Here's a start at a comparison chart for the important data as Jason and others develop it.Please advise corrections/additions:

...............04 base RX8...........05 Track 350Z......08Nismo350........370Z base + Sport Pkg

Specs
HP.........................232.................300 ..................306...................332
Torque..................159.................260... ...............268....................270
LSD.......................Torsen............Viscou s.............Viscous..............Viscous
Curb Wt................3030...............3225......... .......3353..................3232 ? ( scale wts range 3314 to 3373)
Wgt Dist...............50/50..............53/47................53/47................54/46? (may be closer to 56/44)
Wheelbase...........106.3...............104.3..... ..........104.3.................100.4
Track F/R...............58.7/59.1........60.5/ 60.6........60.5/60.9...........61.0/62.8
Width....................70.1................71.5. .................71.5...................72.8
Wheels.................8F,8Rx 18........8F,8.5R/18.......18x9F,19x10R.....9F,10Rx19

AutoX Performance parameters
Race Trim
Fuel Load.............1/4....................3/4.....................3/4....................3/4
Weight Dist...........52/48...............54/46.................54/46est...........56/44est
Race Trim Wt.......2800.................3165................ ..3290est.............3280 est (3230 Toledo Pro,1/2 + tank).
Camber F............- 2.....................-1........................-1.5est..................-1
Tire Options.......245/35,285/30....285/30,295/30...295/30,315/30...295/30,315/30
Tire Dia................24.7,24.9...........24.9,25.3.. .........26.1,26.1............26.1,26.1
Wt/Rim width Ratio
Lbs/inch F............91......................107.......... ...........99....................102
Lbs/inch R............84.......................86.......... ...........76.....................72

 

Here's a link to the 370Z's specs on nissannews.com: http://nissannews.com/assets/attachm...ecs_Final2.pdf

Front track is listed as 61.0 for the 370Z.

 

From these specs on the 2008 350Z (http://www.nissannews.com/assets/spe...upe_Specs.pdf), front track is listed as 60.5 for the old model.

 

The scales data so far do not look good for the 370Z. If the base + sport package model does in fact weigh 3350 that may be too much.What we have so far:

Jason's scales.......... Base = 3289 + 25 to fill tank= 3314 + ? for sport package
Edmonds report....... Base with sport pkg = 3359 (we assume a full tank ?)

 

I think the only way Edmonds could come up with that number is full with spare. btw spare on a base car is on a steel wheel, sport gets upgraded to an aluminum spare.

Might be useful to also have the data from a 2008 Nismo in there.

 

The Edmonds 3359 appears on high side but we don't know what weight the sport package adds,if any. The Edmonds weight sure doesn't jive with the Nissan curb...3359 vs 3232??Sure would be nice to get a Base+ SportPkg on the scales with a known fuel load.

 

I dont know about that but the car sure looks like a beast and freaking fast too.

 

On a road course, it will be significantly faster than the outgoing model -- on an autocross course, not so sure. It's wide and heavy like an FS car and comes with a crappy diff, however, it has a short wheelbase and can run corvette sized rubber.

Could make a great pro solo car. It could also do well on a point-n-shoot sweeper type course like the west course at Nats in '07.

 

Yes it should be very fast but can it be setup to turn,rotate and minimize rear wheel spin on corner exit...don't guess we will know till someone gives it a credible try.

 

Might be useful to also have the data from a 2008 Nismo in there

Good point.Anyone have a link for Nismo specs and/or performance data??

 

Jim,

The Nismo's specs can be found in this document: http://www.nissannews.com/assets/spe...oupe_Specs.pdf

-Chike

 

2008 Nismo 350Z data added. Will add 370Z Nismo when available .

 

That list sure makes the 08' Nismo look good.

 

Why do you say that, tire size?

I don't think any Nismo 350Z is going to run to 60 under 5 seconds and mid 13 second quarters, like the new 370Z supposedly can...which makes me think the new car may be underrated, in terms of hp, or else the testers got a ringer...if the new car is really that strong, it's looking less and less like a BS car.

 

Wheel size is good, but it has the better suspension as well.

StiEvos are quick in a straight line, does not mean they can turn when you get to the end of it.

I have no doubt for one second that the 370 has AS power, 10+ years in a C4 that cant match those accel numbers tells me that, but camber and a good LSD are very important in Solo.

 

Jim,

Where did you get -1.5 front camber for the Nismo 350Z? Are owners of these cars able to get more camber adjustment than regular Z's?

 

Nismo has lower/stiffer springs, I would bet it is an estimate based on how much lower it is.

 

Gotcha - that makes sense.

 

Correct, it is an estimate plus a few mentions by Nismo owners on the Z forums but not verified.

 

Weight/Rim Width Ratio

Since no one has asked what the heck this is.....the calculation(for RX8) is :

Weight x Wt dist / rim width x 2 = 2800 x .50 / 8 x2 = 87.5 Lbs/inch,same F & R

Saw this somewhere. Other than a measure of tire load and Front-to-Rear bias thereof I'm not sure how useful it is.

 

Scale curb weights reported to date are indicating the 370Z is not the light weight some thought it would be:

Jason...................Base model = 3289 3/4 tank + 30 fuel topoff = 3319
Road&Track....................Base with Sport package and full tank = 3373
Edmunds...Base with Sport Package no mention if tank was full= 3359

In race trim the Base with Sport Pkg will be very close to 500 lbs heavier than the RX8 rockets...2800 vs approx 3280.

 

The weight is definitely a concern...what seems even more of a concern is the lack of camber adjustment.

It would be nice if Nissan would pay a little bit of homage to the grassroots folks and throw in some type of camber adjustment as an option as part of a Nismo package.

Well, maybe that wouldn't be so great for the RX8 folks given that it would really address one of the major areas of weakness in the car.

 

i wonder why the rx8 is no match for the 350z becuase i get smoked at the red light by 350z all the time

 

You also probably get smoked by V6 Camrys...and they aren't as fast in autocross as the RX8, either

Autocross is about much more than power...

 

Street racing of any kind is not a sport...and those are the only kind words I can think of for street racing.