I agree. It may just be my irrational speculation, but for some strange reason I see this new Mustang as the apex of this transition. It's gonna be damn hard to outperform that thing (overall) for the PRICE. I, personally, see that Mustang as one of the last true mass-produced muscle cars of America.

Nissan discontinued the 300ZX because it was getting non-profitable with the TT's and was almost the same price as the Corvette with less power and performance. Sales declined to almost nothing and they had no ideas how to correct it. The convertible 300ZX TT 2+2 was close to 50K back in 96.

having the 2 seat only and the 2+2 split between nissan and infiniti has been good though, keeps the prices lower on the 2 seat version and more room to move up on the 2+2 since they are aimed at a different clientele.

rather than a 400Z, i think Z would be the perfect base for a high performance electric car from nissan. The Z is never going to have more displacement than its muscle car competitors. The Z has enough heritage and following that there would be a line out the door waiting to get an electric Z, if it outperformed previous models. it would be a totally new technology but the car would have a history. plus since its a Z it wouldn't be ugly like almost every other electric.

2012 according to most rumors.

Obviously the new rotary will still likely have much less power than cars such as the Z, but their stated goal has been to use this engine in a sub 3000lb car. I'd guess somewhere in the neighborhood of 260-280hp is what this engine will end up with along with much improved fuel economy. I think they are really going after the essence of what a hardcore sports car is supposed to be, much like the old rx-7s. And I think smaller, lighter, and less powerful is what the future of sports cars holds. Nissan definitely did a good thing by making the 370 slightly smaller and it will be interesting to see how that FT-86 turns out.

I also agree with a previous poster who said the new 5.0 Mustang next year could be the pinnacle of the hardcore muscle cars. It will definitely be hard to top that at an affordable price and I'll call it now that the new Mustang will own the Challenger and Camaro SS in every way. Hell, if you compare the current V-8 Mustang with the other 2 it comes very close in every performance comparison on the track...and that is with 100 less hp. With another 100hp that Mustang will be a complete monster.

Well, there are still plenty of unsold 2009 Z's left around where I live. So unless sales pick up, I don't see how the Z can go on.

Well, I guess it's the end of the road. Hell I want to get one but now there going to end it.

There was no 2+2 or TT convertible in the US.

There may be a lot of '09s left...but whats the selection like? Any base + sport + MT? There are plenty of '09s left around here too...EVERY last one of them with an automatic transmission.

The reality is the recession has likely bumped the Z out of the price range of a lot of people that may have been considering it before. As much of a niche car as it may be Nissan really hasn't helped their own cause much. They could offer rebates or great financing rates on it once in awhile. Don't know if it's still going on but even Porsche was offering 1.9% on all their vehicles not long ago.

there was the


Slicktop non turbo
Twin turbo T-tops
2+2 non turbo
convertible non turbo

nissan should have brought over the slicktop twin turbo, and 2+2 twin turbo.
they would have sold alot more. not to mention they should have offered the non turbos 4.08's gears as an option. swapping to the non turbo diff from the TT alone saves 110lbs and the slick top is around 120lbs lighter then the t-top. a stock 300zx twin turbo slicktop that weighed around 3250lbs with 4.08 gears from the factory? that would have murked everything in it's class.

and if there is a 400z, it's going to be just like the M3. 2 or 2+2 config with a 4.0 high revvin V8.

"Unprofitable", the Z is going to die!

Unfortunately, the US is the number two market for cars (behind China) and losing ground rapidly as China's growth rate is exponentially higher. You're right about the US requirements dictating the viability of sports cars for Japan, Inc. Unfortunately, the future for sports cars isn't all that brilliant now in the U.S. The 35.5 mpg CAFE requirements are going to fundamentally change the automotive mix in the states. Enjoy your Z now, while you can still buy one!

The one thing people are ignoring with the new CAFE standards is that it is an average based on sales. So Nissan can offload hundreds of thousands of hybrids/sentras/etc. and then can allow the Z or GT-R to survive with lower MPG ratings.

That's assuming we can get anyone to buy all these small sh*tboxes in sufficient number. We all have to get all our friends to buy little efficient happy smiley greenie cars, so we can get our nasty fun GT-R's please!