By Lorne Drury

Z may be the last letter of the alphabet, but in the world of sports cars, the Z has been near the forefront for nearly four decades for Nissan and as a Datsun when it first debuted here in 1969.

Now for 2009, Nissan has completed its first full redesign of the iconic Z car since it was reintroduced as a 2003 model. It had been discontinued in 1999 after a 30-year run.

Billed by Nissan as an "everyday sports car", the 2009 370Z Coupe has a shorter wheelbase, more power and features either a new seven-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual.

In fact, nearly every piece and component is changed from the outgoing 350Z (the number corresponds to the engine size) in the new model with an aerodynamic body that is more compact and has a more aggressive stance.

While it has a refreshing new look, the traditional Z design is still evident with the long hood and short rear deck, which opens in liftback form to reveal a smallish cargo area. Twin chrome exhausts in the rear add to the aggressive look.

A rear-wheel drive two-seater, the 370Z is available in coupe form only for 2009.

However, a convertible version will hit the streets as a 2010 model in the near future.

Like its cousin the G37 sedan/coupe/convertible, the 370Z features the fourth generation VQ series 3.7-litre, 24-valve DOHC V6 engine, rated at 332 hp and 270 lb/ft of torque. The 370Z also shares the same platform as the G series cars, but there the similarity ends.

The 370Z is pure sports car rather than sports coupe/sedan. The interior is an upgrade from the 350Z with the cozy cabin featuring higher quality materials and better ergonomics. It has a cockpit-like look and feel with three huge round gauges front and centre for the driver. Three other round gauges sit atop the centre stack, which features an easy-to-read seven-inch colour LCD monitor.

The heated, eight-way driver's seat is well bolstered to hold you firmly in place when negotiating the twisties that magically appear anytime a driving enthusiast gets behind the wheel of a sports car like this.

At six-foot tall, there was plenty of leg, head and shoulder room for me and ingress and egress was pretty good for what my wife calls a "low rider." However, getting out of the heavily-bolstered seat proves more difficult than getting in.

Pricing starts at under $40K (well only by $2, but it is under nevertheless) for the six-speed manual with no options. The automatic adds $1,400, while the Navigation Package (hard drive-based navigation system, 9.3-gig music box hard drive and interface for iPod) sets you back an additional $2,500 and the Sport Package (19-inch wheels, front and rear spoiler, sport brakes) is $4,000.

When designers set out to restyle the Z, they wanted a fresh new character, yet one that had the identifiable Nissan Z look, according to Ian Forsyth, director product and corporate planning for Nissan Canada.

"One usually thinks of evolution as being linear. The new 370Z's 'super evolution' builds on the best features of both the first and last generation Z-cars- respectful but not retro, simple yet sophisticated, and 110 percent pure Z," said Forsyth.

"The new 370Z lives in the sweet spot of performance, style and value, a position that Nissan invented with the original Z. It's an authentic sports car that you don't have to make sacrifices to own- or drive every day," said Forsyth.

In designing the new Z, engineers reduced the wheelbase and the overall length, while increasing the width slightly and the rear track to give the aggressive-looking stance. Weight has been reduced (by 40 kg) with greater use of lightweight materials, yet body rigidity is improved considerably to help with the handling.

Speaking of handling, the Z now employs a double wishbone suspension setup in the front, with an independent multi-link in rear.

On the road, the 370Z has a solid feel and handling is excellent. Power is up 26 hp over the outgoing model and that, combined with the lighter weight, produces a better performing car. There is improved low-end power and more torque at the upper end.

A neat feature with the Sport Package and the six-speed manual is a downshift rev matching system that automatically controls and adjusts engine speed when shifting to the exact speed of the next gear position.

Called the SynchroRev Match system, it allows the driver to focus more on braking and steering and helps smooth out up/down shifts.

Nissan says it allows drivers of any skill level to experience "professional-like gear shift performance." If you don't want to use it, there is a button next to the shifter to de-activate it.

Steering is speed-sensitive power-assisted and performs flawlessly, allowing drivers to carve the curves with precision. The cabin can get a bit noisy at speed with wind and road noise on uneven pavement, but hey, it's a sports car, get over it.

What you can't get over, however, is the lack of rear visibility. The small back window, reminiscent of the original 240Z, makes backing up a chore. You really need to be on your toes in a busy parking lot.

Also on the minus side is the lack of cargo space. However, I was able to fit my hockey bag in the back and that's a plus as far as I'm concerned. I'm sure a set of golf clubs could also be squeezed in.

On the safety front, the Z has six airbags, traction and stability control, tire pressure monitoring system and seat belts with pre-tensioners and load limiters.

Among the convenience and trim features are cruise control, power windows/door locks, auto-dimming rear view mirror, eight-speaker Bose audio system, XM satellite radio, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, a smart key system and aluminum-trimmed pedals.

All in all, a fine package for an iconic sports car that has the performance to match the good looks. Although it's been around for four decades, like the Chevrolet Corvette, the Nissan Z is a thoroughly modern sports car that hasn't lost any of its zest over the years.

NISSAN 370Z 2009 COUPE AT A GLANCE

BODY STYLE: two-seat sports car

DRIVE METHOD: front engine, rear-wheel drive

ENGINE; 3.7-litre DOHC V6 (332 hp, 270 lb/ft) with six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmissions

FUEL ECONOMY: 6MT- 11.6L/100 km (24 mpg) city, 7.7L/100 km (37 mpg) highway; 7AT-11.4/7.6L/100 km (23/37 mpg)

PRICE: $39,998-$47,998 plus $1,500 freight and PDI

WEB SITE: www.nissan.ca