Totally agree with ghoover. We should take insider information with a grain of salt. And based on prototypes of mules running around, I wouldn't bet against seeing a 2009 370Z.

People keep saying that the if the Z came out in 2009, it will steal the GTR's thunder. That's absurd! How can a ~330-350bhp entry-level sports car steal the thunder of a ~500bhp technology-tour-de-force? And we're not even talking pricing! This is like saying Porsche is not going to put out the Cayman S because it might steal the thunder from their 911 TT?

Sure looks like 2008-2010 are going to be great years for sports cars in general. I can't wait to see them all!

 

That's actually pretty good odds. Though, I would bump the odds of the unveiling in a 2010 show at 20%.

People have to remember the first Nissan GT-R testing mule at Nurburgring was back in October of 2005, in a modified G35 coupe chassis...



The GT-R, fitted in it's eventual body showed up almost 2 years later, in September of 2007...



The final official unveiling during the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show (October)...



So based on the Nissan's timetable with the GT-R (2 years from the first tested prototype to an official unveiling), the possibility the Z34 won't appear until a 2010 car show is very likely. Although, the GT-R was restricted to appear in Tokyo (delaying the official launch). Ghosn has no plans with the Z. It could appear earlier than the 2 years the GT-R took because it could be shown at Detroit, Frankfurt, etc....

With the

 

The Z34 shouldn't take the same amount of time to engineer as the GTR. There was obviously an extensive amount of work put into the GTR as it was a completely new motor and chassis which is not shared with any other car.

I am going to say the Z34 won't be much more than a shorter and lighter G37 coupe with different body work. If that is true, this car won't take very long to design.

 

I hope you're right. The GT-R had lofty goals (surpassing Z06, 911 TT). The Z may not need that kind of precise tuning but I would think an unveiling/design would still take at least another year...

 

Generally you can look at trademark filings as a good indication of new models. The 350z was first registered on January 12, 2001 and came out in 03. The "nissan GTR" trademark was filed on March 12, 2002 and it was just released in japan. I checked the trademark office for every single trademark held by nissan and nothing new came up that would indicate a new Z, unless they plan on keeping the same name, but why name it 350Z if its larger than 3.5L?

 

They should just use Fairlady Z and be done with it....

 

They've changed the moniker to Z and the numbers just represent engine size. At least thats how I understand it (and judging from the website).

 

Right but they still have to register the entire name in the ###Z format (350Z, 370Z, 380Z etc) if that is what they are going to name it, and there have been no new registrations with anything having to do with the Z as of when i did the search a few hours ago.

 

I believe the first test mule spotted was in October 2004:

28th October 2004, 06:03 AM #1 (permalink) skylineGTR_Guy vbmenu_register("postmenu_247841", true);
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GTR test mule magazine scans
Look like edmunds isn't the only place to feature this same "GTR mule"

THANKS TO REZZ AND SKYLINESAUSTRALIA.COM FOR THIS! (AGAIN!) THOSE GUYS ROCK!
From "Best Car" magazine:


Yes, it's a lefthand drive "Infinity"... LHD in Germany remember!
A German photographer snapped these pics recently, remarking on how quickly the car was travelling around that part of the 'ring. A professional driver from Japan has been flown to Germany to carry out "overall" testing with emphasis on aerodynamics appraisal.


The test at Nurburgring wasn't about parts testing, but overall performance and handling, suggesting that the GT-R has entered the middle phase of development where engineers concentrate on the entire package rather than just seperate parts. The front bumper seen in the pic above isn't the final design!!! It's a just a quick bumper thats been made so the car has some kind decent airflow characteristics without any attention to styling.

The rear wing on the other hand does give a big hint as to what the final one will look like. The reporter from Best Car was suprised that the rear wing is just your generic late model FD3S RX-7 type wing with beefed up end plates. The wide fenders will make the GT-R 100mm wider than the current V35 Skyline Coupe, making it the same width as the current Porsche turbo. Some effort has been put forward to make the fenders blend in as a component of the complete aerodynamics package, one that will become one of the strongest merits of the car.


*sorry about the wonky pic*
Best Car couldn't report on much about the engine this time around, but were quick to point out that a "number" of different engine capacities are being tested, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5 and possibly a 4.0 (a la the V36 VQ41DE) but still retaining the electric spool-up twin turbo configuration. Also note the two air opening under each headlight on the pics above, they aparently feed each turbo, with a highly efficient intercooler design making use of the third opening. Power is still being set at about 460ps.

Just a final note, the engine is the ultimate "saving grace" for this V-series GT-R, and as far as Best Car can see, Nissan WILL NOT dissapoint in this area.

 

But "Nissan Z" is registered...

and when I looked up G37 I found this:

Filing Date January 26, 2006
Published for Opposition April 10, 2007

Maybe they have some kind of embargo date where you can't publicly see certain trademarks until after a certain date. It would make sense.

Also, don't you think that the GT-R is a flagship that is meant to bring in additional sales? The 370Z is meant to ride on it's coattails I would assume, so any talk of not releasing the Z too early for fear of stealing the GT-R thunder doesn't make sense to me.

 

Do you remeber his name? was it mark short or john cupid?

 

small world, you quoted my account on GTR.co.uk haha

 

If you search for "nissan Z" the entry comes up as "dead". You have to look at the live dead indicator as well as the types of goods and services it is registered for. "nissan Z" was originally a bike/scooter lol

Word Mark NISSAN Z
Goods and Services (ABANDONED) IC 012. US 019 021 023 031 035 044. G & S: bicycles and motorized scooters
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 76543981
Filing Date August 28, 2003
Current Filing Basis 1B
Original Filing Basis 1B
Published for Opposition July 27, 2004
Owner (APPLICANT) NISSAN JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA TA NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD. CORPORATION JAPAN NO. 2 TAKARACHO, KANAGAWA-KU YOKOHAMA-SHI KANAGAWA-KEN JAPAN
Attorney of Record Rhea Caras
Prior Registrations 0686587;2050895;AND OTHERS
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator DEAD
Abandonment Date April 20, 2007

Nope not quite how the system works. When you apply for a trademark, it is reviewed, even though the trademark examiner reviewed and approved it, the mark is Published for Opposition. If you look at section 1503.01 of the Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure, it states that any person who believes that he or she would be damaged by the registration of a mark on the Principal Register may oppose registration by filing a notice of opposition with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, and paying the required fee within thirty days after the date of publication, or within an extension period granted by the Board for filing an opposition. Basically thats the date that you can file a complaint about the trademark.


I dunno, I would assume the same as you, but then again they have all their marketing analysts and experts and whatnot so in the end its not like we have a choice.

 

OMFG. So guess who walks in today asking about sales availablility of the GTR?

Victor NACIF, VP of Design Business Aspects, Nissan Design America, INC.

I have his card right here in my hand; I can prove it.

Basically he is my designer friend's boss. He wanted to know when we might be getting the GTR, as he had sat in them, but never had the opportunity to drive one. He was very interested in owning the GTR, as he said, and I quote: "it will be the last of it's breed for Nissan." He indicated future vehicles that are already in the pipeline will be geared much more toward economy rather than performance. You heard it right fro the horse's mouth; there ain't no waiting for something better to come out; the pinical of performance from Nissan is right NOW.

SO... since I had him on the lot, I happened to ask HIM about the new Z. He gave me that "I know all, but I'm only going to tell you so much and be very cryptic about it all" smile. I had mentioned my designer friend's name prvbiously and he asked me if HE had told me anything, and I said just a little. Then he elaborated that he knows my designer friend to be very modest (which he was), but that he is currently THE designer for Nissan; as in the TOP designer. OMG; I'm practically getting wet spots at this point as I recall his promise to me to sneak me in for a peek at the new Z when they get it in for final tweaking.

Anyway, Mr. VP confirmed the design for the new Z was very much completed and that the new Z would be introduced at the end of this year and be available for sale as a 2009 model. He said the car is more "hardcore" overall and that what I had heard about smaller, lighter and more powerful was correct. I told him about my Z and said jokingly that I hoped the new Z wouldn't be TOO good or I'd want to get out of mine and he told me that if I love the Z cars, that I most deffinitely WOULD want to be selling my 350 and get into the new one; that it WOULD be that much better.

Damn, there's so many more questions I wish I would have asked and other things I wish I had pried for clarification on, but my mind just wouldn't work for me, so that's all I got. Don't know if "introduced at the end of the year" means unveiled or if it means that's when it will be on sale. He kind of made it sound like it would be unveiled then and on sale in early '09, perhaps as a '10, following the timeline of he new Murano and skipping the '09 model year? Don't know. Speculating on that. What is certain is that later this year, we will all see the new Z and it will be on sale shortly thereafter. I can't wait!

Damn, should I stop buying mods nd start parting out my car now????

 

If they kept the interior leg room the same, 2009 Z, HERE I COME!

 

Ummmm if he was your "connections" boss, then I will definitely ignore whatever you say now. Come on man, when he doesn't even know when the dealers are getting them and we do? LOL!

 

I thought the same thing too as I read this lol...I was actually at a local Nissan dealer today and the "boss" told me that Nissan will choose which dealerships it will grant the priviledge of selling GTR's....So maybe thats what his "connections boss" was refering to??Im probably reaching here but I really want to believe MustGoFasteR

+1 on the interior not shrinking...Im 6'6" so any smaller than my 350 and its a wrap for me .....

 

Yeah same here you think the "higher ups" would know when the GTR is out, hell if hes a big gun he shouldn't have had a problem flying to az and testing it at nissans test center.

AFAIK dealers with large sales volumes get priority, especially ones that have sold a lot of nismo Z's, also those dealers that want to buy the special tools and training.

Man Its been a long time coming though, I cant wait for that day. I've been following this car for the longest time. I remember when I got into contact with Kurt von Zumwalt (Former?) Director of product PR. He gave me his personal copy of the GTR concept press package when the original concept made its debut. That was bad ***!

 

Niiice....I wish you could run into him again and give you a Z press package this time

 

Granted, it seemed a little odd to me as well that a guy this high up in any division of Nissan would be asking me about availability, but in actuality, he knew very well when they were coming out as well as a host of other information that I'm sure he wouldn't tell me if I tortured him. He simply inquired what OUR current prospects were as far as the possibility of getting any and what OUR procedures were going to be in regard to waiting lists, deposits, mark-ups, etc. So he was really asking questions on a dealer level, since, like any average Joe, he will have to buy one from a dealer as well, just like the guy that actually designed the Titan had to do when he wanted to buy a truck for his father. Very doubtful there will even be special VPP pricing for the likes of him on the GTR, considering he was asking about mark-up as well.

We certainly aren't high volume enough to rate getting many GTRs; we're anticipating that we may get one or two the first year. We just happen to be right in LaJolla's back yard where Nissan Design USA is located, thus their people coming to us, as the most convinient dealer. I can't even count the number of doctors and rich playboys from LaJolla that have called or stopped in to inquire about the car. A guy in a VERY nice Maserati GranTurismo rolled in today as well, with his trophy girl ridning shotgun, to ask about the car. Sadly, we have to turn all of these people away dissapointed, as we know we just won't be able to meet the demand for this car, thus we do not have a wait list, nor are we taking deposits. Some, like the guy in the Maserati today that waltzed in as if he owned the place, left pissed off and fuming, as he was basically told in front of his girl that no matter how much money he had, he couldn't get into any more of a privileged position to acquire the car from us than any other schmoe.