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Old 04-05-2015, 12:36 AM   #177 (permalink)
Jordo!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RicerX View Post
A Corvette Stingray is 500 hp and starts in the $50k range. If you push the Z into the $50k range without matching or exceeding the Corvette pound for pound, dollar for dollar, and hp for hp, it will last maybe as long as the Z32. If the Z ends up there, it's truly in the Corvette class, whether you want it to be or not - the cars are both two seat sports cars at that point, and you're not going to convert very many, if any, Corvette buyers. The demographic is too "BY MURICA FOR MURICA" to buy a Japanese two seat alternative.

On the other hand, if they do match or exceed it, then you provide a Nissan alternative to the GT-R for less money (500 hp range), and you'll find out how many people bought the GT-R because the Z didn't reach high enough for them. (I'll be willing to bet there are at least a few GT-R owners that would have a Z instead if it had 500 hp).

It's a dangerous place to be in and they have to be meticulously strategic with it.

The smartest thing you could possibly do with this car is find a way to make it a Camaro SS/Mustang GT/Challenger RT alternative (biggest chunk of the market) while retaining the Z formula. This means that 400-450hp at the same price point given all other things equal (weight from the Z34 for example) would be a larger hit than the Z34 on the market, especially if you gave it some sort of a backseat a la Z32.

They have to go where the market is for this car while still being unique.

That's why half of these reports are so freakin illogical. A Z with a turbo 4 by itself makes ZERO sense - why move the car to a smaller market (BRZ)? It only makes sense if it's one piece of the puzzle where a higher performance version is offered (turbo 6) because then the market coverage expands to a Camaro/Mustang alternative (multiple powertrains, lower cost of entry, high performance bargain). Those things only work if they meet competitors in the market. Sure a $25k turbo 4 Z makes a ton of sense only if the turbo 6 Z offered with it is in the $40k range (TOPS), not $60k.
Very well said

As to the turbo 4, notwithstanding the lack of sales for the Gen coupe, the latest iteration of the Mustang has a turbo 4 as its midlevel option priced and making power greater than their 6 cyl (funnily enough, also a 3.7 ltr motor), but well below the V8.

I could see Nissan doing that: NA 6, turbo 4, turbo 6. That would be a nice range of options. If they did that, it could go $35K, $40K, $45K ballpark, and the hp could be, say, 350, 375, 400-425ish, respectively.

I think if they offered something like that -- kept the weight down, and the fit and finish looking sharp -- it would be a real hit with current Z fans and really give the pony car crowd something to seriously mull over.

I don't know what the hell Toyota is thinking regarding the FR-S. Its doomed to be an afterthought for someone considering a MX-5 if they don't give it a significant bump in power. A factory roots blower making another 60- 80 hp and tq right off idle would make that car PERFECT.
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