Mez like!

 

Can't take the credit for this... Source https://www.facebook.com/jonsibal/

Darn good first attempt though... Oddly enough I really like the grill in the bottom pic because the lower kit lessons the impact of that massive grill.

 

Putting a wing that big on it should be a crime.

 

 

Oh, God.

 

 

Z31!!! Knew they forgot to steal something from "the forgotten model". No wonder I don't have a single pic of my Shiro with lights up! Styling stolen from the Austin Healey "Bugeye" Sprite! Hahahahaha.





This is a good comparison. So many people have been hatin' on the front end but it's pretty much the same grill opening as an S30 without their bumpers. I ran like this for a bit back in the original days and the new grill looks identical but cleaned up (sans all the bumper attachment junk and body creases left from taking the bumpers off on the original). If I had to knock anything on the new car, it's the Z32 tail light section that, to my eye, doesn't go with the S30/33/34 sorta body. Then again, no Z generation looks much like the Z32.

But all good, I'm glad they've brought the Z back from near extinction.

Just for kicks, let's take a look at a few of the "spy shots" from a few months ago (renderings of what the Z35 was supposed to look like) to see how close they were...


This rendering from Car & Driver is pretty close. Minus the Lexus shaped grill.

But I guess these two were close too. This silver one made me thing "Targa roof panel".


This one was a little exaggerated with lines a bit difficult for mass production but still very close.

 

i think they need to change the grill, something that flows better with the rest of the curves

 

I'm not hating too hard on the front. Overall, I like it. The Z33 has a pretty large square opening grille as well, and that didn't stop any of us from getting it. But the Z33 nose has more curve as opposed to the abrupt sharp cutoff. With all the long sloping lines and curves of the proto, I guess I was thinking it looks a little out of place, but this could just be camera angles from the photos. The Z always looks better in-person (and also from the driver seat).

Let's not forget what the Z33 prototype looked like in 1999...

 

Let's not forget the proto interior in this discussion. Did anyone else notice it looks like they reused the Z34 interior door handles in one of the rare interior shots? The central dash display has me a bit concerned. If Nissan can't outdo what Toyota did with the latest Supra (nice car, cheap looking tach display), the new Z will suffer for it. Having driven the latest Z4 tells me that BMW got it right on their platform. Other things I liked about the proto interior:

-Retained the three gauge pod canted towards the driver in the center of the dash.
-Nice upper vent design that runs the length of the dash.
-Updated electronics package in the center stack (with hopefully a better, more updateable nav system).
-Hope the throwback steering wheel isn't TOO skinny (I'm still diggin' the updated CF wheel in my Z33).
-Having a nice manual shifter available (but I wonder how many will actually be sold?)

Most inane question in the Q&A session was the last one: how important is it that the new Z appeal to traditional Z owners?

HAH- of course, it's critically important that Nissan get the Z community behind the Z35! That's why they coordinated with ZCon to get nationwide support behind the reveal. Who do you think are going to be the first ones to BUY a new Z? The BRUTAL TRUTH is this is not a large sales segment to begin with, and unless Nissan gets a wave of enthusiasm and excitement behind the new Z35, sales won't begin to justify the investment.

 

That's a good point about the interior.








It appears they still put the cup holder in a useless position where my elbow is going to hit my drink whenever I am shifting, lol.

I think the interior looks pretty nice. Definitely an upgrade from the chinstzy plastic trim panels everywhere. I do like how they retained the 3-gauge cluster. It also appears that the shift light is now the red knight-rider-esque horizontal beam at the top of the display.

 

The more I look at the Z Proto, the more I like it. Anyone else feel that way? Initially I came out not liking the grille and rear end. To be clear, the grille opening/shape isn't what I don't like. It's the mesh pattern of the grille itself that I don't like. I think a lot of people hear "ugly grille" and immediately assume it's the overall boxy shape. I actually like that about it. As shown in the S30 comparison photos, the classic 240Z's grille had a very sharp boxy shape, it was just broken up by the bumper. I'm still conflicted about the rear end though. The faux rear diffuser with the black plastic shouldn't be there IMO. The taillights have grown on me, but I still would have preferred more of a R34 style design, even though that's not technically a Z car and it's still in use on the R35. I'm just a sucker for those Skyline double round taillights.
-Icer

 

Yeah, the "400" Z prototype is starting to grow on me. Its a stretch, but i'm really hoping they release specs and pricing before the end of the year.

(Burn me at the stake if you must, but I would totally drive that 350z prototype)

 

The only thing I really don't like (front bumper) is easily changed. I might end up with one of these.

 

The specs and pricing will be what makes or breaks it to me if I buy new, wait for used, or abstain

 

I won't buy used. Don't trust people. Only car I'll be buying used is my C7Z, simply because they don't make them new.

 

Getting harder to find

 

The design is definitely growing on me. I'm sure it'll look slightly different when it comes out. I wish the headlights looked a bit more Z33-esque.

 

The stuff I like I can't like any more, the stuff I hate I will hate forever lol. As for the similarities with the 370Z interior, they share the same chassis so it makes sense.

 

Regarding the new Z revealed. And to quote the Joker in, "The Dark Knight" (as if speaking to the Nissan design team):

"What happened? Did your ***** fall off?"

Seriously though, I waited 11 years for this?! The car has been eviscerated.