After weeks of teaser videos and design sketches, Nissan is proud to present the Z Proto. With the forerunner, Nissan gives a clear signal: there is a new Z! However, there is one important ‘but’ …
The Nissan Z Proto is a very concrete preview of an all-new sports coupe that will retire the aged 370Z once and for all. The canary yellow Z Proto looks so much like a definitive production model that Nissan does not describe the harbinger as a concept car or study model. It is therefore very clear: there is a new Nissan Z!
The Z Proto is a 4.38m long, 1.85m wide and 1.31m low coupé with a relatively long snout and a relatively short, straight-sloping bottom that keeps the model true to the Kamm bottom of its distant ancestors. . In terms of size, the new Z is comparable to the Porsche 718 Cayman. The Z Proto, and thus the eventual new addition to the Z family, seems to remain more faithful to the roots of the Z models than its recent predecessors.
Design
The color scheme of the Nissan Proto Z in bright yellow with a black roof is a nod to a color combination that was available on the primal Z (240Z, 260Z and 280Z) and on the last ZX300 (ZX32). In addition, the round, slightly teardrop-shaped headlights are also a reference to the lighting units on the front of the Z original. The LED viewers are made up of two semicircles, a nod to the 240ZG, which is only available in Japan, according to Nissan. Like various predecessors, the Z Proto has a strikingly rising shoulder line. At the front, we notice some influences from the 350Z and 370Z in the angular grille, while the rear lights are clearly a modern translation of the ones on the back of the last 300ZX.
The interior is of course also laced with influences from the past. Nevertheless, it is not a spartan affair behind the wheel of the Proto Z. Nissan gives the car a digital instrumentation with a diameter of 12.3-inch.
Drivetrain
The Nissan Z Proto has the Twin Turbo V6 as its beating heart. Indeed, just like the last 300ZX! Specifications keep Nissan under its cap for a while. If we look at the shelves with the warehouse of Nissan and sister brand Infiniti, we come across a double blown 3.0 V6 that is available in the Infiniti Q50, among other things. That machine is 406 hp and 475 Nm strong, and could just be the powerhouse of Nissan’s new Z model. More good news: the power is sent straight to the rear wheels via a manual six-speed gearbox. That will be erasing!
The Netherlands
In addition to good news, there is unfortunately also bad news. The newest member of the Z family is not coming to the Netherlands. In fact, the new Nissan Z is not even coming to Europe. “However, due to a shrinking European sports car market and specific emission regulations, Nissan could not business case for the launch of the next generation Z production version in Europe, “said Nissan.” In Europe, Nissan’s priorities remain on renewing the crossover range and electrifying the offering. “
Nissan’s Z adventure in Europe seems to have come to an end for the time being. The 370Z, presented in 2009, closes the Z book. Since the launch of the model, 84 copies have been sold in the Netherlands. In 2010 the car had its peak year, when 32 copies and Dutch found home. Predecessor 350Z scored significantly better. 605 copies of that member of the Z family have been sold in our country.
Read an extensive story about the history of Nissan’s Z models here.
Extensive images are not yet available at the time of publication.
Drivetrain
The Nissan Z Proto has the Twin Turbo V6 as its beating heart. Indeed, just like the last 300ZX! Specifications keep Nissan under its cap for a while. If we look at the shelves with the warehouse of Nissan and sister brand Infiniti, we come across a double blown 3.0 V6 that is available in the Infiniti Q50, among other things. That machine is 406 hp and 475 Nm strong, and could just be the powerhouse of Nissan’s new Z model. More good news: the power is sent straight to the rear wheels via a manual six-speed gearbox. That will be erasing!