What do we think about the new Nissan Z?

It's got a lot of pluses to it. Pretty good looks, Proper transmission, looks like a pretty good interior layout. Plus a pretty good power plant. 

Maybe I'm getting old but I don't see that being much more fun than my BRZ though. I guess I mean is it worth another 15-18K at least than what I paid for my car. I'm sure it's a lot more luxurious and has a lot more power but I'll be honest, I've not walked away from time behind the wheel of my BRZ and said man, I need another 150 HP. I know different class of sports car but I can already get in enough trouble with what I have already. 

It's great to have options though and I'm very happy this exists. 

I like how it looks, but I'm not sure a dash gauge for 'turbo speed' is very useful.

The exterior isn't bad, but I think the sharp edges on the front clash with the otherwise smooth rounded body. At least that's how it appears in pics to me. 

I certainly don't hate it though, and it's better than the 350z, but I'm not sure it's an improvement appearance-wise over the 370z. 

I think it looks a lot better than the 350 or the 370.

On a different note; I see they had you driving down one of our driving roads.

In reply to stuart in mn :

"Turbo boost" isn't all that useful either, but it's still fun.

The front quarter shot is so clean it looks like either a show car or a highly modified custom from early in the century. The rear quarter looks like someone used the taillight and rear garnish assembly from a 300Z as part of that custom. 

That is one seriously packed engine bay.

The various Zs have never done anything for me over the years. They just don't touch me. But I hope it's a success because it's an interesting car and we need interesting cars. I suspect it will be very good for the body styling industry.

As a previous owner of a 350Z track I hope it's exciting.  The 350Z was always just enough.  It was fast enough, it drove nice enough, it was cheap enough, the interior was quality enough  It just was never super exciting.  

It didn't have personality or engagement like a Miata, nor did it feel special.  I liked it but it's no longer in the garage.   I really hope the new one just has that enough extra to be exciting and engaging.  Because it was never about bad performance, as a performance car the 350/370 are plenty.  

I've been studying them since the G35 is blown up. 

The Nismo Tech 370 is tempting me as well, but the Z is going to have more HP and "Turbo Speed."

Those gauges are there for the sole purpose of being replaced with something useful. Or ignored by non-enthusiast who just want a race car.

Glad to see they finally upgraded to technology in the interior and added all this:

which seems to put it on par with its direct competitors. Finally. 

That front clip makes it a hard "no" for me, though. I don't know what focus group they ran that by but ugh. Id be surprised if it survived to the 2nd iteration.

And some historical context for the nose:

Turbo speed is highly unlikely to be a measured parameter (boost certainly is), but an ECM signal based on a model.  Most OEM ECM software uses this signal as a limit to avoid overspeeding the turbo, not so much as a displayable parameter.  This is very unique, but not so useful as mentioned.

Best looking Z car since the 260. I really like the front end treatment. Not the kind of car I drive, but I would think about it, if I were in the market.

I dig it. 

I like it, too bad I won't be able to afford it.

The tubo speed guage is silly, something more useful should live there. Too many nanny controls, but that's just the way modern cars are. Hope they are easy to turn off.

Ive never heard of a turbo speed guage until right now. 

Car looks great, would love to have one. 

I love it, definitely considering one.  I think they did a great job on styling (especially with some of the alternate two-opening front bumper options I've seen), but the lights and body lines are fantastic.  A twin turbo V6 and a 6-speed!! I hope it's a huge success for them. 

Interesting that there is a gauge for turbo speed.  This is a common option on aftermarket ECUs.

I like the way it looks, the TT V6 and I will probably like the way it drives (I liked the 370). I'm not a fan of a screen as a guage, mainly for looks. Analog guages look good (subjective) even while the car is off and they seem to age well. A screen may start to look outdated after a bit. Then again, maybe their design is getting to a point where it won't. My main dislike is I would have to get the "Performance" trim for a limited slip but that also adds a heavier stereo (the last I heard) with leather, etc., which probably comes a big jump in price. Maybe it can be added as a separate dealer option?

Either way, I like it a lot. I'm looking at getting a new car within a year it's still on my radar with a few other fun cars. Hopefully dealer markups don't price it out of reach for me. Unfortunately, that may be the deciding factor in the end.

Nissan showed off a 400Z with different front and rear treatments at the Tokyo Auto Salon a while back. I really wish this was the standard version, I like the lines a lot better. Hopefully it's at least a NISMO option or something.

Success will depend on pricing but I suspect that I'd like the styling a lot more if the A-pillars, roof sides and buttresses were body color? Leave only the panel between the windshield and back glass in black ... Wish I had the time to try it in Photoshop

Edit: just saw the orange car above, I agree the front bumper is way better. Also the body-colored line going up the buttress and above the side window is half way to what I suggested and already improves the style IMO. Now just do the A-pillar PLEASE 

I like it, as was said it definitely seems aimed at the BRZ/GR86/FRS crowd that complains about the bhp and the luxuries.  Hopefully the driving dynamics are good and it makes a solid replacement for what may be one of the longest lived car designs still going in the 350/370.

I find this car way more appealing than the 350 or 370 by a lot.  And Nissan gives the option of being more involved with shifting too!  I like the subtle styling more than 'Yota's in your face design too.  And it's not a BMW in disguise.  

I agree with pointofdeparture.  That is exactly the nose it should have. 
 

David, I have to disagree with the "historical" precedent you show.  That Z looks like it has had the bumper removed that breaks up the opening.  This has been a common sun lately by all of the manufacturers and started by Audi. Getting rid of the dividing line between the above and below bumper grills to make a gaping maw has just taken so much character and distinctiveness out of the front ends.  Everything looks like a giant gasping fish mouth.  Hell, even Chevy had to backtrack on the current Camaro when they tried to go maw on it only to have to reintroduce the body color divider the next year.  

I want to like it and, in the context of what's out there, I do. It would be easier to like if the roof/pillars matched the body color. Blind spot visibility looks crummy, but we'll have to hear from someone with butt-in-seat perspective. You're probably not supposed to head check, though. I don't like the touchscreen and just 2 knobs and the turbo RPM gauge is just weird. The center console looks bleh and the engine bay is a nightmare. 

I like the styling and the seats and the wheel. Overall, I would take it over a Mustang (crossover or real) or Camaro if I were in the market. Then again, I just looked at the door sticker and my wallet ran screaming at the thought of buying wheels or tires. Would still take over most of the market if I had to pick something new. Might cross-shop it with a 2-door Bronco in that hypothetical, I appreciate the plain exterior styling of the LuxoBronc and interior cargo area. Either one is computer controlled so not much difference there. Hypothetically, it may come down to a test drive. 

can you fit 4 wheels/ tires in the back? 

In reply to pointofdeparture :

I foresee a big aftermarket on those front nose clips at least.

In reply to David S. Wallens :

...And the historical precedent for the bumper delete detracts from the original Z's looks as much, if not more, than the new Z.

David S. Wallens said:

And some historical context for the nose:

I am glad you pointed that out.  I never made the connection .

thashane said:

can you fit 4 wheels/ tires in the back? 

That depends on the size of the wheels/tires :) I can carry four in a Miata - they were for my classic Mini, but hey. It counts.

I like the nose on the yellow car, and I also like the look of a 70's car like a 240 or a Golf with the bumpers removed. I'm less of a fan of the rear of the car, I would prefer more discrete* taillights and less of an 80's slab across the back. I find the chrome strip along the roofline interesting - I don't know how I'll like it when it's on a dark car or from other angles.

* note, this is not a misspelling of discreet

jkstill said:

Interesting that there is a gauge for turbo speed.  This is a common option on aftermarket ECUs.

 

I'm thinking of offering an after market gauge that does this...

Keith Tanner said:

thashane said:

can you fit 4 wheels/ tires in the back? 

That depends on the size of the wheels/tires :) I can carry four in a Miata - they were for my classic Mini, but hey. It counts.

I like the nose on the yellow car, and I also like the look of a 70's car like a 240 or a Golf with the bumpers removed. I'm less of a fan of the rear of the car, I would prefer more discrete* taillights and less of an 80's slab across the back. I find the chrome strip along the roofline interesting - I don't know how I'll like it when it's on a dark car or from other angles.

 

* note, this is not a misspelling of discreet

Square left in 50 caution ocean! - Author of How To Build a High Performance Mazda Miata

Ha! Guess I should've been more specific. Judging from the pictures,  looks like a tire or two may be on the passenger seat.

I like the new car, mostly I'm hoping it'll take a small amount of demand off the new Japanese hot hatches, and allow me to acquire one of those. 

thashane said:

can you fit 4 wheels/ tires in the back? 

255 front and 275 rear on 19s? As the youths would say, 4 in the back is pretty sus. My calibrated eye says that even 2 in the back would be pushing it with the lack of height. Maybe if there's a spare well but I'd be surprised to see a spare, of any size, under the hatch liner.

I'll chime in since I have a very important opinion (tongue firmly in cheek as I have neither the means nor interest in buy a new sports car).

I saw one in the flesh driving in TN last fall. Probably testing. The looks were not too interesting to me. At least passing it at 65 on the interstate. I actually thought it was a Mustang from a distance, then was like wait, have these been released already and I didn't even know about it?! I even posted here asking. 

Agreed on the other nose being a bit better, although the fender flares probably help the looks just as much as the different nose does.

If they can nail the driving dynamics, I think it will be a success. But I really doubt they nail it the way the Supra seems to have. THe last few Zs have been good, but not overly exciting. I am glad they are making it. And I sort of like that yellow.

A Nismo Super Z with rivet-on flares and an aggressive chin spoiler and a ducktail and some hood vents and mmmmmm......

I do like the front of the orange Nismo better than the standard car.

Glad Nissan put the screen IN the dash instead of ontop of it like so many companies do.

Decent looks(compared to most current appliances), 400+ hp, and the almost extinct manual trans. There really is so much to love about the new 400z but as others had pointed out some interior design features may not age well and although I really hope it has enough personality to be a very special car, I have my doubts. 

Point of departure: I really hope Nismo  at least offers the bumpers/skirt as a kit.

Also, driving impressions to come on May 16. :) 

The NISMO racing version looks really good!

front end is not my favorite, but overall i dig it.

In reply to tremm :

It is the lack of "details" that makes it look somewhat classy to me. Especially the side and rear view (I like the '80's bar across the back, don't care for the shape of the headlights). Seems like a lot of the overwrought designs are the ones that look dated in 5 years.

I actually saw a 240Z on the highway today, going the opposite direction on the interstate. It had a front bumper, but that big unbroken open maw was very clear. Had there been a new Z beside it the family resemblance would have been quite strong. The grille opening is correct.

dyintorace said:

The NISMO racing version looks really good!

In this iteration of the "400Z" you can really see the 370Z bones in all profiles. 

I think the interior looks like it came right out of an Xterra with all that cheap grey plastic.

Black wheels are already dated.

There isn't enough glass, the windows are all too small. Others have mentioned the weird paint scheme...

That hoover-fish-mouth screams "that's it, I don't know what else to do, down pencils."

Red calipers? Really, is that still a thing? 

The whole thing screams lack of imagination and I'll bet it's no easier to drive than the outgoing lump. Visibility will be crap. You will be on a first-name basis with the paintless dent repair guys.

Sorry, this will never be on my radar.

engiekev said:

Turbo speed is highly unlikely to be a measured parameter (boost certainly is), but an ECM signal based on a model.  Most OEM ECM software uses this signal as a limit to avoid overspeeding the turbo, not so much as a displayable parameter.  This is very unique, but not so useful as mentioned.

You might be surprised to find the turbo speed actually is measured. The turbo's have a optical speed sensor on them to allow them to spin a bit faster than the lesser tune of this same engine.  Still.....not really useful info to the driver on a daily basis, but could come in handy for tuning. Probably more so in the data list than the gauge....but it is cool. 

 https://global.nissannews.com/en/releases/151217-03-e

dyintorace said:

The NISMO racing version looks really good!

I like this more than the base for a reason I can't quite put my finger on.

The only real criticism I have of the 400Z design in general is that it feels like something should really be breaking up the giant black rectangle that is the front grille. The TAS version does that elegantly enough but it would be nice to see other aftermarket options for the same.

I like the big front opening because it looks like it was hacked out due to a real need for airflow. It's got a look of purposefulness to it, unlike a BMW kidney that ranges from the air dam to the base of the hood. It's appropriate, too. I suspect it'll look better in person than it does in pictures. And heck, if it bothers you just get a black one :)

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Unfortunately, I despise black painted vehicles, so that's a non-starter 

It does appear that the grille isn't fully functional; the middle portion is fake vents (which makes sense, you have to put the bumper beam somewhere). I would just prefer a body line in place of the fake vents to divide up that opening a bit.

We're going to have to agree to disagree on that last point. I don't think the body line would look better or that it would look more like the original. But I'm sure there will be lots of styling parts available for this thing so we can both get what we want :)

Grille close-up of the car that I drove. 

Maybe it's me, maybe it's me just actually focusing on the grille, but it's kinda..... Meh? I wanna say yucky but that feels reactionary and childish. It's a small thing, to be sure, but there's like 3 different things going on in that maw and it's a little confusing. I don't mind the square maw but I do mind the grille. Still like the car, overall, but starting to wonder about the smaller details like the grille and center console. 

I'd love to know what's wrong with the car. When I was house shopping I would always look for what was wrong with a house. Anyone could (and would) tell me everything that was right but I was the only one looking for the wrongs to provide contrast. Then again, I imagine that a review pointing out dislikes and "flaws" probably wouldn't be good from the business angle.

I had something to say about not liking the center console, on first look, but when I went back to the picture I kinda was whelmed by the doorway shot on the whole. It looks a bit much but also a bit whelming. Is it?

I like it. 

But, I also like the new Supra. I dislike wagons and think any Miata other than the ND is ugly. So maybe I'm a bad measure lol. 

Is it still a very front-heavy chassis?

Does it still have wonky suspension geometry? Or did they simplify it this time? 

I like the styling. But I have liked every Z ever made.

I get Fiata 124 vibes from the front end. 

pointofdeparture said:

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Unfortunately, I despise black painted vehicles, so that's a non-starter 

It does appear that the grille isn't fully functional; the middle portion is fake vents (which makes sense, you have to put the bumper beam somewhere). I would just prefer a body line in place of the fake vents to divide up that opening a bit.

I wonder if painting the beam  would break up the black hole a bit or just look wrong under the grille.

It is hard to get excited about a so-called sports car that weighs 3,500 lbs and has the modern car bloated bellyjean hoodline. Of course this is the reality of modern car design with the regulations the way they are, but it makes it hard to build a true sports car.

More power, more styling, but essentially the same platform as the 350Z and 370Z? A continuation of a car that seems mostly to have become a choice for middle-aged boulevard-cruising is not that interesting to me, much as I know that the yearning for leaner, more accessible enthusiast's cars is just a fantasy for folks like me who would do better to shut up and get a Miata or 86. For the size and assumed price point I'm not sure what the new Z will offer that isn't done better by a Mustang or Camaro.

In reply to stuart in mn :

Not useful in the least. but I kinda want one.