Nissan Puts 332 Horsepower on Skis
Nissan at the Chicago Auto Show released a specially constructed, one-off 370Z Roadster snowmobile. The 332-horsepower 370Z Roadster is ready to tackle ski slopes and backwoods trails alike with its front skis and rear snow tracks replacing the iconic sports car’s usual high performance tires.
“The Nissan 370Zki continues our recent tradition of bringing imaginative winter vehicle concepts to the Chicago Auto Show. With the Nissan Z’s long heritage of motorsports competition, the 370Zki seemed like a natural combination,” said Michael Bunce, vice president of product planning for Nissan North America Inc. “Prior to its debut here in Chicago, we put the 370Zki through its paces on the slopes in Wyoming where its performance heritage really came through.”
Transforming the factory stock 370Z Roadster to the snow track-carving 370Zki presented a few obstacles. To make room for the rear DOMINATOR Tracks from American Track Truck Inc., the entire drivetrain was first removed from the 370Z Roadster. Then a custom lift kit was designed and engineered, lifting the vehicle three inches from the normal height.
Next came fabrication of custom mountings for the rear suspension springs and 3-inch custom spacers to mount the snow tracks to the wheel hubs. The factory brakes were retained but the brake lines had to be rerouted and the exhaust system was modified to fit under the vehicle. The rear wheel wells were also modified for clearance of the 4-foot-long snow tracks.
In front, the suspension was modified to accommodate the new ride height, and adaptors were made to allow the appropriate travel and rotation for the front skis-”which were also supplied by American Track Truck Inc.-”and mounted with spacers to the stock wheel hubs. The engine and transmission also had to be custom-mounted and a front skid plate fabricated to prevent damage during snow excursions.
By comparison, the cosmetic part of the conversion was relatively easy. The custom body wrap was created and applied by Icon Image Graphics and the headlights were tinted yellow to resemble ski goggles.
