The Nissan 350Z, the fifth iteration in Nissan’s Z-car line, is a two-door, two-seater sports car that was produced by Nissan Motor Corporation from 2002 until 2009. In Japan, it is known as the Nissan Fairlady Z (Z33). The 350Z started being produced in 2002 and began being sold and promoted as a 2003 model in August of the same year. Since the roadster did not make its debut until the following year, there was only a coupe the initial year. The Roadster was initially only available in Enthusiast and Touring trim levels, whereas the coupe was first offered in Base, Enthusiast, Performance, Touring, and Track models. The Track trim had Brembo brakes and lightweight wheels, but all other coupes’ suspension settings applied. For the 2009 model year, the Nissan 370Z took the place of the 350Z.
In Tokyo, what Z is drifting?
In the parking garage where the drift races are place, Takashi (DK):DK races Sean in his 2002/2003 Nissan Fairlady Z33 (350Z) for chatting to Neela. The race is easily won by DK, and Sean wrecks Han’s favorite vehicle. The next time we see this car is when DK confronts Sean about spending time with Neela and warns him to avoid her. When DK and Morimoto pursue Han (for stealing money from his uncle’s (Kamata) business), Neela (for abandoning him), and Sean, they then spot the automobile. Han taps his front bumper, causing the car to spin out, but no harm results. When DK races Sean down Suicide Mountain to determine who gets to stay in Tokyo, this automobile is last seen. In spite of driving off a cliff and landing on the roof of his car, DK manages to maintain the lead for a significant stretch of the race.
Morimoto: When Morimoto races Sean (his first race in his new EVO IX) in the parking garage where drift races are held, his 2002 Nissan Fairlady Z33 (350Z) is first seen, he loses. The next time we see this car is when DK and he approach Sean and tell him to keep away from Neela. He and DK follow Han (for stealing money from DK’s uncle’s business), Neela (for abandoning DK), and Sean (for spending time with Neela and for hitting him with Sean’s EVO IX before the chase began). The car is last seen during this chase. Morimoto strikes Sean’s car on the driver’s side, and then Sean shoves Morimoto into the other lane, causing him to crash head-on into a Mazda RX-8, where he is certain to perish from the impact.
Is a JDM a 350Z?
The 350Z is known as the Fairlady Z in the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM). Basically, vehicles were badged as the 350Z when sold outside of Japan, while Fairlady Z when sold domestically in Japan.
The Fairlady Z and the 350Z differ from one another in addition to the badging, albeit the specific variances depend on the trim level you choose to purchase.
For instance:
- Every Fairlady Z is a right-hand drive vehicle. If you encounter an LHD Fairlady Z, it is a 350Z that has been rebadged.
- There are some differences in the trims and add-ons that are offered, for instance, Fairladys were offered with leather seats and Brembo brakes (which, it appears, weren’t available on 350Zs sold in the US; Track edition models only had cloth seats, though it was difficult to confirm this information).
- There may also be some minor variations, such as choices for interior lighting, headlamp washers, etc.
- By the end of production, the reported HP ratings were closer to those of American cars since Japanese manufacturers had begun to give up the pretense of that HP limit. Earlier JDM models adhere to Japan’s self-imposed 276hp limit (on paper).
If you are familiar with the Japanese domestic market, you are aware that it is not unusual for automobiles to be sold in Japan under one name and exported under a different name. The badge is sometimes the only obvious distinction between a JDM and export version of a particular car, as it is with the 350Z, although other times you can see significant platform changes, like with the Lexus IS350 and Toyota Crown Athlete.