A few days ago Nissan dropped a teasershowing a snowy mountain with the unmistakable sound of a 370Z two-seat sports car in the background. In addition, we were given a very curious name – 370Zki. Well, for those who ever wondered what a Nissan snowmobile might be like, here it is in all its crazy-mental, mad-scientist glory. And before you get any wild ideas about ordering one from Nissan, the answer is no way.
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That’s not to say you couldn’t build one if you really wanted to, but be warned – creating the 370Zki involved far more than just bolting up some snowmobile bits. How far you ask? Nissan ordered tracks and skis from American Track Truck, which advertises simple installation provided that, you know, you’re not trying to put these things on a tiny sports car. That’s why the next step of the project called for removing the entire driveline.
A custom lift kit was fabricated to raise the car three inches all around, but that still didn’t provide the necessary clearance for the tracks, which measure four feet on the ground. Custom mounts for the rear springs were added, and three-inch wheel spacers were bolted to the hubs to get the tracks out away from the car. Brake lines were rerouted as was the exhaust, but that still wasn’t quite enough so the Z’s wheel wells were modified to keep the tracks from chewing up the body.
And that was just for the back.
Up front the suspension work was a bit less involved but still required modifications to the wheel wells. The stock hubs were retained, but adapters were used to get the necessary suspension travel and rotation for the skies, not to mention more wheel spacers to get the skis further apart. This work also required custom mounts for the engine and transmission, and to keep ice chunks or other debris from damaging important under-car components, a custom skid plate was installed.
The engine and transmission remain completely stock, which for a new 370Z means 332 horsepower (248 kW) sent rearward through a seven-speed automatic. We don’t know how much weight the conversion added, but all things considered we suspect top speed and corner-carving capabilities aren’t of concern in this case. Carving snow-covered slopes and trails, however, could be positively epic – at least until the wheel bearings give out. Up to that point, we'd be grinning fools.
Nissan will have this winter-ready 370Zki on display at the 2018 Chicago Auto Show, along with the slightly more civilized Nissan Armada Snow Patrol SUV.
Source: Nissan
Nissan 370Zki brings new meaning to “winter sports” at 2018 Chicago Auto Show
CHICAGO (Feb. 5, 2018) – Nissan is getting into the winter sports spirit this month with a specially constructed, one-off 370Z Roadster “snowmobile.” Dubbed the “370Zki” – pronounced “370-Ski” – 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 makes its world debut this week at the 2018 Chicago Auto Show.
Nissan 370Zki
“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, Product Planning, 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 understandable 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 three-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 four-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.
“Nissan’s full range of winter adventure-ready vehicles will be on display throughout the Chicago Auto Show, from our best-selling Rogue AWD to the powerful TITAN 4x4 and TITAN XD 4x4 lineups,” said Bunce. It’s also fun to shake things up with something totally unexpected once in a while – and that’s the Nissan 370Zki.”
Nissan 370Zki Project Build Specifications
Base Vehicle: Nissan 370Z Roadster
Drivetrain: 332-horsepower 3.7-liter DOHC V6, 7-speed automatic transmission, rear-wheel drive
Top: Cloth power-folding roof with fabric inner liner
Modifications:
| Part/system | Supplier/modification |
| DOMINATOR® Tracks Width 15 inches Length 48 inches Height 30 inches | American Track Truck, Inc. |
| Front skis Width 12 inches Length 56 inches | American Track Truck, Inc. |
| Wheel wells | Opened up, front and rear |
| Wheel spacers | 3-inch front and rear |
| Suspension
| Custom mounting fabrication front and rear |
| Brakes | Factory spec front and rear, relocated – including brake lines |
| Steering | Factory spec |
| Engine | Factory spec 3.7-liter V6, 332 hp, 270 lb-ft torque |
| Body wrap | Icon Image Graphics |
The Nissan 370Zki will be on public display at the 2018 Chicago Auto Show, which runs Feb. 10th through Feb. 19th at Chicago’s McCormick Place. Also on display will be a custom Nissan Armada Snow Patrol SUV.
For more information on the Nissan 370Zki and the complete lineup of 2018 Nissan vehicles, please visit www.NissanNews.com.