When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
The Z has always been an indicator of Nissan's well-being. The 1970 240Z set the stage for the brand's success throughout the decade, the 1990 300ZX showed the impressive engineering acumen Nissan would be known for in the '90s, and the 2003 350Z ushered in a renaissance as Carlos Ghosn and his Renault-Nissan Alliance brought the company back from the brink. The current 370Z has withered, along with its parent company, over the past decade, leaving many to wonder if the Z had a future at all in the wake of Ghosn's scandalous departure and the company's financial struggles. The Z Proto, a production-intent preview for the upcoming Z35-generation 400Z, appears to answer that question with a resounding yes.Five inches longer than the 370Z, the new car has an elegant shape. We see hints of Jaguar and Aston Martin in its proportions, but Nissan head of design Alfonso Albaisa is focused on how it evokes prior iterations of the Z. "We don't use the word retro, it's more of an homage," said Albaisa.
The new car's detailing is somewhat of a grab bag of the best of past Z-cars, with 240Z-inspired headlights, 300ZX-esque taillights, and a few other historical touches. The only real nod to the past inside, though, is the three-gauge binnacle atop the dash; it's otherwise a fully modernized two-seat cockpit with large display screens for the gauge cluster and infotainment system and an attractive new steering-wheel design.
Under the long hood is a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6, which GT-R guru and chief product specialist Hiroshi Tamura says is a modified version of the VR30DDTT unit available in both 300- and 400-hp states of tune in the Infiniti Q50 and Q60. The 400Z should hew closer to the high end of that scale, although Nissan might leave room for a NISMO version. A six-speed manual is standard, and an automatic will be optional, likely the seven-speed torque-converter unit found in the Infinitis.
Nissan isn't discussing the chassis, leaving us to assume that it rides on the same rear-wheel-drive FM platform as before. It'll likely share suspension and brake components with the Infiniti Red Sport performance models. "The Z must have a strong connection between human and machine, like a dance partner," Tamura said, noting how the emotional aspects—driving feel, sound, and styling—are more important than objective performance here. We hope that's not an excuse for uncompetitive numbers, but Nissan is well aware of the other turbocharged 3.0-liter sports car coming out of Japan these days (well, by way of a BMW factory in Austria), the Toyota Supra.
As they were in the 1990s, the Z and Supra will be close rivals. The Nissan's manual transmission is an advantage over the automatic-only Toyota (for now), but the Z will have its work cut out for it matching the 382-hp Supra's zero-to-60-mph time of 3.8 seconds. Nissan hasn't made any performance claims yet, other than hinting that the automatic will be quicker than the manual.
Given its new engine and revamped design, we think the new Z will leap in price over the current car, which starts at $31,085. When the 400Z production car arrives sometime in 2021, we expect it will start in the mid-$40,000 range, neatly bisecting the four- and six-cylinder Supra models. And we hope it will be worth the wait.
That is the most boring sports car prototype I've ever seen. And the muted yellow color doesn't do it any favors. Pretty much nails everything I expect from Nissan these days.
Is there any reason to believe interior design just a placeholder? It looks very generic. You could have told me the was the current-gen's interior and I would have believed it.
Really interested to see how the production model will turn out. I think the bones of an interesting car are there. The overly rectangular grille bothered me at first, but it's already grown on me a bit.
Hopefully it doesn't just turn out to be a de-contented Q60. If this gets close to the Supra's curb weight (or even lower) that would be great. Happy to see Nissan offering a manual, too.
I wonder what it's like to drive. It's riding on the very old FM platform. In a sense, it's almost like a heavily facelifted 370z with a new turbocharged engine.
The Z Proto is arguably the hottest new Nissan we’ve seen in years - it has the perfect mix between vintage influences and modern tweaks. It’s too early to say whether it’s the vehicle that the automaker has been waiting for as a savior (we doubt that) but at least it’s a breath of fresh air from Yokohama.
What Nissan definitely needs right now is a new cash cow. The financial situation of the firm is not particularly great and it’s exploring many potential ideas for new models that could bring in fresh money. And a Z Proto SUV is not something that’s been ruled out.
During a recent media event, Ivan Espinosa, Nissan's Senior Vice President for Global Product Planning, admitted the manufacturer is exploring a potential Z SUV. It hasn’t received the production green light yet but it hasn’t been ruled out as a possibility either.
"There's always temptation, we're always exploring these things," Espinosa told CarAdvice during the meeting when asked about a potential Z SUV. "The strength of Z – the brand – is so big, that it could potentially allow some wild things."
There were rumors about the new Z being a high-riding model but the speculation was disproved with the debut of the almost production-ready prototype. Still, that doesn’t mean the door is completely closed for a future Z SUV as it may be the answer to Nissan's burning question.
"Z is about connecting with the car you're driving. So the real sports car experience, you need the low driving position,” Espinosa added. "You can still deliver a very exciting experience, but it will never be physically possible to deliver the same experience as if you were sitting as low as you were sitting in the Z coupe."
The last thing most people would want to do on a cold and rainy October morning is to rise early and attend a car meet. Those who weathered the drizzle on Sunday's Daikanyama Tsutaya Bookstore Morning Cruise in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, however, were rewarded not only with a glimpse of Nissan's concept for the next-generation Z sports car, the Z Proto, but a visit by Nissan executives who surprised the crowd by announcing the Z Proto will reach production almost unchanged.
"It will come out in this form," declared Nissan's Chief Product Specialist, Hiroshi Tamura, as transcribed by Best Car. Tamura reportedly added that in keeping with the Z's affordable roots, the next Z will be sold at a "buyable price [sic]."
When contacted to have the executives' statements corroborated, a Nissan spokesperson contrasted their higher-ups, stating "it's too hasty to say the design is settled at this point."
Nissan's executives and PR folks, however, have been of two minds on the Z for years. Back in January 2018, a product planning lead confirmed the Z was in the oven, only for PR to be less committed. Later that same year, when Nissan's global design head Alfonso Albaisa spoke about working on the Z, company mouthpieces again wouldn't acknowledge such a car was in development.
Given that none of the above were originally confirmed bits, we can put little stock behind the comments (or lack thereof), but it's safe to say that the future looks bright if the design, in fact, remains the same as in the Proto.
The 400Z, as some speculatively call it, will apparently bookend Nissan's "A-to-Z" brand revival, which is expected to proceed alphabetically—the Ariya up front, the Z bringing up the rear. That will apparently mean launch as far out as 2023, by which time we hopefully won't be second-guessing the Z Proto's gaping grille.
Parts of the concept look very much borrowed from the 370Z, especially the interior and exterior greenhouse. To say that the concept would be carried over just sounds like cost-cutting measures, especially if the rumor of carrying the platform over end up being correct.
We get it, a sports car has poor profit margins and is the antithesis to an SUV, the latter of which has captivated the market. Even manufacturers like Lamborghini and Aston are making SUVs these days. Even then, a lazy effort that does deliver will just be a waste of time.
I know, I know - another person with speculative info on an upcoming car, I'll just say I have a lot of family in TN....
The Z35 will still be a "Fairlady Z" in Japan, all other markets the Z35 will be called "Nissan Z"
MSRP: $34,995 (this is for the base with 0 options) There will be 2 packages - Base: 0 options. - Type S: Brembos, thicker sways, coolers, other stuff. - Type T: Leather, Power Seats, Heated and Cooled, Auto cruise, blind spot, etc - Type ST: Both S and T Packages - Each package will be roughly 5k each, ST will set you back 10k
Base gets Akebonos, Sport or Nismo get the Brembos - No more floating calipers.
All cars get... - The 400hp Flavor of VR30DDTT - The Digital Dash - Android Auto / Car Play - Rear Duckbill
Dry Weight = 3,252lbs
The Auto we're seeing on the Gunmetal and Silver cars is the Mercedes-Benz 9G-Tronic, no more 7 speed. - Yes, it's still a torque converter Auto - No, it's not as nice as the ZF8 (based on what I can find online, I've never driven anything with this transmission personally) - It's better than the Jatco 7spd we all know now - This transmission is already in the Titan and it will soon be in every Nissan / Infiniti RWD vehicle (including the Qs)
Yes, this car really is a 370Z with a Body Kit and a VR30 Swap and the chassis was massaged.......heavily (more aluminum, more bracing, carbon fiber) - "370Z Sport" is the new "Base" (thicker sways, wider forged wheels, etc) - "370Z Nismo" is the new "Sport" (even wider wheels, thicker sways, bracing) - There is a Nismo version coming....it won't just be a body kit, exhaust, tune and some badges this time
The 6 spd manual is a carryover from the 370Z
There are 3 USDM Production cars in the US for a Dealer's Meeting and for journalist afterwards to review.
White 2 Tone: Stick, Sport, no pics have leaked (yet) Silver 2 Tone: Auto, Touring Gunmetal: Auto, Base
There is not a roadster in the cards right now, sorry folks. Nissan is gunning for the Supra and the Mustang but it's main target is the Supra - make no mistake. I don't have Nismo Info other than "Brembos" and "Baby GT-R"
Colors: All 2020 370Z colors will carry over for the first year with additions of Yellow and that new Orange they are so proud of. They are going all in with the 240Z nostalgia on this one so don't be shocked if we see some "Heritage" colors down the line.
Honestly, if this thing is just a 370Z with a body kit and a VR motor, it's not going to do well against the Supra. The biggest selling point is the manual at this point, the Supra will probably be better in all other counts.
Honestly, if this thing is just a 370Z with a body kit and a VR motor, it's not going to do well against the Supra. The biggest selling point is the manual at this point, the Supra will probably be better in all other counts.
Don't underestimate the price advantage; $35K vs $51K is a pretty hefty difference if the numbers are to be believed. $35K would still be $9K less than the Supra 2.0, and I would expect it to outperform the baby Supra by a fair margin.
Don't underestimate the price advantage; $35K vs $51K is a pretty hefty difference if the numbers are to be believed. $35K would still be $9K less than the Supra 2.0, and I would expect it to outperform the baby Supra by a fair margin.
Then why does the Supra outsell the 370Z by a margin as wide as the pacific ocean?
The 2022 Nissan Z has been snapped for a second time in production guise, just a couple of weeks after first leaking online.
These photos that were sent to CarScoops by an anonymous reader but have also circulated on the web, including on the NissanZClub, showcase the sports car in a light shade of silver. It is unclear where these images were taken but they clearly show both the exterior and interior of the car, confirming that it will look practically identical to the Nissan Z Proto study unveiled last year.
As evidenced by the amber turn signals, this looks to be a North American market car. The silver paint has been contrasted by gloss black across the front grille, wheels, wing mirrors, A-pillars, B-pillars, C-pillars, roof, and the rear diffuser. The most obvious difference between the production model and the original show car is the presence of a lip spoiler on the trunklid.
The interior of the Z pictured is also quite striking thanks to its two-tone black and blue finish that is reminiscent of the classic 240Z from the 70s and which looks to combine areas of leather with soft-touch Alcantara surfaces. Much like the model pictured last month, this car has an automatic transmission with paddle shifters as opposed to the six-speed manual of the Z Proto.
We know that all 2022 Z models will feature the company’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 with approximately 400 hp. The aforementioned automatic will apparently be a Mercedes-sourced 9G-Tronic while the six-speed manual will be the same unit as the 370Z. Of course, power will be sent exclusively throughout the rear wheels.
It was also recently indicated in another leak that the coupe won’t be named 400Z but simply ‘Z’ with the same report claiming it will start from as low as $34,995, which would make it $5,000 more expensive than the current 370Z but nearly $8,000 cheaper than the four-cylinder Toyota Supra 2.0.
Nissan revealed the Z Proto (pictured) last fall as a production-intent prototype. That car was meant to give us an idea of what'll be sold in the States, likely as the 400Z. Nearly a year after it showed the prototype car, Nissan will finally reveal the production version of the new Z on August 17, 2021 on its YouTube channel.
Images of what appear to be the production car have already leaked, and they showed that it won't be far off from the Z Proto we saw last fall. The cars, finished in dark gray and silver, had chrome trim integrated into the grille, slightly larger headlights, different wheels, and a rear decklid spoiler. The Z badge on the C-pillar will also make it to production.
The new Z will use a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 engine, and although Nissan hasn't said anything about its output, we expect it to offer around 400 horsepower. It's a modified version of the engine found in the Infiniti Q50 and Q60. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, but there's also an optional automatic gearbox.
We'll know the full details in a few months, including all the performance specs, which should create a compelling matchup against the 382-hp Toyota Supra. The 2022 Nissan 400Z should be on sale by the end of the year starting at around $40,000.
The sheetmetal looks quite similar to that of the Z Proto concept. Minor changes to the door handles and the addition of side marker lenses and a fuel filler cap were necessary for the leap to production. It's a handsome design that references the game-changing 240Z and the 1990-96 300ZX, which was the last twin-turbo Z we got.
Hard points look similar to that of the 370Z for a reason: the new Z shares its 100.4-inch wheelbase to the decimal point. But it would be unfair to call it a 370Z clone with a new skin. Nissan says it has overhauled the unibody and chassis for improved rigidity and its suspension features new geometry. The front aluminum double-wishbones, for example, provide an increased caster angle to improve straight-line stability. Nissan says the rear multi-links have also been reconfigured, but didn't provide details.
Larger-diameter monotube shocks at all four corners reduce dampening force by about 20 percent to better absorb inconsistencies on road surfaces, while a front strut brace helps reduce body flex. Add to that the Performance model's 19-inch Rays forged aluminum wheels with Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires and Nissan claims maximum cornering forces have been upped by 13 percent.
The aspect that really hurt the outgoing 370Z late in its life, though, was the interior. Its decade-old technology really made the car seem like a dinosaur. Thankfully, that has been wholly rectified.
The first thing you'll notice is the presence of a new three-mode, 12.3-inch digital instrument display. "Normal" shows a balanced mix of vehicle stats and navigation; "Enhanced" moves the tach and speedometer to the edges for maximum navigation map area. "Sport" mode adds a g-force meter and boost gauge while placing the tach front and center. A shift light at the top allows drivers to see it without taking their eyes off the road.
The center stack is even more improved, topped with a traditional three-pod cluster that shows boost pressure, turbine speed (for some reason?) and battery voltage. Below that, the Z is finally modernized with a standard 8-inch infotainment touchscreen that offers Bluetooth (hallelujah!), Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, satellite radio, and hands-free text. Two 12-volt power outlets and two USB ports (Type-A and Type-C) are included as well.
Sweeping changes to safety equipment include standard automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and intelligent forward collision warning, blind spot and lane departure warnings, and rear cross-traffic alerts. A rear-view monitor and intelligent cruise control are also standard.
The centerpiece of the interior, though, is the aforementioned manual transmission. The 6-speed feeds power through an Exedy clutch and a carbon-fiber composite driveshaft – items that were pretty exotic for a production car when the 370Z debuted. Launch assist control is available on Performance trims, helping deliver jerk-free acceleration and the 370Z's pioneering rev-matching feature returns for a second act. A 9-speed automatic is also available, and can be outfitted with aluminum paddle shifters borrowed from the GT-R.
The 2023 Nissan Z will be available in a variety of colors. Black Diamond Metallic, Rosewood Metallic, and Gun Metallic will all be available as monotones. Brilliant Silver, Boulder Gray, Seiran Blue, Ikazuchi Yellow, Passion Red TriCoat, and Everest White Pearl TriCoat will come with a contrasting black roof. We finally have a wider choice of interior colors as well, with black, red and blue rounding out the trio of options.
Nissan is getting in on the launch editions as well, with a Z Proto Spec that will be limited to just 240 units for the U.S. It'll be distinguishable by yellow brake calipers with the Z logo and bronze 19-inch RAYS aluminum-alloy wheels. Inside, it'll be adorned with exclusive leather-appointed seats with yellow accents, yellow stitching throughout the cabin, and an exclusive shift knob on manual-equipped cars.
“Z is the pure expression of thrill," said COO Ashwani Gupta, “The new Z retains its authenticity as a pure sports car to keep you connected to the road while bringing in the latest modern technologies to make sure the car can help keep you connected to your life.”
Pricing has not been announced. We expect to know more about that as the 2023 Nissan Z nears its on-sale date of spring 2022.
09-15-2020, 07:57 PM
I'll take mine over that style any day
