Nissan 400Z – A Legend In The Making
It’s official, the new Nissan 400Z will be launched at the end of this year, making a spectacular return to form for the Japanese automaker. It’s been some time since we last saw a proper Nissan Z car but the latest version certainly seems worth the wait. Find out what’s new and why the hype around this incredible car is justified.
Why Do People Love Nissan Z Cars?
The iconic Nissan Z-type car started with the highly-coveted 240Z, which was launched in America in 1970 but under the Datsun brand. They developed the 240Z to such a high standard that it outperformed many top-end sports cars, delivering exceptional Japanese performance and dependability but at a fraction of the cost.
Today, the automaker pays tribute to its pioneering Nissan Z cars with the latest model, the Nissan 400Z elevating it to new heights of innovation. It offers the best of both worlds, combining contemporary performance with vintage appeal at a good price compared to other sports cars. What more could you ask for?
Developing The Impressive Nissan 400Z
Although the Nissan 400Z inherited the underpinnings from the 370Z, it has an updated and modified malleable FM (Front-Midship). As such, the shell of the new model is much stronger with Nissan claiming 10.8% more torsional stiffness with almost 30 kg in weight gain.
Nissan’s engineering team utilized a multi-pronged strategy to deliver outstanding cornering and high-speed driving. These modifications include improved body stiffness, electronic power steering, and wider front tyes to enhance cornering G by about 13%. The Nissan 400Z also has a new mechanical limited-slip differential for optimised power distribution, allowing tremendous grip when powering out of corners.
Nissan 400Z Performance and Specifications
The new Nissan 400Z gets a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 that produces 400 hp and 476 Nm of torque. Mated to a six-speed manual gearbox or an optional seven-speed automatic, the 400Z can sprint from 0-60 mph in just 4.5 seconds, making it one of the fastest cars in its class. Compared to the outgoing 370Z, the new 2023 Nissan 400Z has 68 more horses and 30% more torque.
The automatic transmission has a wide gear ratio and shift-by-wire technology which drivers activate through a unique palm-shaped controller. Anyone who has seen this might agree that it could tempt even manual driving enthusiasts. At the same time, steering wheel paddle shifters from the Nissan GT-R are also available for added flair.
They’ve also updated the chassis and suspension where the front utilizes unequal-length control arms, while the rear is made up of a multi-link configuration. Both are tuned to provide sharp handling without sacrificing ride comfort. While it comes standard with 18-inch wheels, buyers can also choose 19 or 20-inch wheels if they prefer.
A new monotube shock absorber design with a larger diameter reduces dampening force by approximately 20%. This helps soften impact shock while improving handling stability and road-following performance. The front double-wishbone and rear multi-link aluminium suspension systems have also been modified with improved parameters, making the Nissan 400Z a pleasure to drive.
Exterior Design and Features
On the outside, the Nissan 400Z has seen significant updates, exuding a more aggressive style true to Nissan’s current design language. A big grille with slim and stylish headlights takes centre stage at the front while the rear gets a pair of taillights inspired by the original 240Z.
At first glance, the silhouette of the new Nissan 400Z is almost indistinguishable from the original 240Z, highlighting the best of the last six generations of Nissan Z cars. It is a remarkably good-looking car with the signature long bonnet and a shorter rear deck styling taken from the first generation Z car, which was undoubtedly one of the best-looking sports cars of the 1970s.
Nissan 400Z Interior Design and Features
As one would expect, the interior of the Nissan 400Z has also been updated but it still retains the classic two-seat coupe design without any rear seats. The leather-wrapped wheel is inspired by the GT-R R32’s distinctive groove, while the unique groove pays homage to the legendary GT-R R32. The contemporary cabin, like most of its predecessors, offers well-designed controls with physical buttons and knobs for the infotainment system and air conditioning.
The new 2023 Nissan 400Z will be fitted with new seat designs offering better lateral support while a slide-reducing centre pad and anti-slip material keep you firmly in place. Although the 400Z shows a marked improvement over its predecessors, it’s still a sports car which means there may be limited headroom for tall occupants due to the higher seating position.
A Full-House Of Technology
Nissan has long been at the forefront of vehicle technology and the new 400Z is no different. It comes with the latest technology and a redesigned driver-focused cockpit, a new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and gauges synonymous with a race car as well as three selectable screens based on driver preference. The 8-inch touchscreen infotainment is responsive with a smart and user-friendly layout. It has Nissan Connect services, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay.
The 360-degree dial on the triple analogue pod gauge is a Z-car legacy, supplying the driver with critical information such as turbo speed (up to 250,000 rpm), turbo boost, and voltage. The standard convenience features include the following:
- Push-button start
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror
- Automatic temperature control
- USB points
- 12-volt power points
- Front and rear sonar sensors
- Six audio speakers
In a first for any rear-wheel-drive Nissan, the 400Z performance models will feature a launch assist control system while all automatic Nissan 400Z models come standard with the launch control system. It does a wonderful job maintaining the engine at a specific RPM and modulating the power to ensure a smooth launch from a standing start.
Safety First For The Nissan 400Z
Nissan has always taken vehicle safety seriously and the new Nissan 400Z is no different. It has a long list of standard driver assistance and active safety technologies, including Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Blind-Spot Monitoring which are vital since the 2023 Nissan 400Z sits low with less than impressive visibility at the rear. Other safety features are as follows:
- Airbags
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Automatic Braking with Pedestrian Detection
- Lane Departure Warning
- Intelligent Forward Collision Warning
- High Beam Assist
Final Thoughts
The new Nissan 400Z brings a refreshed look to the famous Japanese sports car with the looks, performance, and handling to match its reputation. It would be interesting to see what it’s capable of on the road and track since the Nissan 400Z promises a lot more than its predecessors.
While the 2023 Nissan 400Z will be available in Sport and Performance models toward the end of 2022, it will sadly not be sold in South Africa. According to Nissan South Africa:
“As part of the Nissan NEXT strategy announced in 2020, which is a key pillar in driving sustainable growth goals, Nissan adopted the rationalisation of part of its product portfolio. As a result, Nissan will not be launching the 400Z in South Africa upon the end of production of the 370Z. Current customers of the iconic 370Z will continue to be supported with quality aftersales services.”
