The seventh generation Nissan Z was revealed in production form in 2021 as a 2023 model to replace a car that has hardly been criticized. Believed for the longest time to go by the name Nissan 400Z, the new sports car ended up with a more traditional “Z” nomenclature, and although it shares its basic architecture with the 370Z, it is a considerable step forward. The new 2023 Nissan Z wants to be nothing more than it is: an affordable tiny sports car, with a powerful engine, and lots of cool features that make it the perfect modern sports car.
10 The 2023 Nissan Z Has A Powerful V-6 Engine
The previous Nissan 370Z was powered by a 3.7-liter naturally aspirated V-6 good for 332 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. While it was indeed a good engine, it had one big issue: there was no turbocharged option available in the range. So, for the new generation Z sports car, Nissan replaced the old V-6 with a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 engine that is significantly more powerful and more fuel efficient. The new Nissan Z delivers a total of 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque - an increase of 68 horsepower and 80 pound-feet of torque over the 370Z. The engine is not only more powerful than the one it replaces, but it was also designed to deliver a sharp, yet smooth response to driver input. Nissan also promises that the new engine will help deliver an estimated 15 percent improvement in 0 to 60 mph acceleration. So, if we were to consider that the 370Z goes from 0 to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds, we should expect a sprint time for the new Z of around 4.4 seconds. As proof that Nissan is right, the guys over MotorTrend tested the new 2023 Nissan Z and got a 0 to 60 mph sprint time of 4.3 seconds.
9 The Nissan Z Comes Standard With A Manual Transmission: #Savethemanuals
Unlike many of the sports cars on the market today, the Nissan Z is offered with a standard six-speed manual transmission. When equipped with a manual transmission, the Z sports car has an EXEDy high-performance clutch that allows for quick and effortless gear changes. Also, for the first time in an RWD Nissan vehicle, the Z Performance models equipped with a manual transmission are also equipped with an advanced launch assist control system. It adjusts the car's throttle and traction settings to eliminate wheel spin for smoother acceleration from the stop position. As an option, the new Nissan sports car can be equipped with a nine-speed automatic transmission that provides direct and quick response feeling and quick acceleration.
8 The Nissan Z's Competition Is No Joke
The new 2023 Nissan Z has to face an abundance of tiny sports cars that will make life easier for it. But it seems that Nissan learned from its own mistake and carefully watched the market, so its new sports car can easily take on any model out there. Take for example the Toyota Supra – a model revived in 2020 and considered by many nothing more than a rebadged BMW Z4. In its most powerful iteration – it is also offered with a smaller four-cylinder engine – the Supra is powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine that delivers a total of 382 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque. On paper, it sounds like the Z will win the competition, but since it is heavier (3,602 vs 3,400 pounds) testing has revealed that the Supra is faster on the 0 to 60 mph sprint (4.1 vs. 4.6 seconds). The Z is also considerably more powerful than the Porsche 718 Cayman. The German sports car is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged boxer-4 engine that delivers a total of 300 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. Also, when equipped with the manual transmission, the Cayman goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds.
7 The 2023 Nissan Z Is An Affordable Compact Sports Car
The new Nissan z arrived at U.S. dealers in the summer of 2022 with a starting price of $39,990. With three different trims to choose from and two transmissions, you have a total of six configurations to go for. The base trim Z Sport has the same $39,990 price for both manual and automatic transmission, and the same goes for the Z Performance, priced at $49,990, and the Z Proto Spec priced at $52,990. However, keep in mind that the Proto Spec is limited to only 240 units. This makes the Z sports car a lot more affordable than both the Porsche Cayman priced at $63,400 and the BMW Z4 priced at $52,800. The Audi TTS is also a lot more expensive at a starting price of $61,900. The Toyota Supra, which is Nissan Z’s biggest competitor, is priced at $44,040 – not as expensive as the German sports cars, but still more expensive than the Z.
6 The Z Boasts A Modern Design Inspired By Classic Nissan Sports Cars
Despite being easily recognizable as a Nissan Z thanks to its long hood and short deck, the engineers and designers opted for a minimalist approach with many design elements inspired by Z sports cars of the past. Up front, the LED headlights have two half-circles that were inspired by the 240ZG of the 1970s - a model only offered on the Japanese market. When viewed from the side, it is clear that the new Nissan Z was inspired by the original Z, the 240Z as it was known in America. In the rear, the taillights feature a design reminiscent of the 300ZX - a model offered between 1990 and 1996. This design was selected from a total of 100 design proposals and was created by Naoyuki Ohkoshi. Just like with the Aston Martin DB11, the new Nissan Z was designed around the Golden Ratio - a perfect mathematical ratio that makes the Z as pleasing to the eye as possible.
5 The Nissan Z’s Performance Seats Are Inspired By The GT-R
The Nissan 370Z was no doubt a cool sports car, but one of its main flaws was the cabin. So, Nissan designed the interior of the new Z to make it just as good, if not better than the competition. Just like the exterior, the cabin of the 2023 Nissan Z also takes inspiration from other generations before it, a move that gives it a very cool vintage touch. But in fact, the interior of the new sports car is also a big departure from the models before it. The seats were designed using the experience learned from the GT-R. The back of the seats is wrapped in suede - an anti-slip material that ensures the best lateral support. They also offer lumbar and thigh support and, depending on the trim level, they are wrapped in either black woven cloth or high-quality leather with contrasting stitching.
4 Real Race Car Drivers Helped In The Nissan Z’s Development
One of the biggest changes to the new Nissan Z is its triple analog gauge cluster. Nissan wanted to have the ideal sports car cabin for all driving scenes, so it asked for support from professional Motorsports legends, including Nissan Super GT500 driver Tsugio Matsuda. He is the one that suggested the design behind the new gauges and the main instrument cluster. In the old Nissan 370Z, the three gauges show the oil temperature, the voltage, and the time, but in the new Z, they display the boost pressure, the turbo speed, and the voltage. The 12.3-inch customizable digital meter display comes with three different display modes: Normal, Enhanced, and Sport.
3 Old Looks But Modern Technology In The Z
The old Nissan 370Z has been knocked out for its lack of technology, a lot of which had to do with the standard AM/FM radio. A 7.0-inch touchscreen was offered as an option, but it was also dated long before the 370Z went out of production. The new Nissan Z comes to fix that as it comes standard with a standard 8.0-inch touchscreen or an optional 9.0-inch one. The standard one includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System, Streaming Audio via Bluetooth, SiriusXM Radio, Hands-free Text Messaging Assistant, and Siri Eyes Free. The option system includes navigation and NissanConnect Services with Wi-Fi hotspot. You can also go for an optional eight-speaker Bose Audio system with Active Noise Cancelation, and Active Sound Enhancement.
2 The Nissan Z Is Made In Japan
One of the best features of the new Nissan Z, and one that will distinguish it from most of its competitors: it is built in Japan. Production started in April 2022 at Nissan's plant in Kaminokawa, Tochigi – an intelligent factory where robots and men work together to create the best cars. This should make for a high-quality building process - just like we are used to with all the other Japanese cars. The Japanese workers are known for their great attention to detail, as they inspect every element by hand. Even the body panels are carefully checked for any possible gaps.
1 The Nissan Z Nismo: What We Know So Far
As was the case with the previous 370Z, there will be a Z Nismo launched sometime in the near future. It will be powered by a revised 3.0-liter, twin-turbo V-6 engine that should put the output somewhere in the 500-horsepower range - a 100-horsepower increase over the base model. The Nismo should be about 0.3 seconds faster to 60 mph and will come with stiffer suspension and Brembo brakes. The exterior should also be a lot different since the Nismo will be a bit sportier, while the interior should also be more performance-oriented.