Nissan 350Z

The drastic change has been brought about by the 350Z. Already a smash hit in Japan and the US, its UK allocation of 840 units for this year sold out within hours. Research shows the Audi TT tops the list of intended trade-ins, followed by Subaru's Impreza.

Will the owners of serious sports cars be disappointed when their new machines arrive in mid-October? We've sampled the Japanese-spec version before now, but European models have been substantially revised to suit our roads and higher speeds, with more spoilers to improve cooling and airflow.

The interior has been upgraded, too, and now gets an alloy finish to the steering wheel and switchgear, plus some better-grade plastics. It's enough to make an Impreza driver jealous, but the TT remains superior for looks and feel. Still, all the controls fall readily to hand and the seats move electrically, although it's a surprise to find that the wheel adjusts only for height. However, start up the engine and you will soon forget such quibbles, thanks to a satisfying beefy-sounding exhaust burble.

The gearbox has a positive shift, too, and slots between the six ratios with a pleasingly mechanical feel. Floor the accelerator, and anyone familiar with the turbo engines used in the TT and Impreza will be confused. Being normally aspirated, the 350Z's 276bhp V6 pulls instantly through the rev range.

Although turbo-lovers will miss the shove-in-the-back mid-range acceleration of a blown car, the 350Z is certainly not slow. But despite being a V6, the engine isn't that smooth and there is surprising vibration through the controls, especially the gearlever.

For drivers brought up on a diet of front or four-wheel drive, the handling will also require some getting used to. To make sure the model is taken seriously among sports car enthusiasts, the 350Z sends its power to the rear wheels. If you're on a track and fancy a bit of fun, switch the ESP system off and the tail will slide out with little provocation. But if you arrive at a wet roundabout too fast by mistake, there's plenty of grip and the electronics keep you pointing in the right direction. Huge braces linking the suspension struts under the bonnet and rear hatch make the bodyshell super-stiff, too, giving a precise feel to all the controls plus a surprisingly supple ride for a model that has virtually no roll through bends.

Designed from the outset as a 'proper' sports car, the 350Z is far more focused to drive than a TT, and is more fun at everyday speeds than any of the four-wheel-drive turbo saloons. With only 1,300 due in the UK every year - against 5,000 TTs - the Nissan is assured cult status. Just be patient with the poor dealer while he gets used to all the excitement.