Nissan will soon be pulling the curtain on a completely new generation in the Z-series. We look ahead with a digital drawing to what is to come. The Japanese clearly go back to the origins of the model as a source of inspiration. Time to dive into the history of Nissan’s affordable sports car!
The new chapter in the Z saga, for the time being called the Z Proto, seems to return mainly to the roots from the sports car. At the beginning of this month, Nissan announced in a teaser video that the Z Proto will be unveiled on September 15. This illustration gives a good impression of the possible end result.
Nissan Proto Z preview
First of all, it is striking that the style characteristics of the original 240Z are clearly visible in the new design. The rounded headlights, long bonnet and abruptly shortened rear end with rectangular rear light units are some clear references to the past. In terms of overall proportions, the Proto Z seems to be more like the 370Z. This confirms the suspicion that the new Z model will be a thorough development of the current generation. Technical data has not yet been released by Nissan, but it is obvious that the 400 hp V6 that luxury brand Infiniti uses in the Q50 and Q60 will find its way to the sports car, albeit in a peppery version. You can count on a car with which Nissan is trying to get its teeth into coupés like the upcoming new BMW M4, but the Porsche 911 Carrera will also be in the spotlight. Whether there will be a Convertible from the new Z is not entirely clear at the moment.
The origin: Datsun 240Z / 260Z (1970-1978)
In the 1960s, Nissan was looking for ways to compete with relatively affordable European sports coupes. In 1969 the 240Z was presented to the public. The designer of the emblematic car, Yoshihiko Matsuo, has recently passed away at the age of 86. Its design, with its distinctive long bonnet and ‘chopped’ rear, was well received and lasted in production until 1978. In the meantime, the 260Z and 280Z were introduced, variants that could be seen as mild facelifts. The 280Z was only available for the American market. In Japan the model was sold as Nissan Fairlady Z.
All variants had a six-cylinder in-line engine, the number in the model designation stands for the cylinder capacity. The 260Z eventually delivered 162 hp and 213 Nm of torque, 11 hp and 15 Nm more than the 240Z. With this the 100 km / h was reached in eight seconds and he steamed up to 204 km / h. Great values ​​for the time. The 260Z was, as said, a mild facelift, in which, among other things, the rigidity of the chassis and interior were improved. There were hardly any differences in appearance compared to the 240Z. You can best recognize a 260Z by the reversing lights, which were now separate from the rear light units. This model was delivered in Europe until 1978 and was also available as 2 + 2 with a slightly higher roofline. Fun fact: in the movie ‘The secret of the key’ by Bassie and Adriaan, the crooks drove a 260Z.
More comfort: Datsun 280ZX (1978-1983)
With the 280ZX, Nissan took a different path. The sports car became more like a GT and was more comfortable and luxurious than its predecessor. The chassis was softer, the seats more comfortable and the options list was richly filled. This turned out to be a good move, as the 280ZX turned out to be quite a success. In Europe, the model was only available with a naturally aspirated 2.8-liter straight-six. In 1981 this power unit was also supplied with a turbo on the American market.
The design of the 280ZX can be traced back to the original, especially when it comes to the headlights and rear lights. The profile of the side had changed considerably, with the changed straight window line as the most eye-catching style element. The 280ZX was the last car to have the distinctive silhouette with the long hood and short rear, as its successor looked quite different.
Two generations: Nissan 300ZX (1983-2000)
The 300ZX type designation was used for two generations of Nissan’s sports car. They were now also sold under that brand name. ‘Datsun’, Nissan’s general export name until 1986, was permanently dropped. The silhouette of the first generation 300ZX was very similar to that of the 280ZX, but had a distinctly different body. For example, this model got pop-up headlights – hip at the time – and the overall design was a lot more angular. Under the hood was a 240 hp three-liter V6, a break from the traditional six-in-line.
The folding headlights soon fell out of fashion again; the second generation of the 300ZX no longer had them. In Europe this model was only supplied as 2 + 2 with ‘T-Top’ (removable roof panels) and twin turbo V6. This power source produced 300 hp, which meant an enormous increase in power. For the first time, a Z sports car was able to tap 250 km / h. The 300ZX was also the first Z that was also marketed as a Convertible.
Another real sports car: Nissan 350Z (2002-2008)
With the introduction of the 350Z, Nissan brought the Z line into the 21st century. The model showed little in common with the 300ZX. The fenders were pretty much knocked out, the headlights upright and the taillights sharply drawn. The removable roof panels were also no longer present. If you wanted to drive open, you could opt for the 350Z Roadster, which became available from 2003.
Unlike the 300ZX TT, the 350Z no longer had a blown engine, but a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6. This block produced 280 hp and 363 Nm of torque, with which the sports car could sprint to 100 km / h in 5.9 seconds and, just like its predecessor, had a top speed of 250 km / h.
Long in production: Nissan 370Z (2009 – present)
Concept-wise, the 370Z was quite similar to its predecessor, yet it looked quite different. The headlights were sharper, with a notch at the top, and the rear lights were designed in the same way. In terms of the roofline, Nissan went back to the 240Z: from the windscreen the roof sloped more sharply, while the 350Z here had more of a bulge. The 370Z will have remained unchanged in production for no less than eleven years, the longest in the entire history of the Z models.
The fact that a new model was ultimately needed, was mainly evident from what was under the hood. At the introduction, the 331 hp 3.7-liter V6 was still fine and the sports car, with a new price of € 55,100, was relatively reasonably priced. However, because the power source has a CO2 emission of no less than 248 grams per kilometer, the starting price is nowadays no less than € 112,000 with increasingly strict regulations! No wonder that the model is hardly sold in our country anymore.
It should be clear that the 370Z can no longer compete with the Toyota Supra, but that with that astronomical starting price, the Porsche Cayman GTS 4.0 and even the BMW M2 Competition are also much more attractive to purchase, to name a few examples. Still, the question is whether the Proto Z will also come to Europe, given Nissan’s future plans for our continent. Fingers crossed!