It was Nissans turn, the 370z is 10 years old and it was time for a change, a big change! In 2019 we saw two big names release some game changers, with the all new A90 Toyota Supra, and Chevy had a go with the new Corvette C8. All seeming like old news at this point, and now it’s Nissans turn to wow us all.
Let’s start off by talking about the elephant in the room, or should I say front bumper in the room? Every car or automotive sketch artist I can think of on youTube seems to have a better idea of what the front bumper should look like. Is it missing something? More details? Are they making the same mistake as BMW with an out of this world front bumper? However Nissan does claim the car is not 100% completed, so the photos and videos all over the internet are not a completed product. In the interview during the release they did state “ its very close”. So we can expect the car to be very close to what we will see in a final product.
According to many online sources, the powertrain will be very close, if not identical to the Infiniti's Q60 Coupe engine. Nissan confirmed the Proto Z will feature a twin-turbo V6, which we expect to be the same unit from the Q60.
Now here is where it gets interesting...
Will the “400Z” name and some claims online state the goal of 400HP? That platform is already developed with the Q50 Red Sport, but if we plunk that into a much lighter vehicle...crazy track monster? I think so!!
So, are we going to see a Nismo version, with the carbon accents, bigger brakes and a 400HP drivetrain? And then a base, or limited model with the 300HP twin turbo like the Q60 base?
Another points to mention would be the suspension, we at Paradigm are all about suspension tuning, so this interests me the most. Nissan states they will have a completely updated version of the 370Z chassis and suspension design. Its expected to have options or certain models with adjustable suspension, upgraded steering, most likely electric, and a limited-slip diff in the rear! Thats awesome, and I cant wait to drive one!
Now lets get to the best part.. the part we as car enthusiasts have all been waiting for, the mistake they made with the New Supra.... The Nissan 400Z comes stock with a MANUAL TRANSMISSION!! Thats right! This is something that too many manufacturers have been getting away from. But why?
There is nothing like cruising down a long curvy road, making every decision possible. Braking, down shifting, hugging the corners and reacting with every feeling the road gives you. Shifting with a manual transmission is such a pure driving experience. Not to mention drifting, auto cross or other motorsport potential this car will offer right out of the box!
I think this car is a bit of a game changer, even though we have still not seen a 100% finished product. We also have to talk about one final thing before we go. It's an important thing that we do not want to leave out.
THE PRICE TAG?? What is Nissan going to do here? It's been said to release with an MSRP of $42,000 US, but that has not yet been confirmed. We have no idea what to expect, and I think this will play a major role in how this does in the car scene and or car market today. If they price this too high, then they will compete with way too many cars, if they price it just right, 45k mark or less? I think there may be a lot of 370Z’s for sale 😉
Ok, this is all we have time for this episode, I hope you enjoyed out first episode with “Cars Worth Mentioning”