Yutaka Katayama, regarded as the "Father of the Z" unveiled the Z concept sketch to the public when he received a motor industry award.

Nissan was unhappy with the first design as they felt the original 200 bhp (149 kW; 203 PS) 2.4 L KA24DE engine that was going to be assigned made the car feel underpowered.

During a press conference in February 2000, president Carlos Ghosn announced plans to produce the car as he felt the new model would help to assist the company's recovery.

[1] The Z Concept was unveiled in Detroit Motor Show two years later, which was similar in body shape but with a new front end.

External design highlights include: sloping fastback style arched roof line, unique brushed aluminum door handles, high waistline, and bulging fenders that are pushed out to the corners of the vehicle.

The Performance model came with larger 18-inch wheels, front air dam, rear spoiler, optional Brembo brakes, and VDC instead of Traction Control.

The Track model included Brembo brakes, front air dam, rear spoiler, traction control, cloth seats, 18-inch wheels, VLSD, and optional GPS Navigation.

Additions included bi-xenon projectors, a revised front fascia, new LED rear lights, changes to the interior trim and speed sensitive steering.

A total of 5 units, called the Type E, were produced in Japan for homologation requirements to compete in the Super GT series.

The 35th Anniversary Edition includes an updated VQ35DE 300 hp (224.99 kW) V6 engine for the six-speed manual transmission model.

Other equipment (standard on six-speed manual-equipped versions) includes 18-inch (460 mm) cast aluminum-alloy wheels, front spoilers, Brembo brakes and special Z badging.

The car was available in a special "Ultra Yellow", "Silverstone grey","Super Black" and "Pearl Blue" colors.

[12] During the 2006 Goodwood Festival of Speed, Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE) unveiled the 350Z GT-S Concept.

[14] The Nissan Fairlady Z Type F, Xanavi Nismo Z (Super GT 2007 GT500 Class), Endless Advan Z (series winner of Japan's Super Taikyu 2007 endurance series) and Fairlady Z Version Nismo Type 380RS were all unveiled at the 2008 Tokyo Auto Salon.

[16] Nissan's performance tuning division, Nismo, began producing modified versions of the 350Z shortly after its introduction.

[citation needed] The R-Tune was a kit sold directly to customers with modifications including new headers, cams, pulleys.

The R-Tune voids the Nissan factory warranty,[citation needed] but gains significant horsepower, intended for track racers.

The S-Tune GT had revised long nose bodywork as in the Type-E, a modified version of the VQ35DE engine called the S1 which featured more power (316 PS / 232 kW / 311 hp) and a higher redline (7,200 rpm), as well as a sportier Nismo suspension.

This version had the same engine as the regular 350Z (VQ35HR), but was only available with a 6-speed manual transmission and a viscous-type limited-slip differential (VLSD), Traction Control System (TCS) and a Nismo aerodynamics package based on the Super GT championship car, which included an aggressive front fascia with chin spoiler, side skirts, an extended rear fascia with an underbody diffuser and a rear wing.

The vehicle also featured Nismo-tuned independent multi-link suspension developed by Yamaha, Brembo brakes with four-piston front and two-piston rear calipers (with 12.8-inch (330 mm) front and 12.7-inch (320 mm) rear rotors) and Nismo-branded gunmetal grey RAYS forged alloy wheels and a Nismo-branded tuned exhaust.

The conversion process for the Nismo 350Z began with a limited number of chassis being pulled from the assembly line to be sent to Nissan-tuner Autech to have structural seams hand-welded for greater body rigidity.

Brembo disc brakes are fitted, front and rear dampers from Yamaha and forged RAYS alloy wheels.

The cars used are heavily modified and had a longer nose and tail (requiring the production of the Type-E homologation special), carbon fiber bodywork, and a tube chassis.

The 350Z, with slightly more pedestrian modifications also competed in the GT300 class, having started there even before the Skyline GT-Rs were replaced, by teams such as Endless Sports and Mola.

The 350Z is a popular platform for import events and drifting, where in the latter, drivers including Ryuji Miki, Youichi Imamura, Tyler McQuarrie and Tanner Foust have used them with success in the D1 Grand Prix and Formula D series.

[26] During the 2006 D1 Grand Prix exhibition event at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Tanner Foust, driving a 350Z, became the first competitor to achieve a perfect score of 100.

[28] In Round 2, Chris Forsberg scored a maiden victory[28] in his 350Z Roadster equipped with a VK56DE from a Nissan Titan.

[citation needed] In 2004, the tuner Dandy and magazine Option entered a Z33 known as the "Option Dandy 380Z" with a donor engine from a salvaged Stream Z with a deleted turbo, producing 370 bhp (276 kW; 375 PS), to compete in the F/GT class for naturally aspirated grand touring sport cars at the Bonneville Speed Week.

[33][34] The 350Z has been extremely popular with diecast manufacturers, with companies such as Hot Wheels releasing various colors and styles of the car over the years.

Criticisms tend to be directed towards the grade of interior plastics, greater curb weight than its competitors, cabin ergonomics and engine refinement.