I read in an Aussie car mag "Speed" that Top Secret had droped the 3.5L V6 (probably the VQ) with twin turbo's into an R-34 Skyline GT-R. I would guess that if the GT-R continues with a TT 6 cyliner motor, Nissan will use the VQ, as the inline 6 no longer meets emission regulations. Where would that leave us Z owners??? I doubt that Nissan would also drop a TT under the hood of the Z as the output would be almost identical to the GT-R. Nissan surely wouldn't do this as it would want to keep the Godzilla ledgend alive. Is there even enough space in the Z's engine bay for a TT and intercooler?
So I'm guessing that near future Z's may only get minor power enhancements (if any at all) from the factor in future models. Pity, as I would trade up to a 350Z TT.

 

they are designing a new engine for the next gtr, 3.2l I believe, it will be TT.

as for a Z turbo option, Ive said it before, economics dont support its introduction to the market, TT is what sent the 300zx, supra, rx7 and all those out to pasture. it doesnt matter if they have a 287 and a 350, and the 287 is affordable, people want the best, no one bought a 220hp supra back then, they wanted the turbo or nothing. but most could only afford the nothing.

anyway, there is room there tho, as greddy and another company who I cant remember have fit turbos in, and will be selling them soon.

 

there would always be the possibility of limited edition Z with TT option but would cost alot and is probably unlikely to happen

 

Personally , i Think that the GTR will definiately be a Nissan, many thought it would be and infiniti but several clues lead me to believe that it will come as a Nissan and may be priced at 45,000!
The main clue is that Nissan has said that Infiniti will NOT have any Nismo parts. And the GTR will be like the 350z Nismo's baby!

Nissan has thought of the New GTR as the Porsche 911 buster!

I think the 350z will not see twin turbos in the future, I wish but no, I think the next engine is going to be a V8 making like 4.0 / 4.5 355 hp NA making it the 400z / 450z?

 

All the guys I know who work at Nissan said there will be no TT, and that if Nissan does anything they will offer a supercharged Z.

 

What sent the 300ZX to pasture in Aust was:
1. A recesion we had to have
2. Subsequent bankrupcy of numerous business people that borrowed beyond their capacity to repay thereby reducing discretionary spending
3. A spiraling YEN versus the AUD that made the car hideously expensive and within the price realms of BMW 328 territory, so it began to loose its market.

However, now the world markets are slowly turning bullish and if this continues, money will begin to flow more freely again. Also, the AUD has strengthened, buying us supposedly more for our money (compare 1998 300ZX at approx $80K versus 2003 350Z at approx $66K). We are also experiencing a renaisence in 2 door sports cars with the Holden Monaro / GTO, 350Z, Mazda RX8, Chrysler Crossfire new or about to be added to our sports car inventory. So I would not be surprised to see a higher performance version of the Z in subsequent years (probably 05 or later). But I agree with Syph0n's comment that it would probably be a supercharger, as this may be easier / ?cheaper? to fit and maintain the torque response of the current NA Z. Also, the supercharged Z could be differentiated from and would not contaminate the GT-R market, which will probably always be a TT.
Also, I believe that a V8 Z would be a long way away - think 2010 and it would probably be a different shape vehicle.
Oh, and finally, the reason I started this thread was my wish for a much higher performance 350Z, which the after market tuners will soon deliver. But I want a after market performance backed by Nissan warranty. Therefore the product would have to be a genuine Nissan article.
Nissan has 3 years to give me what I want. After that my warranty expires so I would be more ameniable to visiting the after market tuners or buy another perofrmance marque.

 

Ares, I didn't know about the 3.2L motor for the GT-R. Thanks for the tip.

 

japan shys away from V8 sports cars, name one if you can. honda, nissan, mazda, and toyota, all dont have one.

my theory is a few things, 1. their main market is europe and japan, both places gas is VERY expensive, meaning MPG is very important. most of the V8 cars they do make arent even offered over in those areas.

2. V8s are heavy, and inefficient. again contributing to the MPG arguement, and the handling, japan and europe dont have large NHRA circuits like the US does, so torque monsters arent their goal.

also while ford, chevy and dodge push nascar, japanese and germans push lemans and F1, these cars are limited to 3.x liters, not sure exactly, but they get hp from efficiency, not brute strength.

for these reasons, I wouldnt hold me breath to EVER see a V8 Z, or any other japanese sports car for that matter. the future only holds more strict emmisions laws and higher oil prices.

 

Is it also emission in Japan that keep them from using Forced induction on any "new " with a engine higher than a 4 cylinder!
Subaru WRX STI and EVo 8 have no problems
but once they try to do this with a V6 or higher the problems set in with emission I believe

 

Maybe the economic outlook isn't positive but yet the demand for Z and G35 is high.

I can't figure it out either. But I think if Z TT was priced at 40k MSRP people would buy it. If it was a 380 bhp car with all the goodies and then some that track comes with it will be a sure sell. That is my opinion.

 

yeah people would buy it, but how many? would they make up for all the people that wouldnt buy a Z at all because they are now buying the "weak engine" model, and thus will have increased depreciation. imagine mustang V6, how many people dont get it just because they cant afford the real V8 version?

of course the V6 version sells because its a V6 convertable, but the Z doenst have the cheap pricetag going for it, when you spend 34grand on a sports car, you expect that your gonna be getting the big one.

 

I would respectfully disagree that the main market for Japanese sports cars is Europe and Japan. Is North America not the biggest market (if not the key one) for the Z, past and present? (especially seeing the number of Zs allocated for the UK this year)