I have owned two Maseratis...this is a better auto......and it runs like a sports car to me.

 

My definition of a sports car includes.

2 seats.
High horsepower.
Low weight.
*Convertible top (This is debatable but true to the British definition).

The Z has 2 seats, has enough horsepower (although another 30 would not hurt) but at 3200+ pounds it stops being a sports car and starts being a GT.

Now -- Nissan's marketing department in a quest to find a niche for the G35 labels the Z as a sports car and the G35 as a GT. Whatever.