around for four years, a clean shape with some design homage to Z cars over the past 37 years. A new one is on the way soon, so it is no surprise that Nissan sought out NISMO to add some spice as this version enters its sunset years.
 Dan and Bill discuss the 2008 Nissan Nismo 350Z
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"It's just an evolution. They are always looking for more horsepower," said product manager Colin Price. "It's had minor changes through the life cycle."
Regional auto writers got a walk-around of the NISMO Z with Price at the recent ZCon at Daytona International Speedway, and here's what we learned:
The NISMO Z's sleek shape gets a special body package with serious aerodynamic aids. The hood bulge covers twin cold air intakes, and the nose grows longer, with a wider lower air intake and contrasting gray curb-scraping chin splitter for added downforce - 11 pounds at 73 mph.
"It is a functional body kit. You have a longer nose to generate downforce," Price said. "The splitter is functional. They have stepped it up in the center to allow smooth airflow under the car to generate ground effect."
The aero look continues with gray side skirts, while the rear gets a twin wing off the hatchback that also adds downforce, with a sticker warning that it will get busted in a car wash. It also blocks rear vision. The lower rear fascia gets a functional underbody diffuser and two huge exhaust pipe tips. The car rides a half-inch lower on five-spoke gunmetal gray lightweight forged-alloy wheels (18-inch front/19-inch rear) with meaty Bridgestone tires.
Tuners and pimped ride owners looked long and hard when the NISMO came around. A neighbor and his son knocked on the door for a closer look, the dad saying it was "stunning and beautifully done." Their grins got even wider after rides. Z owners looked a lot, and my mechanic walked all around, shot photos and said, "Just awesome. This is my kind of car."
Inside, the cozy black-on-black cockpit is a very driver-oriented space with grippy black cloth seats with red inserts and manual adjustment. The seat height knobs are too close to the door for easy use. Aluminum alloy air vent trim and door handles brighten the look, as does an alloy grab handle on the passenger door. The three-spoke steering wheel has NISMO red thread on the fat rim, the gauge package's 160-mph speedometer, central NISMO-badged white-faced 9,000-rpm tach, gas and temperature gauges in a silver-trimmed pod that adjusts with the tilt steering wheel. The dash center's top gets three gauges - trip computer (stopwatch, fuel mileage, outside temperature and programmable rpm shift point alert), oil and voltage.
Underneath, a six-speaker AM-FM-CD stereo with great sound and a simple rotary-controlled climate-control system. A stubby six-speed gearshift gets a silver trim ring, while the gas, brake and clutch pedals are clad in drilled alloy. All NISMO 350Zs receive a serialized aluminum plaque on the center console, designating its limited edition status. Twin cupholders are under a sliding door. Storage compartments and a 12-volt outlet reside in the bulkhead behind the seats.
The NISMO gets more structural rigidity thanks to additional body welds, with supports added front and rear. The rear strut brace in the 6.8-cubic-foot cargo area gets added gusset plates to stiffen the rear of the car, although its chrome Z emblem reflects into the window. New braces over and in front of the engine also stiffens things.
"It's got body dampers," Price said. "It damps out body vibrations and gives a better steering feel."
One note: The tires were noisy, despite an overall quiet body. And rain slicing off the rear rubber really hammered the fender wells, making more noise.
The 350Z we tested in 2003, with a 287-horsepower V-6, took us to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. The NISMO has the new 306-horsepower [up 6] VQ35HR 3.5-liter V-6 all 350Zs now have, but with NISMO-branded tuned exhaust for a much more authoritative note. The only gearbox you get is a precise, if a bit clunky, six-speed manual, with standard traction control and viscous limited-slip differential.
Our 5,000-mile-old coupe sounded fast, and the added power, plus maybe an extra hp or two from the new exhaust, rocketed us to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds. It probably isn't any faster than other 350Zs, but sounds like it, the engine note at more than 5,000 rpm intoxicating. We averaged about 18 mpg in premium, under the EPA estimates.
The NISMO-tuned independent multi-link suspension gets 35 percent stiffer spring rates, with firmer damper rates front and rear "to make the rear tires work some more," Price said. The ride, while stiffer, doesn't degrade into a gut-pounding experience. It's livable, with an edge on rougher roads. And, the handling was superb. Body roll in turns was minimal while tire grip was tenacious. We could dance the car through our autocross course's tight corners. It was a joy to drive, making me yearn for a race track so we could add the downforce of the aero bodywork to the mixture. The speed-sensitive power steering system was precise, the Brembo (12.8-inch front and 12.7-inch) disc brakes stopping us straight and short with a precise pedal time after time.
The NISMO 350 Z was $38,070 base, with carpet mats an additional $80. Everything else is standard and factory installed.
Bottom line: Some may not love the import racer/video game looks of the NISMO Z. But remember, every mod is factory engineered after years of racing experience by NISMO, and not some corner tuner shop, so it really works together flawlessly. German coupes of this class are sweeter handlers by a wee bit, but the current Z always has been a favorite. And thanks to NISMO, this was one relatively reasonably priced sports car that I will really miss for its everyday usability and track-ready driveability.
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Vehicle type two-seat sports car
Base price $38,070 ($38,695 as tested)
Engine type DOHC, 24-valve fuel-injected V-6
Displacement 3.5 liters
Horsepower (net) 306 @ 6,800 rpm
Torque (lb-ft) 268 @ 4,800 rpm
Transmission 6-speed manual
Wheelbase 104.3 inches
Overall length 169.8 inches
Overall width 71.5 inches
Height 52.1 inches
Front headroom 38.2 inches
Front legroom 42.6 inches
Cargo capacity 6.8 cubic feet
Curb weight 3,352 lbs.
Fuel capacity 20 gallons
Mileage rating 20 mpg city/27 mpg highway
Last word Drop that game controller, this is Gran Turismo come to life
