Good luck with traction...I sometimes have traction issues with the VDC off...LOL!

You do realize that the new mustangs are faster than a Z in a straight line and around a track, right? Hate them all you want, but it won't change the fact that it will post better lap times than the Z. :tiphat:

I agree. There's no way Nissan will ever switch from an inline to a vee.

Nah I see it this way. Smaller BRZ sized Z with turbo 4. Infiniti based v6 coupe at higher end and GTR continues to be super car.

I'd like to see a transaxle in the next Z.

I think they should just rebadge an Aventador as a Z and sell it to me for ~$40k. I'd love that :p

Don't people realize the BRZ/FRS does NOT compete with the Z? That is ---SX territory. I wouldn't be surprised to see Nissan bring a RWD SX back into the lineup. The Z will most likely stay a V6...but who knows. Since I live close to Nissan Design North America and am friends with Randy Rodriguez, I'll try to get some info out of him! Kidding.
(He's not telling. I've already tried)

Keep the same motor, slap a couple of factory Turbochargers on it, and a dual clutch tranny. Produce around 415HP.

:iagree:

We have a winner

4.0 V8 please!! 400ZX!

This is a scenario that could happen. With talks of slimming the Z down. Talks of the IPL G getting the TT treatment. And the continueing evolution of the GTR. They hit all 3 segments and don't have to add another car to the stable to do it. It will have been a good run for the Z if this is indeed what ends up happening.

The next Z motor has to get closer to 30mpg's to compete with the future of sports cars.

All they have to do is direct injection and that will solve several issues.

Way back in the fall of 1970, I bought an inexpensive sports car for a touch over $4,000. My Dad said "You paid how much for a Datsun?" The reason I mention this is that the next generation Z could be that car again. Yes it might be a turbo 4 that will compete with the BRZ, but that is the tradition that the Z has had all these years. It has always been a low cost sports car that tested other sports cars in its class. I saw the Z at Laguna Seca driving away from Corvettes back in the day. The twisties killed the vetoes, the Z's loved them.

Ok enough. I'll wait a couple years and see what Nissan comes up with, although Shamu's comment about the Infiniti V6 mid size and GTR sounds good

I think the issue here is that the Z is considered a class above the FRS/BRZ so if the next Z were to compete in that class, it would be considered a step backwards in the Z's development. I doubt that Nissan would make the next Z slower than the current one. The price of the new Z's are creeping up towards base Corvette territory so I'd like to see the Z go towards that direction if they're gonna keep the price the same or above where it is now. It could just end up being a more luxurious or high quality FT86.

Agreed, but they always wanted more bang for the least buck. No problem, the Corporate world will screw up a good thing.

I was not talking about engine configuration.

The should bring the Nissan Silvia back and actually call in the Silvia in America too. 1.8 to 2.2 liters in both NA and Turbo versions. This would be the competitor to the BRZ/FR-S.

Then the Z could afford to go a little more high end keeping the 6 cylinder and adding more power, and better quality than the lower market Silvia.

Two Words: NATURALLY ASPIRATED
 

I won't say "There ain't no substitute for natural aspiration" because MB makes some amazing turbo engines, BUT it takes a lot of engineering (read "money") to produce a turbo where lag isn't an issue.

True but... I see direct injection as a high tech band-aid for outdated engines. I think the VQ has taught nissan a lot about what is good and bad in a high performance engine. Imho, producing a brand new platform that harnesses the good of the VQ and is engineered to not have any of the bad side of the VQ, would be logical.

Besides, we've run over a decade with the VQ in some form or fashion. Me personally, having owned in recent years a G35,altima 3.5 se, G37s and two Z34's... I'm ready for nissan to try a whole different engine. I think I have received the full VQ experience.

I think you missed the point.

:iagree:

Edit: and so is cvt!

Did you guys see how long GM stuck to it's 3800 series motors? Honda is still using it's SOHC. Direct Injection is definitely not a band-aid and takes re engineering to package it. I think this may be the last full revision of the VQ before it's replaced, I just don't think Nissan is going to leave their venerable motor die off without hitting it's pinnacle. That VQ is in the GTR destroying the confidence of rich people everywhere. I don't see mny complaints about it's application there. And the CVT's aren't going anywhere. It's not a bad option, they are more efficient, smoother, lighter, and more compact. I own an 11' Maxima and it's a fantastic vehicle. When vehicles start having more gears than our bicycles, you won't know the difference. It's all in the programming.

Where? The R's are completely different than the D.



Probably because there isn't one.



There's a fundamental materials advance that needs to happen before the cvt is a legit contender in anything performance based.

:iagree:
@Firehawk, wasn't bashing their performance in non sports cars.

I do hope Nissan focuses on the other important things as well. Such as transmission, braking, and steering feel. I really feel like they'll make the jump to dual clutches.

Skylines are just as revered, if not MORE revered in Japan. The VQ would be better suited in the car that made the VQ famous in the first place. The Skyline/G37.

Contrary to Red_Zed belief, it is an extension of the VQ family. Was also referring to the J series motors as they are V6's that are more of a direct comparison to the VQ.

"Extension of" being the key phrase--what exactly is shared between the two again?


J series? You mean the screamer from the MDX that is several years newer? I guess I missed where the j was being put into a rwd sport coupe.

You come in to every forum tagging everything in quotes trying to disassemble an argument, try again when you are actually correct.

J series are in every single Honda vehicle that has a V6. And since when did chassis have anything to do with an argument over engine design? Honda went with the SOHC design because it's more compact and easier to fit trans-mounted. Again though, not part of the argument. As a reminder, it was why Nissan is sticking with the VQ and not redesigning it. BTW, the VQ is only a few years older than the J series.

The entire engine block share the same design concepts with other VQ's. I'll let pictures do the talking, everyone likes pictures.

http://www.injectedperformance.com/h...20VR38%201.jpg
http://www.injectedperformance.com/h...20VR38%202.jpg
http://www.injectedperformance.com/h...20VR38%203.jpg
http://www.injectedperformance.com/h...20VR38%204.jpg
http://www.injectedperformance.com/h...20VR38%205.jpg

Looks like family to me... CVT wasn't brought up as a potential use for performance vehicles, sometimes I agree with you, but this is one of the many things we don't meet eye to eye with.

yes, two years. the discussion was specifically around continuing the VQ in the Z, not in general. I imagine Nissan will continue to use it in SUVs and other such vehicles. They may even continue in the Z, but doing so is basically giving up on being competitive in the market.









good lord. I hope you are trolling.





trollol

Edit: Im dumb

Those are pictures of the HR and the VR block. More akin to comparing an LS2 to an LS7. What Im saying is it is indeed part of the VQ family and designed to meet the higher demands of forced induction. The J series was referred only as a cited argument to long cycles of use before a complete redesign of an engine. There are more similarities than differences between the pics. A closed deck is not significantly different than and open. VHR blocks can be purchased as closed decks.

OH man. How about telling if they will stick with the 6cyn at least :tup:

They gonna give it a back seat too? And Prius tires? Where's my ROFLcopter? While we are at it, lets give it cast 17x7 in rims and a plastic interior.

You do realize that Nissan has the Leaf (and working on other electric & electric hybrids) which helps counter balance the Z & GT-R MPG ratings, as the whole CAFE rating system is a collective number and not per individual car, yet.

:iagree:

Cars with such limited production numbers like the GT-R and Z don't affect the overall manufacturer average much. For everyone of these cars there's like 20 Altimas to balance out the MPG's.

If they were shooting for cheaper, they would have made the 370Z cheaper and less powerful when it was introduced. The Z handidly trumps every other V6 car in the market with the exception of it's bigger brother. It's in a fickle position where there is no direct performance competitor besides the Genesis 3.8. The price they are selling the Z is similar to domestic V8 performance cars with no import taxes and that's why it's compared. It just so happens that the Z is not quite as fleet of foot as them. Working with a V6 and lower weight, and without FI, they will only be able to make par against the domestics.

They do want to make it easier to get into a Z, but I see it as another model. This debate can go on till Nissan play's it's cards. Hopefully Nissan doesn't go retarded and give the Z a different letter too.:rofl2:

You do realize the gensis coupe has an engine option of 3.8 liter v6 that costs as much as our z.





Why would nissan want the z (a true sports car) to start competing with cheaper/ slower sports coupes...? Frs/brz , genesis, mustang, camaro are all sports coupes. The reason there are so many is because people buy the cheaper option ones that arent even "sporty" whats the ratio of v-6 mustangs to the gt mustangs?

Sports coupes will always outsell 2 seaters because they are more daily friendly and practical. The z will compete with sports cars like base corvette , bmw z4, audi tt, porsche boxster/cayman. Besides the vette those cars are relatively low volume csrs like the z. They market the car as you get equal or greater performance for 50-75% of the the cost.

Therefore nissan is smart enough to keep the z where it is and improve its performance with trubo and/or direct injection & weight reduction; while developing either a mini z or sylvia to compete with frs/brz, v-6 mustangs/camaros, and 2.0t genesis.

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To boost sales numbers :ugh2:

Well what i was meant is why would it go to competing with cars that are worse. .makes no sense

Also Imo They dont need to necessarily boost sales on the z. It's a niche car bought mostly by enthusiasts and young professionals. Nissan already has huge volume cars like altima maxima sentra versa rogue murano etc.

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