When Datsun brought the 240Z to the US 50 years ago, it shattered our expectations
of what Japanese automakers were capable of. The last letter of the alphabet became the first word
in sports cars. It even went racing. Like all cars, it changed. Numbers ascended- 260, 300,
and 350, an X was added to the Z for some reason. And like many of us, it got larger and heavier.
Plus there was the Datsun to Nissan marketing debacle that brought the company to its knees.
Z cars soldiered on but the 6th generation 370 seemed all but ignored lately.
It all leads up to this- the 2023 Nissan Z. No numbers. No extra X. Just an
elegant statement. Zorro would be proud. And generation 7 sounds like a lucky number.
This Z is not completely all new. It uses the same architecture as the outgoing model. Before the
editor starts reaching for the sad trombone sound, know that it has been modified. Torsional rigidity
is up by about 11% and by doing this Nissan keeps the Z affordable, and I think we all want that.
How affordable? Well, at the press event in Las Vegas, Nevada, Nissan says the Sport model
begins at $41,00) with shipping. That’s some 10 grand more than the outgoing 370
but it’s well-appointed at that price. Add 10 grand for the Performance model
to get 19-inch Rays wheels, limited slip diff, a Bose sound system and
heated leather front seats. This is some 6 grand less than a comparable Toyota Supra.
There’s also the limited-edition Proto Spec at fifty-four thousand bucks. Only
240 are being made, get it? It’s most likely sold out already.
The Zs design is stuffed with heritage. Its cabin gets the classic three gauges high on the dash.
The rear is a reminder of the gorgeous 300ZX, my personal fav. But during the press briefing,
it’s clear Nissan was inspired by the 240. The overall silhouette of the new car is
as close as you can come to a 50-year-old design considering all of the modern safety
and government regulation requirements. And much has been said about the gaping grille.
In person it looks perfectly integrated. Round headlights were ruled out because of aerodynamics,
these pay homage to the reflections found in the cavity of the 240s.
And I do like this spear that elongates the look of the roofline.
Here's what makes all 2023 Zs go, a twin turbo 3-liter V6 that makes 68 more horsepower
than the outgoing 370, we’re talking 400 horses now and 350 pound-feet of torque
that up by 30% and available at 1,600 RPM.
Somehow engineers stuffed loads of cooling into the front end, twin-turbos make a lot of heat.
Choose from a 9-speed automatic or this six-speed manual, there’s no price difference.
Clutch weight is very manageable, take-up is just right. This Performance model
gets SynchroRev Match. It has “Power On Shift” no need to lift off the throttle.
There’s a sport mode, I didn’t notice much difference.
Like all Zs before, this is rear drive. In addition to the stiffer chassis, the
suspension geometry has been changed and there are mono-tube shocks for better control and response.
400 horsepower? Lots of low-end torque? A 6-speed
manual and weight at 3500 pounds? Sounds like the recipe for fun.
Performance models with manual transmissions get advanced launch assist for smooth starts.
I’m thinking 0-60 is a 4 second affair
What’s really great when you punch it
you get a great engine sound and you can feel the back and move around.
It would be really easy to oversteer this car, lots of fun.
The new body isn’t just about looks, it manages aerodynamics better, Nissan claims a 9%
overall reduction in rear lift from the 370. And the added aero bits on the Performance
model I’m driving reduces front and rear lift significantly over the base Sport. Under hard
throttle there’s a little turbo whistle if you listen closely, but it’s mostly engine growl.
The Z is moderately quiet. Come on it’s a sports car, it’s not a Lexus.
Besides, you want to hear the engine it sounds great.
I’m pleasantly surprised by the Zs comfort. For a sports car, it tolerates the largest bumps I could
find outside of Las Vegas. Could be a decent road tripper for a couple into performance.
My favorite manual transmission these days is found in the Cadillac Blackwings
but those cars are twice the price, if you can even find one. This gearbox is
no slouch. Nice crisp shifts, shorter throws, good stuff.
People don’t buy sports cars for safety tech but the Z is stuffed with standard kit like Automatic
Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Warning and Lane Departure Warning.
Lane keeping is not a thing. This is a sports car. You are the lane keep system.
On center feel is locked down, the steering weight is nice and hefty just the way I like it.
There is road field coming up through the steering wheel but
it is electric power steering so there’s not tons and tons. But you know, pretty well done.
The Z is a hoot to chuck into corners.
Think of it as a more mature Toyota GR86 or Subaru BRZ. Lots of fun.
Until it comes to filling it up. Fuel economy for the automatic?
the EPA’s average rating is 22 miles per gallon, for the manual it drops to 20 MPG.
Premium fuel is specified. You know it’s okay. It’s 400 horsepower. It’s a sports car
And we need more of those. Back to price, 41 grand for a base model is hardly Versa money,
but that’s still some 10 thousand bucks less than an Audi TT and three thousand less than the
4-cylinder Supra which doesn’t offer a manual. Brakes. Brakes are very important when it comes to
sports cars…. and that would be my gear shifting. Should’ve secured it better,
the brakes are pretty darn good on this thing
Like I said, the interior is a callback to Z cars over the years.
Everything is placed to be seen and reached easily by the pilot,
the wheel telescopes now. Neither cramped or stretch-out-spacious, this is a car you wear.
Nissan says the Porsche Cayman and Chevy Corvette are competitors. Those are easily 20 grand more
expensive and the Z doesn’t have the interior quality of those challengers. Here’s a quick look
at the blue cockpit, with a spendier look and more visual pop than black that’s kind of ordinary.
Door releases feel great. Sports cars normally have tiny pockets, these are generous. Engineers
got creative with the center console, there are two cupholders… if you want them.
And really, none in this class are going to let you stash an iPad in here.
Same here, it’s pretty tiny.
Chairs are supportive in hard cornering, seems to me they’d even work for larger
drivers. Inserts are nice and grippy, adjustments are near the center console.
The gauge cluster is a 12-inch display, didn’t have much time to explore how configurable it is.
The user interface has the usual rudimentary Nissan graphics, nothing flashy, no casual
voice prompts. It can be configured to your liking and the touch response is solid. Wireless charging
for phones? Check. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard. On Performance models its wireless.
This is a sports car not an SUV so not a lot of cargo space besides there’s only
two seats how much space do you need? There’s no storage room or spare tire under the floor.
At best, the equivalent of carryon luggage for two fits in here,
a couple suitcases and “small personal items”. But hey, it’s better than a Miata. It would help
organization if there were seatback pockets. I do believe it’s red light green light time.
Green Light- The Z is back! That in and of itself is a great thing.
It’s design is the perfect blend of classic and modern cues, that’s a tough balancing act.
The added power and rear driving dynamics are exactly what a sports car should deliver.
A manual transmission is available across the board and no extra cost.
Yellow Light- 41 grand for the base Sport model is a decent value but the outgoing 370 could be
had for much less money. While fuel economy is similar to the competition, it’s not an
especially efficient mode of transportation. Only two models makes choosing easy, just pick a color.
But the 10 grand price spread between Sport and Performance is kind of dramatic.
Red Light- In black the cabin is kind of austere.
I think it’s time Nissan thought about a snazzier user interface. And there
are the usual sports car issues, cozy cabin, small storage spaces and limited cargo room.
Not everyone wants a two-seat performance machine.
Heck Honda almost sells as many CR-Vs as all sports cars combined. Still,
Nissan says there’s evidence that the segment is making a resurgence. Sales are up 25% from 2018.
Considering the price, the performance, and the handling of this car, you kind of have to take
this as a gift from Nissan. There aren’t an awful lot of sports cars to choose from these days.
Word is, Nissan engineers and designers were so passionate about producing this 7th generation,
some volunteered their effort to make sure it happened.
The Z is definitely a Nissan touchstone, a machine that has defined the company for five decades.
Let’s hope a car this fun will be around in another 50 years
A couple things before I go. There are rumors of a less expensive model powered
by a turbocharged 4-cylinder. I asked the Nissan folks about that and got the usual
“we-don’t-comment-on future-product line. The steering wheel configuration was based off a
previous GT-R wheel because research showed owners didn’t replace it the way others were
swapped out. And I’ll point out I used Nissan’s car to car footage since we all drove alone.
Hope you got something out of my look at the new Nissan Z, no numbers anymore just
Z. Which brings me to my fun fact, this does get sort of different names in different markets.
In Japan it’s the Fairlady Z and if you don’t know that story look it up it’s
actually named after the old 1960s movie My Fair Lady. Seriously. And in Canada?
You Canadians, it’s called Zed, the Nissan Zed. Which yeah, it is Z but you guys pronounce
it differently I’ll just say differently. No judgments I’m just saying it’s different.
And one story before I go, you might remember that about three years ago me and a whole bunch of
automotive journalist were invited back to Japan to Nissan’s design studios where we saw everything
that the car company was going to be doing for the next five years. And this was one of them,
it was right in the center of the courtyard in that yellow color. You couldn’t miss it, everybody
gravitated to it right away. And now I can share with you what it looks like. Pretty cool car.
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