Nissan Site doesn't refer to a 350Z...
 

...in a lot of places, now. It just refers to "Z". Think that means a new engine size next year (assuming the 350 is specific to the 3.5) and they are getting the marketing in line now?

Has this been discussed or noticed here before? I haven't seen a post so sorry if this is a repost :)

I remember it being posted in 2004 about the upcoming 2005 models, or was it in 2005 about the upcoming 2006??? I don't think the Z instead of the 350Z is new, could be just a better way of branding. In a way referring to it as THE Z is just better marketing common sense.

I know when I was trying to get mine in 2002-3, it had 350z everywhere on the site. It might have changed a long time ago, but I never noticed it like this.

I've seen the change as well. I thought that Nissan was just trying to really capitalize on the "Z" branding.... especially with other popular cars with Z's in their names, like the Z06.

But that's a good theory you got there.

Nissan.ca (Canadian site) still has "350Z".

I remember a fellow board member discussed about it before. Still haven't figure out what's the reason behind "Z" though.

Easier to remember and brings out more of the heritage than just this specific car. My 2 cents.

The "Z" line of cars that datsun/nissan has produced will always be legendary. I personally think the Z name is wuite fitting seeing as though most ppl know what you are talking about when you mention "Z"

"Z" is a registered trademark... http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield...te=f3mhe6.3.12

notice the "FIRST USE" date? :)

here are other related and interesting Nissan trademarks... http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield...h=Submit+Query
(click in the Word Mark column to see each one)

Well I hardly ever call my car the 350Z except to people that don't know cars. So it not about bad idea to just call it the Z.

There are lots of cars people end up calling "Z"'s. Z28s, for instance. BMWs, etc.

I'm just noting a difference in how the site used to be designed. You guys may be right, but in my little fantasy world, I think it is to prepare for a 2007 for a 400Z :D

It's to draw away from other "350" makes that are showing up:

IS350, ML350, E350, SLK350 etc... etc..

It seems as if everywhere else in the world the car is referred to as "the Z car" the "Zed" or "Zeto" or simple "the Z". Sure there are Z06's, Z4's and Z28's but everyone knows what you're talking about when you just say "Nissan Z" or just "Z".
(Damn that's alot of Z's)

"350z" seems a little too North American. It was nice during the introduction of the Z33 chasis to distinguish the new car from the older ZX platforms, but I think the car has distinguished itself with just a simple letter.

This might sound silly but... What makes the production of all the past Z's so legendary? Did they win many high profile races? The performance was vastly superior compared with rival cars in the same class? The Z's had incredible reliability compared with other cars? This isn't a question to be a smart ass... I actually would like to know. I love the 350z but all this heritage talk just made me wonder.

Hard to sum it up...

I was at Borders bookstore last night and I saw this "Z" coffee table book tracing the Z's history from well before the conception.

I skimmed through it, and it showed Z's of the past participating in all sorts of competitive races lined up against porsches, vettes and such. Not bad for a car that was obtainable for the average guy (minus the mid nineties of course). I didn't read it thoroughly but just flipping through it, you get a real sense of how rich the car's history was.

It was a hefty book that costs a little over 50 bucks so I didn't pick it up. :icon11: :p Definitely check it out though...it's called something along the lines of "from Zx to Z" if I can recall correctly.

Speaking of "high profile races", the Z won the Japanese Gran Touring 500 Championship in 2004. It also won many races in the 300 class it's first year out. Not bad for a little car that had only been in production for less than two years.

It's been that way on their site since early this year, at least...

i think its a marketing strategy, i like calling my car the Z.

Back in '89, I used to like to call my IROC the Z, too :D

You had an IROC :eek: :icon18: :icon18:

Heh, it had the 350 Vette motor (except with iron heads). My family owned a GM dealer.

It was a fast car for the time. I also had a 911 and a Vette in high school, so :p

Dont forget that the previous 300 ZX of the 90's dominated IMSA for years with Steve Millan driving it...The Nissan Z line has stellar racing history...Also just read that in T2 a 350z beat out a Subaru and M3, to name a few, for 1st place ...So the saga continues.. :icon38: