Here is some Nissan news that will surprise precisely no one. The Japanese company, while not quite on life support yet, is desperately in need of an infusion of new models to reinvigorate its line up and jump start sales in this pandemic and post-pandemic era. And of all the models that Nissan needs to bring out, none is more important than a new iteration of its iconic Z-car. We were therefore excited to get Nissan’s confirmation, via a YouTube video, of the forthcoming arrival of 12 new cars and trucks in the next 18 months, including what should be a barn burner of a new Z.
Z-Wait is Nearly Over
Automotive journalists have been moaning about the current 370Z’s advanced age, dated technology and minuscule sales numbers for years now. A replacement for the 12-year old car has been rumored to be in the works for a long time, with speculation rampant on its shape, power figures and other details from fans and pundits alike.
So Nissan’s letting the cat out of the bag by confirming one of the worst automotive secrets of the year. Although we are only treated to grainy silhouette shots of the new sports car, there’s enough there to confirm that Nissan has indeed glanced back at its past, in the form of the legendary 240Z of the 1970’s for inspiration for the new car. The shape seems to embody a clean and aerodynamic modern take on its forefather and looks promising at this juncture.
Back to the Future
Since Nissan has not released any additional information on the car, we will stick to our original educated estimation that the new Z will be powered by the twin turbo V6 from the Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400, likely producing horsepower figures north of its corporate cousin’s 400 (and possibly up to 500), and retaining the RWD set up via an existing platform. The interior stands to benefit from significant upgrades in technology, material and layout, and purists will be appeased by the availability of a 6-speed manual transmission in addition to the auto slushbox.
High Expectations
For fans of the Nissan Z-car, it’s been a frustratingly long wait but the signs all point to Nissan truly cooking up something special. It will be cold comfort, however, if the new car doesn’t measure up to the gaggle of new sports cars that have been eating Z’s lunch for years. Still, we want to think the makers of the GT-R will not let us down. Stay tuned for details.
Source: Nissan Via YouTube