Please help settle an argument
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Please help settle an argument
Hello,
My son and I are having an ongoing argument regarding the design of the Nissan 350Z. He swears up a blue streak that it was designed based on the Audi TT. I think it looks absolutely nothing like it.
Any truth to his contention?
My son and I are having an ongoing argument regarding the design of the Nissan 350Z. He swears up a blue streak that it was designed based on the Audi TT. I think it looks absolutely nothing like it.
Any truth to his contention?
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The design of the Z is noooo way based off the audi TT, you can clearly see the resemblence from the previous models 300zx, 240z, datsun ect... Nissan just added a touch of modern car design to to it.
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Yeah, I think he is so far off base with this but he absolutely refuses to listen to his old mum, so I thought I would run it by the peanut gallery here, knowing that you all would have some knowledge with which either to tell me that I am off base, or tell him he is.
Thanks
Thanks
http://www.nissannews.com/site_libra.../history.shtml
So they essentially went from this design (1999 Concept):
To this design (2001 Concept):
Which ultimately became the basis of the production model.
I don't see an Audi TT in this...do you? It was all based on previous generation Z's with a modern twist. Maybe it's the similarity of using brushed aluminum trim
.
Here's some more reading in a bit more detail:
http://www.autointell.com/asian_comp...ssan-z-car.htm
The Z Concept was unveiled at the 1999 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. This car, designed by Nissan Design America (NDA) in La Jolla, California, featured a long hood, sweeping front fenders and characteristic headlights, suggesting the lines of the original. The car was a huge hit of the 1999 Auto Show season. With this car's success, as well as a massive campaign by Z-car enthusiasts worldwide, it was decided that the Z would return to Nissan's new car lineup.
For 2001, the Z has evolved again, this time in closer-to-production form. It was decided that the 1999 Z Concept was too retro, though the sprit of the Z should remain the same as the original - the perfect combination of passion, price and performance with cutting-edge sports car style - a concept called "Z DNA." Designed by NDA and Nissan Technical Center (NTC) in Atsugi, Japan, the new Nissan Z features a long wheelbase, wide stance, an intimate greenhouse area and hatchback body, with an appropriate amount of heritage design cues. The interior is a medley of metal and leather, with the signature Z three gauge pod in the center of the instrument panel.
For 2001, the Z has evolved again, this time in closer-to-production form. It was decided that the 1999 Z Concept was too retro, though the sprit of the Z should remain the same as the original - the perfect combination of passion, price and performance with cutting-edge sports car style - a concept called "Z DNA." Designed by NDA and Nissan Technical Center (NTC) in Atsugi, Japan, the new Nissan Z features a long wheelbase, wide stance, an intimate greenhouse area and hatchback body, with an appropriate amount of heritage design cues. The interior is a medley of metal and leather, with the signature Z three gauge pod in the center of the instrument panel.
To this design (2001 Concept):
Which ultimately became the basis of the production model.
I don't see an Audi TT in this...do you? It was all based on previous generation Z's with a modern twist. Maybe it's the similarity of using brushed aluminum trim
.Here's some more reading in a bit more detail:
http://www.autointell.com/asian_comp...ssan-z-car.htm
Last edited by GTNPU Z; Mar 9, 2006 at 07:08 PM.
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Wow, great stuff, thanks much (although my son flatly refuses to listen to or look at any of this information, saying you are all wrong - kids, what are you going to do with them 
).
Very nice, thanks again
).Very nice, thanks again
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^lol.
Damn the 1999 one kinda looked sexy..
I think its more or less based on the old datsun and then a 21st century touch added on. If u look at teh history of porsche, the old datsun looks like the old 911 (which came out after i think)...so im not sure whos copying who.
Its still a pretty original design but a lot of body kits try to emulate the porsche look.
Damn the 1999 one kinda looked sexy..
I think its more or less based on the old datsun and then a 21st century touch added on. If u look at teh history of porsche, the old datsun looks like the old 911 (which came out after i think)...so im not sure whos copying who.
Its still a pretty original design but a lot of body kits try to emulate the porsche look.
ughh i remember that 99 concept well, I remember thinking back in 2001 how happy i was they ditched that. Although it was a very rough concept and some of the lines remained similar but overall it was not very attractive
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to me, I think the Z looks most like a Boxster (the ZR at least), in particular with the top up (unattractive, this car looks best top down for sure). Interesting about the 911, I hadn't thought about that.
No, think I'll just make him read this thread and keep him at home...
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sean1967 send him into the army.
I agee. If anything, I'd say it looks closer to a Porsche then an Audi TT. That's why you hear so many "Porsche" comments towards the Z rather than an Audi TT comment. I have yet to hear someone say, "Hey, is that the new Audi TT?" I don't mean to offend anyone that has the TT but it looks more like an aggressive looking VW Beetle to me. Well now that I think about it, VW does own Audi .
.
good thing they dropped the 1999 concept, else i wouldnt be in a 350z. Imo they did a good job with the 2001 concept, and then hit the nail on the head for the release of the 350z. The lines are so good and clean!
the z resembles a porsche more than any other make of car. Now the new eclipse resembles the z from the back, at night, and its a stretch.
the z resembles a porsche more than any other make of car. Now the new eclipse resembles the z from the back, at night, and its a stretch.
Originally Posted by midlifecrises
Wow, great stuff, thanks much (although my son flatly refuses to listen to or look at any of this information, saying you are all wrong - kids, what are you going to do with them ).
Very nice, thanks again
).Very nice, thanks again
Have him go to an Audi dealership and sit in a TT and then go to a Nissan dealer and do the Z. I did and on paper they're in the same ballpark ... in person they're a bunch of difference in the way they fit.
Personally it looked more like the classic Porsche 911 than the '03 911 I test drove. Porsche has noted their mistake and are going back to the more classic lines and looks.
i used to have a video of the designer..some EASTERN indian guy...he said its a mixture of all the Z's plus borrowed LINES from the porsche..so yeah no audi TT...ill try to find the video
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Originally Posted by GTNPU Z
I agee. If anything, I'd say it looks closer to a Porsche then an Audi TT. That's why you hear so many "Porsche" comments towards the Z rather than an Audi TT comment. I have yet to hear someone say, "Hey, is that the new Audi TT?" I don't mean to offend anyone that has the TT but it looks more like an aggressive looking VW Beetle to me. Well now that I think about it, VW does own Audi .
.My son got his notion about the TT and the Z based on Gran Turismo which apparently said that the Z was modeled after the TT. This has been a hot debate since I bought the Z, and now that you all have answered the kid refuses to read the thread. I guess when I was 16 I knew everything too....
Originally Posted by blackznismo
i used to have a video of the designer..some EASTERN indian guy...he said its a mixture of all the Z's plus borrowed LINES from the porsche..so yeah no audi TT...ill try to find the video
For those who want to learn the history of the 350Z learn these names and do some research on them...
1. Carlos Ghosn
2. Ajay Panchal
3. Shiro Nakamura
and of course the main man behind the Z legend Yutaka Katayama....nuff said
1. Carlos Ghosn
2. Ajay Panchal
3. Shiro Nakamura
and of course the main man behind the Z legend Yutaka Katayama....nuff said
Last edited by Ed 718; Mar 10, 2006 at 02:30 AM.
