Nissan has confirmed that the 350Z roadster will go on UK sale early next year.

The two-seater drop-top has been available in the US for a year, but its UK launch has only just been given the green light by Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn.

Order books will open in a month or two, with Nissan expecting high demand from buyers - the 350Z coupe still has a waiting list of up to five months in the UK.

The roadster is likely to carry a £2,000-£3,000 premium over the hard top and should cost from around £26,000.

Using the same 276bhp 3.5-litre V6 engine as the coupe, the convertible should be able to reach 60mph from rest in under seven seconds and top out at 155mph. It features a soft roof that folds electrically in 20 seconds.