Nissan Z
The seventh-generation Nissan 400Z of the carmaker’s most iconic model lines was unveiled recently and it’s a stunner. The Nissan 400Z brings with it a seemingly perfect combination of new and old design elements while creating its own style that still pays tribute to the car’s incredible ancestry.
The New Nissan 400Z
Although new, you can easily see the Nissan 400Z is a Z-car with the exterior finding inspiration from past generations. Its rear-wheel-drive layout comes courtesy of the long bonnet and short rear while the standard LED headlights featuring two half-circles is a design trait from the 1970s Z-car.
The roofline flows beautifully from the nose to the more angled rear end while flush-mounted door handles and a thin rear hatch add a certain element of style and class. At the rear, fenders help direct airflow past the rear panel for better aerodynamics while the unique 3D LED taillights are influenced by the iconic Nissan 300ZX.
Performance and Specifications
Under the bonnet is the same 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 found in the Infiniti Q60 Red Sport. If that doesn’t show that the Nissan 400Z means business, nothing will as it has 298 kW at 6,400 rpm and 474 Nm of torque from 1,600 rpm to 5,600 rpm.
While Nissan hasn’t revealed performance specs, you could expect a 15% faster 0-100 km/h time than the Nissan 370Z. Power goes to the rear wheels through a standard close-ratio 6-speed manual or an optional 9-speed automatic gearbox with launch control and aluminium paddle shifters.
It will have standard and sport transmission modes where the latter results in enhanced dynamics for sportier driving. They’ve improved on body rigidity, added electronic power steering, and wider front rubber for up to 13% better cornering.
Front and rear dampers now have a new monotube shock absorber design while the front double-wishbone aluminium suspension provides better straight-line stability. The rear independent suspension has also undergone significant upgrades to offer an incredible driving experience.
Inside The Nissan 400Z
Like most of the Z-cars, the new Nissan 400Z is also a two-seater where they’ve designed the interior “to fit the driver and passenger like a glove.” The centre console has some old-school touches such as the three analogue gauges on top of the instrument panel with an 8-inch touchscreen located beneath.
A 9-inch touchscreen is optional but the car comes with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster showing vital information in three modes – Normal, Enhanced, and Sport. The climate control knobs are located just ahead of the shifter with the new steering wheel has quick access controls along with a “vintage aesthetic.”
The seats are certainly influenced by the Nissan GT-R and are available in either black woven cloth or optional leather. Some standard convenience features include:
- Push-button start
- USB ports
- Six speakers
- Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility and Bluetooth
- Wi-Fi hotspot
- 8-speaker Bose audio system
Where Did The Nissan Z-Car Come From?
Nissan has been building sports cars for more than 50 years with the first Z-car making its debut in 1969. It’s a direct descendent of the Datsun Sports/Datsun Fairlady/Nissan Fairlady line of sports cars from 1959 and made a monumental impact.
It was the first Japanese-made sports car that could compete with British and Italian roadsters which encouraged other Japanese carmakers to follow in Nissan’s footsteps. This resulted in the Honda S500 and Toyota with its Sports 800.
Timeline Of Nissan’s Z-Cars
You can trace the Nissan 400Z back to where it all started in 1969 with the Nissan Fairlady Z showing off a long bonnet, a fastback tailgate, and a chiselled appearance. After that, Nissan made a few variations including the following:
- Nissan updated the 240Z and named it the Nissan 260Z in 1974
- The Datsun 280Z and 280ZX with a more powerful engine and bigger bumpers
- Two years later in 1977, the 280Z also got a five-speed manual transmission while the 280ZX was longer, wider, and heavier with better suspension
- The Nissan 300ZX (Z31) arrived in Japan in 1983 and was an entirely new car
- Around 2003 came the Nissan 350Z. This came a few years after Carlos Ghosn became CEO when Renault obtained a 44.4% share in Nissan
- In 2009 we saw the familiar face of the Nissan 370Z which is still popular today
Don’t forget about the Nissan 370Z Nismo which produced 260 kW and 374 Nm of torque. While these stats were certainly admirable, it wasn’t enough to keep the sports car relevant which is the Nissan 400Z could not have come at a better time.
Final Thoughts On The Nissan 400Z
Nissan wanted to continue the rich history of Z-cars and the Nissan 400Z does just that. Engineers have tuned the chassis, cooling, suspension, and steering to provide a modern but familiar driving experience. Even if you aren’t a true petrol head but have seen the Z-cars over the years, the Nissan 400Z doesn’t disappoint; it impresses more than anything we’ve seen in some time.
While everyone seems to be celebrating the new Nissan 400Z, it’s still unclear whether this iconic car will come to South Africa. To make sure you don’t miss out on anything, follow our blog and sign up for the monthly newsletter to receive the latest Group1 Nissan news, updates and promotions.
