Nissan has officially unveiled the production version of its new Z sports car model. The Z replaces the ageing 370Z whose sales have been lagging for some time.
Mix of new and retro Z-car looks
The new Z looks outstanding, and owes plenty to its ancestor, the 240Z of the 1970s. The long, sculpted bonnet, the odd crease here and there all hark back to Zs of old. But that doesn't mean there aren't bang-up-to-date elements. The Z's stance and its LED taillights are distinctly modern, as are the subtle spoilers, taking advantage of the aerodynamic expertise gleaned during development of the company's other sports flagship, the GT-R.
Is that a manual gearbox?
It's not a tech-fest, though. The Nissan Z is primarily meant to be driving- rather than comfort-focused. Inside, one of the standout features is a set of three analogue pod gauges showing readings like speed, turbo boost and voltage, arranged in a retro fashion atop the dash pointing towards the driver. Behind the steering wheel is a 12.3-inch display screen that can be customised to give the driver the stats they want in addition, obviously, to speed.
There's an eight-inch audio display screen in the centre with climate control switches near the gear shifter.
Yes, shifter. The manual gearbox may be a dying breed, but you'd expect nothing else from such an old-school sports car. There's also an optional nine-speed automatic transmission for those who don't like using a clutch.
A rebodied Nissan 370Z?
The new Z uses the same core chassis underpinnings as the old Nissan 370Z, with significant changes. The new 3.0-litre V6 engine, rated at 405hp, produces an extra 69hp over the old one, with 30 per cent more torque.
It's stiffer than the old Z too, with new damping and suspension geometry offering - according to Nissan - better roadholding over rough surfaces and greater on-road stability. The combination of new monotube dampers and the tweaked aluminium double-wishbone suspension see to that.
There are two driving modes, Standard and Sport, which are pretty self-explanatory. Standard is for normal, everyday driving; Sport's for when you want to blast your Z up a canyon road.
No, we don't have many canyons in Ireland, but that won't matter too much because the Nissan Z isn't coming to the Irish market. It isn't even coming to Europe, so the prospect of seeing one on our roads in the near future are, disappointingly, slim to nil.