With snow hitting many parts of the UK at the moment, drivers could do with vehicles designed to better cope with the white stuff.
Fortunately enough, Nissan has created just such a car. Called the 370Zki, it’s part-sports car, part snowmobile – and it’s certainly a bit different. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
It’s still got a sports car engine
You could be fooled into thinking that this Nissan would use a small capacity engine, but no. Underneath the bonnet is a 3.7-litre V6, packing just over 300bhp. That gives it more than enough power to tackle the slopes.
A lot of work went into the conversion
Believe it or not, mechanics removed the car’s entire drivetrain before fitting a custom lift kit – elevating it three inches higher than normal. This was all done to allow enough space for the snow tracks and forward ski sections.
The car has ski goggles
Okay, perhaps not quite. When designers were creating the custom wrap for the Nissan, they chose to make it appear like the tint on a pair of ski goggles. The effect is certainly dramatic – there’s no way that you could miss the 370Zki.
The rear tracks are incredibly substantial
The ‘Dominator’ tracks at the rear, created by American Track Truck Inc, are 15 inches wide, 48 inches long and 30 inches high. This makes the Nissan incredibly adept at crossing snow quickly – and they’ve even been custom mounted to the car’s regular wheel hubs.
The suspension was overhauled too
The Nissan’s front suspension was modified so that the front skis could properly articulate, giving it spot-on turning each and every time. In addition, a front skid plate was constructed and fitted to prevent damage in deeper snow.