Exactly. People need to stop living in the past. The Corvette was a 6 cyl at some point too. Nissan needs to compete with other car companies and putting a V-8 in this car and giving it some ***** would keep people from going for a New Challenger, Camaro, or Mustang for cheaper, and with more mod ability.

 

The evolution of the 350Z will be similar to the 240Z. The motor will get bigger with more horsepower, more gadgets, more complicated, more amenities and more weight. It will be priced out of the range of “everyman's sports car.”

The 300ZX died because is violated the initial premise of the 240Z: good horsepower to weight ratio and affordable.

EDIT: Nissan may be making a mistake if it tries to make the next generation Z “look” like the GTR. The public will consider it a “look alike GTR” or “a baby GTR.” It wont sell.

 

that would be nice, but I honestly wouldn't be excited for a TT. a better aero kit and better performance (we can only hope for lighter weight).

 

MM,

Why in hell do you own a Z???

That fat backside reminds me of all my favorite women. You know what Queen said. My 19X10 OEM wheels fill out those rear wheel wells just fine.

The front looks like a big catfish ready to gulp down some unsuspecting prey. You gotta feed the need bra and the Z has a need for air.

The sound is.. well your doing and not Nissans. Should have thought that out a bit more huh.

I think the Z looks good coming and going. This is a shape that will be eye catching and up to date for many years. Nissan really thought this out before taking on this shape.

The new Z will change little in form. The changes will come under the hood this time. 3.7 or 3.8 for sure. Six not eight, tis the Z way.

Food for thought: 330 to 350 HP in a lighter Z. Damn!

Just my .02

 

The next Nissan Z, and you may mark my words for future references...

-Reworked body panels, same basic shape
-Modified FM Platform
-Lighter (3200)
-Shorter
-Push Button Start
-Intellikey
-Infiniti-like new Navigation system
-330-345HP ( Either VVEL 3.7, or detuned VR38)
-NISMO Suspension features (Dampeners and such found on Nismo Z)
-New 6AT with paddle shifters
-Improved 6MT (Found on G37)


The changes are completely obvious...

 

something i am anticipating and know will probably happen

 

I just hope they buck the trend of the Mitsu EVO, Subaru WRX STi and BMW M3 all going softer.

I'm optimistic that everything we're hearing seems to point to them trimming the longitudinal frame rails of the G37 and giving us something smaller and sportier. They've got the G37 for those who want a "luxury" car, I hope we get something hard and rough and track oriented.

I don't even need more power. Just give me lower weight and a more track tuned suspension (like a Nismo suspension on the base model), and I'll be happy. More power will just be a bonus.

 

Well since this is a speculation thread. They should make the Z MR. Ride is already noisy. Already only has 2 seats. Non-existent trunk space. Would make it a real competitor against the Cayman. Shorten the front end a little, put the spare/trunk there (would probably be about the same trunk space as the current hatch). Still use a 3.7L from G37.

TK

 

I agree with everything but the 3.7L. I would still like to see the 350HP 3.8 from the 380RS (maybe a N/A VR38?). Now *that* would be a car.


Despite the rest of what you said, I think a 3.8L might be a real possibility.

 

The 3.7 has the VVEL head though. It's only a 20hp deficit. In theory they could just tune the ECU on the 3.7 to get a more aggressive cam.

TK

 

I like the way you think....It would be cornering the affordable sportscar market but also offer the cheapest mid engine car since the MRS....All this for no more than 35k would be incredible....

Seems like Nissan is after Porsche in every sportscar catagory.,..Would love it if the Z kill all Porsches below the Turbo while the GTR dines on the rest....

 

I'd LOVE the idea of a mid-engine, but that just wouldn't be practical since it would require it's own unique platform. That would drive the price up closer to the Cayman.

But as I have been speculating for a while, the new Z will likely use most of the components of the G37 frame but with a few inches taken out of the middle.

That will make it a little shorter and a little lighter. It won't have the perfect balance and low rotational inertia of the Cayman, but the extra power should allow it to hold it's own. . . and if they can keep it at half the price of the Cayman, they should sell a bunch.

 

Wonder if Nissan would ever consider running the G37 model for a year or so longer than the release of the next gen Z, and then have the G and Z share platforms with the GTR instead of the rest of their lineup. With all 3 models sharing the GTR chassis, it could drive down costs. Using a variation of the rear mounted auto transmission for G35X, and making variations of RWD versions for the other G and Z models, auto and possibly clutchless manual. All using a NA variant of the VR38.

TK

 

I know you didn't complain about the weight but just bare with my comments for a paragraph or two.

This is where your going backwards and adding weight to the vehicle. people need to understand the difference between refinement = weight and lighter = not as refined. Now if you can offer a refined light car then you may have an answer to the question. Not specifically trying to pick on you Swedie3 just trying to point out to people that if they want comfort it's most likely going to add weight and visa-versa.

A good example is the evo X. People wanted a nicer interior this and a nice that and then some have complained about it's performance against the IX from the mag tests. Yes, now we don't know it's potential (upgraded) but people wanted a more refined Evo and got something that was a tad heavier I believe and then turned around and complained about it.

I think Nissan would be smart offering a lighter model of the Z kind of like the RS of the evo without all the amenities but make a 200-300 pound difference between the fully loaded one and more of a track oriented one but still offer the brembo's and power windows throughout the lineup.

It will be interesting to see what Nissan's got up there sleeve especially with rumors of that FR platform that going to be under the price of the Z. I think nissan did a good job with the current Z and it's been out long enough for us to pick it apart but when it first came out it was almost a refreshing sight to see in the car industry.

I mean honestly do any of you see cars on the road that looks as unique as the Z that came out at the same time it's very fresh and original and hopefully nissan can do it twice in a row or i'll buy the last years of the Z33's if the Z34 end's up sucking.

 

I'm seeing a rebadging...

350/70ZX. A friend and I were talking about it not too long ago. The "X" in ZX stood for luxury, right? Well, my 350Z is much more luxurious than his 300ZX TT, and it still got the "Z" badging instead of "ZX". I'm thinking if they add twin turbos to the 350/370, it'll be rebadged as a ZX.

Maybe they'll sell two kinds...a Z car that's lighter with an N/A motor, and a ZX car with twin turbos and some (more) amenities. After all, the only "Z" car to carry turbochargers have been the 280ZX and 300ZX.

 

I still don't see nissan throwing on turbos anytime soon. It would drive the costs too high and price the car out of its market. For a mfgr its not as simple as slapping on turbos, they have to beef up the tranny and drive train, the cooling system, axles, add bigger wheels and tires, etc all of which means big $. How many of us would have bought a 35-42K car instead of 27-34k car?

Also nissan is getting 330+hp out of their NA v6. Adding turbos to the z will make it compete with their new supercar. I can't see anything less than 400+hp with turbos on the VQ/VR. I just don't see it happening.

However I will acknowledge a slight possibility to a new 260z with a VQ26HRTT. Considering they already make a VQ26HR v6 for their home market they could make a smaller, lighter weight Z with a cheaper NA 2.6L for the posers and sell a 2.6L TT at a premium for the enthusiasts. I would guess ~350HP for a TT setup which wouldn't compete with the GTR. This would also give credence to the recent rumors of a new, cheaper, low end, rwd sports car and a smaller, lighter weight Z. The only hole in this theory is that if they can get 350HP NA why would they go a more expensive and less reliable route of TT setup?

 

Except the VQ25 is smaller mostly by displacement. Its still a VQ block and most likely very similar dimensions/weight. Probably a negligible weight difference.

TK

 

Couldn't agree more...the only thing I would add is that there will be no number designation for the model regardless of engine displacement. It will just be marketed as the Z.