Howdy Webriders! Dr. VW here with a little Foreign Friday love. I was checking out the newest shots from the various auto shows and press releases going on, and I came across these, courtesy of Net Car Show. You thought the Nissan GT-R looked badass? Take a look at the next generation Z… Nissan’s newest incarnation of the brand defining line that stretches back to its Datsun roots. Hit the jump for the shots!

Damn.

That my friends… is the new hotness. I have a soft spot for the Z series… my grandfather had an old 280Z “back in the day” when he was going through a midlife crisis. My dad always had a jones for that ride, and I seem to have caught the bug. While I still prefer the older Z’s, the new 370 is definitely giving off some strong mojo; something the 350 frankly lacked. The 350Z has always been, to me, a ricy chick car, especially in convertible form. Something was missing from the small but spunky Z’s of the Datsun and early Nissan era. Maybe it was the new curvaceous lines as opposed to the sharp and boxy angles of yore. Maybe the rear spoiler/blinds were the defining elements that were missing… whatever it was; the 350 just didn’t cut it for me.

And then they brought out this:

Granted, it doesn’t look like much has changed. However the changes that Nissan DID make are a VAST improvement over the previous generations’ feminine lines. There is an injection of masculinity, and a scaling back of the rice, that works here. For starters the front grill has gone much more macho, eschewing the small square openings and smooth lines for an in your face gaping maw with more depth. The rear “hump” on the 350 is gone as well, replaced by a smoother rear window sweep and definitively more angular rear hatch, giving it a more chiseled, aggressive look. Factor in the small but tasteful spoiler and…God what a difference.

The rice was scaled back as well, the old triangular 350 tail lights are replaced by the newer nike swoosh-esque 370 units, which also do away with the “solid red” look and add some different shades and depth. Likewise the front lights are much more narrow and agressive looking, a marked improvement over the dopey looking headlights from the 350. All around, the 370 looks meaner, thinner, and more reminiscent in style and substance of the Z’s of antiquity. Nissan fans rejoice… the Z is back.

That’s all this week guys, make sure to check out the gallery and head on down to the forums for discussion! This is Dr. VW– signing off.