The Nissan 370Z sports car hits you right between the eyes, both with is striking looks and amazing performance levels per pound.

Now it will ruffle your hair too, thanks to its fabric drop-top roof, which goes up and down in 20 seconds.

Developed alongside the 370Z coupe from the start of the project, the Roadster promises to be a more polished proposition than the Nissan 350Z Roadster which went before.

That car is still real looker, and it’s only when you line it up against the new car you realise the 350Z is starting to show its age.

Sharp-edges, jewel-like headlights and turbine-style alloy wheels give the 370Z Roadster a very contemporary look, which is straight from a Manga comic book.

Its engine is certainly heroic, having grown to 3.7-litres and 324bhp, with a rippling 264lb/ft of torque; you’ll rarely want for more power.

Acceleration to the 62mph benchmark takes 5.5 seconds, 0.4 seconds quicker than the entry-level Porsche Boxster, and just 0.2 seconds behind the £42k Porsche Boxster S.

The 370Z Roadster is as much as 100kg lighter than its predecessor – mainly thanks to an aluminium bonnet, doors and boot lid.

This has helped economy, which has improved from 23.5mpg to 25.2mpg on the combined cycle (manual gearbox), and its emissions that fall to 262g/km of CO2.

Pulling out of the gates of Silverstone and onto a dusty roundabout, it’s immediately obvious this is a joyous car to drive.

The exhaust note is louder with the roof stowed, and while it might not have the razor-sharp note of a Porsche’s flat-six, its gruff V6 growl suits the Z’s character perfectly.

With the ESP turned off the tail slides gracefully under power – making the Roadster feel a bit friskier than the Coupe.

Agile handling

Undulating and bumpy lanes expose the weaker body of the Roadster, which flexes more than the Coupe’s, and can feel slightly more unsettled.

But most drivers will be having far too much fun to notice. The 370Z Roadster scythes through bends with great agility, and its revised suspension soaks up bumps pretty well too. All the while, the meaty steering and precise six-speed manual transmission add to the experience.

On GT Pack cars Synchro Rev Control is included with the ‘box, blipping the throttle automatically as you change down a gear. Or, you can opt for a seven-speed semi-automatic gearbox with paddle shifters.

The black hood can be folded up and down using a button on the centre console, or via the key fob. It has a smooth inner lining, which improves the look and feel of the cabin and makes the car more refined. A hydraulic opening mechanism (versus the electric motor fitted to the 350Z Roadster) for quieter operation.

Nissan has a reputation for equipping its cars well, and the Roadster is no exception.

A stop/start button, intelligent key, 18-inch alloy wheels, electric seats, steering wheel mounted controls and Bluetooth connectivity are all standard.

GT Pack cars gain 19-inch RAYS alloy wheels, heated and cooled seats, cruise control and a six-CD changer with Bose sound system.

A big heart

The 370Z Roadster might not be as clever as a Porsche Boxster, or as sophisticated as a Mercedes SLK, but its heart is in the right place. With its thumping V6, great looks and affordable price we expect people to be queuing up to buy one.

Key facts

Model tested: Nissan 370Z Roadster
On the road price: £34,750
Price range: £29,900 – £36,150
Date tested: March 2010
Road tester: Andy Goodwin