All-new Z car (code-named Z35) will honor the legendary Datsun

[Mike]

One of Japan’s most iconic cars is making a comeback. A descendant of the game-changing 240Z that debuted in 1969, an all-new Z car (code-named Z35) will honor the legendary Datsun with a stylized 21st-century interpretation of the original’s long nose, short deck, and perfect proportions.

That first Z was designed to appeal to buyers in its main market of the United States, and the new model will be no different. Just get a load of one artist’s vision of the dynamic silhouette.

While the car will feature a low-slung, swooping body, it will be downsized from the current 370Z to dimensions that resemble the original’s. That means the car will lose around 2 inches in width from the current 72.6 inches. Our insider mentions that lightweight high-tensile steel will be used to further reduce the car’s curb weight by up to 420 pounds to a class-leading 2866 pounds.

According to a source close to Nissan, the Z35 will be powered by a choice of V-6 and four-cylinder engines at first. Company bosses want to phase out the V-6, though a small but strong fan base might lead engineers to retain it.

Nissan feels that it has to “wean” the motoring public off the six cylinder, which has been its mainstay powerplant since the very beginning, and switch to a more fuel-efficient four. We are told that the new four-cylinder will be a 2.5-liter turbo unit and incorporate direct injection to make at least 330 hp. But our insider explains that Nissan bosses are concerned about fuel economy and CO2 emissions, a fact that will almost certainly force them to reduce power to around 280 hp. For a gutsier Z, we can look to the company’s in-house tuning arm Nismo, which is rumored to be working on a 330-plus-hp model.

The Z33 of 2002 was a big hit and its low-$30,000s price tag helped it drive out showroom doors. With the Z34, Nissan created a good-looking, sharp-handling coupe, but by Nissan targeting rivals in the BMW Z4, Porsche Cayman, and Audi TT, the price went into the low $40,000s and hurt sales.

The new Z35 must pick up where the Z33 left off and reinvent the Z car all over again. That means downsizing while creating a compelling design and minimizing its sticker price. And employing four-cylinder turbos will do the brand no harm in lowering prices, CO2, and fuel consumption.

We can expect to see the Z concept unveiled at the Detroit auto show in January. The final production version should debut one year later at the same show with a price tag starting under $30,000.

Credit:  http://www.motortrend.com/news/new-nissan-z-car-code-named-z35-in-pipline/

[NVZEE]

The date on the article puts a different perspective on this -- as does the more current changing of Nissan's leadership and design influence:

Plenty of room to cross fingers and hope for the best, though!

[wheee!]

In Canada, the high price of the Z33 made it out of reach for most. I paid almost $10,000 less for a factory ordered Z34.... and got a much better car.

[26th-Z]

This is much more current.  http://blog.caranddriver.com/nissan-z-concept-coming-production-car-could-reach-500-horsepower/

January 2017

 

[siteunseen]

Are those cameras or side mirrors?  Maybe I should read the article.

[Patcon]

I like the lines of the other car much better, more like an early Z...

[psdenno]

A Z update would be nice, but concept cars and what ends up in the showroom are usually quite different.  The final design and manufacturing processes generally take a lot of the pizazz out of a concept car. Here's hoping I'm wrong this time.

Dennis

[Patcon]

5 hours ago, psdenno said:

The final design and manufacturing processes generally take a lot of the pizazz out of a concept car. Here's hoping I'm wrong this time.

I have always hated this reality. I wonder how many things the design team for the original 240 was able to stick too regardless and because of it they hit a home run?

[psdenno]

9 hours ago, Patcon said:

I have always hated this reality. I wonder how many things the design team for the original 240 was able to stick too regardless and because of it they hit a home run?

I don't remember any "artist's concept" leaks of what the original Z would look like - it just kind of showed up in final form at the big car shows and in the enthusiast magazines around the time it hit the dealerships.  But, that was a different time.  New models cloaked beneath car covers arrived at dealerships and were hidden from the public until the official Fall model year introduction date.  Then, there would be a BIG reveal with newspaper ads and coffee and pastries at the dealership.  As a kid, I remember going to the warehouse where the local Pontiac dealer stashed the new cars and trying to see them through the blacked out windows.  A security guy came out and let my friend and I in to look at the cars - better than Disneyland.  New car/model year introductions were a bigger deal in those days.  No previews of the XKE, T-Bird, Stingray, or Avanti before it was time.  I think that was far more exciting than how it's done now with new models showing up throughout the year.  Yes, I'm sounding old.  Must be time to go chase some kids off my yard.

Dennis

 

 

[Marty Rogan]

20 hours ago, Patcon said:

I like the lines of the other car much better, more like an early Z...

I totally agree with you on that.  I am not a fan of that huge open grill look.

[240260280]

I read the debut will the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show in November.

 

Enjoy the F1 season until then!!!

Edited March 21, 2017 by 240260280

[26th-Z]

17 hours ago, Patcon said:

I wonder how many things the design team for the original 240 was able to stick too regardless and because of it they hit a home run?

Think about it...back in the late sixties, headlights influenced the design of the front fenders far more than they do today.  Air flow around (and through) the car was not nearly as sophisticated as today.  The design of cars today are influenced by many different factors that just didn't exist back then.  I'm having a hard time with the "gaping grouper" front grill myself.