http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/12/next-nissan-z-will-be-smaller-lighter/ Think the initial success of the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ might have something to do with this
Also known as a Silvia? bit of a weird thing to do to a brand that has been focussed on luxury for the past thirty years
My opinion / Someone tell them to take a 2000 spec zx Add a rear diffuser and put a 3.8L twin turbo in it with a beefed up 5speed
would certainly be a change, it would be the first zed car since the realise of the 240z to NOT have a six clyinder in it. only the very first datsun fairlady convertibles in the 60's had a fourbanger....
Exactly Ross. I think they would be silly to put it in as a Z car, when it better suits as a successor to the Silvia line. Got to remember that the Datsun 240z was created as means to overshadow another car (Jaguar E-type) and it succeeded, so Nissan trying to one up another maker (even within Japan) would not surprise me at all. Time will tell, but could be interesting times ahead for the Z community.
Nissan were thinking of making a new Silvia as well afaik, so would be competing directly with themselves if they did too :-/
What would come after the SR20. They got it pretty right in the end. A,L,Z,CA,KA,SR.....? Going by its history, the Z cars new editions have larger displacement engines to suit its name. If for some reason the stuck a 4 banger in it... Would be a large 4 banger...
To be honest, both goals can be achieved without abandoning the v6 trend, drop the displacement to somewhere around the 2.3l mark, twin turbocharge it and stick in a system from factory to drop the boost off and run the engine on a more fuel efficient tune at the touch of a button. Half the zeds market advantage is that it has heritage. That's pretty much the sole reason Harley Davidson get away with charging ludicrously high prices for technologically inferior motorcycles. Straying too far from the mould may result in a similar cold shouldering that the V-rod first recieved.
That's what I would like to see, a small 6-cylinder, straight or V is fine, that has been highly refined is genuinely good when stock rather than only buying it if you want to totally rebuild it and have to install your own turbo system
That is what is the 370z is now! Keep the Z tradition. If Nissan want to put a 4 pot turbo in a car, then as others have said bring back the Silvia. Don't undertsand why they are worried about fuel economy in the 370z. It is fantastic at around 10 per 100kms, driving hard!! But having seen the latest Toyota competition, I don't they have to worry too much Given that the Stillen Supercharged add-on to the 370z is gaining a large following in the US, maybe the next Z should be a 3.9 litre Supercharged V6!. Nice...
Supercharged Z would be the way the to go if they want to break from NA V6 or V6 Turbo and be different. Still a Z, different approach.
They will probably drop the zed line before dtopping the number of cylinders. Why build something that everyone knows will be crap?
They might just put the whole Z line back on the shelf again for 10 years. How long was it between the z32 and the z33. Excluding the fact that the z32 was built right up to 2000. Nissan Aus might just stop again and focus on its small buzz boxes and 4x4 sales. Unless the new model can be extraordinary with a smaller displacement engine or (wash my mouth out) 4 banger. It will go to the dogs. Stick to the heritage i say. The name is to represent the displacement...What would you call it... 400z? 390z... doesnt come off the tongue well. Time will tell i guess. We may be all surprised.
They might just put the whole Z line back on the shelf again for 10 years. How long was it between the z32 and the z33. Excluding the fact that the z32 was built right up to 2000. Nissan Aus might just stop again and focus on its small buzz boxes and 4x4 sales. Unless the new model can be extraordinary with a smaller displacement engine or (wash my mouth out) 4 banger. It will go to the dogs. Stick to the heritage i say. The name is to represent the displacement...What would you call it... 400z? 390z... doesnt come off the tongue well. Time will tell i guess. We may be all surprised.
