Nissan shows off new Zed car in full

Wednesday, 16 September 2020

It’s finally here. Long-awaited and much-rumoured – this is the latest Nissan Z car.

Well, mostly. It’s actually the Z Proto, a version of the car that’s around 90 per cent done. That means the exterior and interior are complete, save for any minor changes that crop up during the last bits of development, while the powertrain is still being finalised.

Starting with the exterior, the Z Proto is noticeably inspired by its ancestors. There are teardrop LED headlights that “hark back to the Japan market-only 240ZG,” which had clear dome lenses over the headlights.

That’s quite a square grille. All it needs is a chrome strip through the middle.

There’s a chunky rectangular grille with similar dimensions to the outgoing 370Z’s grille that holds oval fins for a modern touch. All it needs is a chrome strip through it and it’d be perfect.

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That is such a good looking profile though, isn’t it?

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Yup, that’s a manual transmission. In 2020. This year couldn’t get much weirder, could it?

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The bonnet connects to the roofline which flows right back to the stubby rear end, all classic Z styling cues. You can see it best from the side. Even the yellow paint with black roof is from the Z history books, apparently a popular colour choice on the first-gen Z car and the ‘80s 300ZX

Meanwhile, the rear end takes inspiration from the 300ZX, with the red LED taillight blocks set in a black section that runs the width of the rear and wraps around the edges.

Carbon fibre treatments on the side skirts, front splitter and rear valance add lightweight accents while 19-inch wheels and twin exhaust outlets reinforce the sportiness of the car.

Inside is a much more modern cabin than Z drivers might be used to. There’s a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, three smaller gauges above the infotainment unit and a new-look steering wheel. The circular door handles look a little bit like they came from a Mini but that’s okay.

Look closely and you’ll spot a manual gear shifter. That’s not a mistake, the new Z will come with a six-speed manual transmission. An automatic option hasn’t been confirmed at this stage.

Another thing that hasn’t been fully confirmed is the engine. All we know is that it will be a twin-turbocharged V6. Hiroshi Tamura, chief product specialist of the Z Proto, said that while every Z generation has had a more powerful engine, there is also a “balance of power and agility” that needs to be met.

“It is a vehicle that creates a connection with the driver not just on the physical level, but emotionally, and responds to the driver’s impulses.”

“With the launch this summer of the groundbreaking Ariya EV, we’ve started a new era of electrification and autonomous driving technology,” said Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida.

“With the Z, we’re bringing drivers the excitement of a pure sports car. For more than 50 years we have been creating the legend of Z together. I’m glad you’re with us for the next exciting chapter. The new Z is on its way.”