NISSAN is celebrating 40 years of ‘Z' in the UK with a special GT edition of the 370Z coupe, available next month from £35,000.

The eyecatching new model, which comes with special body colours and darkened 19-inch forged RAYS alloy wheels, also marks the Japanese company's worldwide success in GT racing.

Grey racing stripes run along the flanks to contrast with each of the three body colours - pearl white, Kuro metallic black and black rose - as the GT Edition harks back to the original Z car of the 1970s.

And the chassis has been re-tuned by Nissan's UK-based engineering team to achieve an ideal balance between ride comfort and high-speed handling.

Equipment changes include the arrival of a rear view parking camera as part of the Premium Connect sat-nav system and the fitting of a tyre pressure monitoring system.

The seven-speed automatic option also now has a snow mode which, when applied, sets the car off in second gear and controls engine revs to prevent wheel spin on slippery surfaces. There's also improved underbody insulation to keep road noise down.

Says Nissan product chief Pierre Loing: "The 370Z is an iconic sports car and the GT Edition underlines its appeal to enthusiasts. The combination of outstanding performance and dramatic looks more than lives up to the heritage of its illustrious forebear."

The Nissan Z family has been a race winner in the FIA's GT4 European Cup since its inception and competes annually in various 24 hour races - the highlight being the Nürburgring 24 hours.