If that is true it is very disapointing. The body is a step the wrong way and certainly not a better looking body than the 370, which was the main sell for me. Even the 350Z was slightly less curvy but still way sexy. It would be nice if Nissan would boost power to close to 400hp next year (on base not Nismo) to compete with the mustang in my eye. I think even just adding DI next year would be a step in the right direction, then up displacement a bit.
If the original post pans out in 2015 I will either keep my 370z for much longer than planned or buy a new mustang. The fanged 370 body is hard to beat IMHO. Current Nismo 370 doesn't cut it for me personally, the goofy rediculous spoiler is laughable and small increase in performance, not worth the extra money....again just my oppinion, don't hate on that.

It looks like Honda Accord coupe! lol.

350hp at 2016 is lame. They should say at least 400 hp by then. But to me, hp is not the biggest weak point Nissan need to address. It's the torque! Sexy/fast looking Z should be packed with at least 300Ib/ft. The solution to it is to turbocharge it! Come on Nissan, I've been waiting for a turbocharged v6 for too long!

Nice. Will have to check out the 2014 auto show for concepts. Not sure why the reaction to the rendering. That's not final anyway. More likely closer to what will come around 2014. That's next year. For me, I'm due for a switch in 2017 = PERFECT!

^^ This is how the 2020 Genesis Coupe will look like....


:icon18::icon18::icon18:

The next Z is very very far away. Everything just speculation at this point, all pictures are just drawn renderings. Too early.

The rendering does not look right to begin with. It seems like there were two different points.

Not crazy about the rendering, but who knows what we'll actually see on display, let alone at dealerships.

Sorta disappointed to learn weight may not be coming down all that much.

No special feeling on the type of motor -- what matters to me is power to weight, flat torque, and peak torque sooner than later.

Mixed feelings on the presence or lack thereof of a turbo. It's much easier to get nice gains when you have factory boost. That turbo 4 may turn out to be a real beast with some modest upgrades. Then again, it's hard to say without knowing more details -- again, the key ones for me being power:weight.

Still 3 more years to go. I can wait.

Not really "creeping up". That number is proposed for 2025. The number for 2016 is 35.5mpg for the entire fleet average. It's actually not that difficult and can easily be offset by EV's and hybrids Nissan already has. Also, If they go with direct injection, that alone should kick the number beyond 350hp. It's likely closer to the 375hp range. Going with efficient turbos and lowering the displacement is actually beneficial in achieving those goals, like Ford's EcoBoost. Look at it this way, even with the 2016 mandate, what we've seen in terms of performance hasn't meant slower sports cars....in fact, quite the opposite. They're forced to be lighter, more fuel efficient and still retain powerful engines.

Not impressed with the stats for the upcoming Z in this article.

I'm no engine expert, but I'd trade "more horsepower" for "lighter weight" and "better torque;" something that makes me happy through all gears and rpms, rather than the low gears and sweet spots. That might mean turbo, but I wouldn't know since I've never driven a turbo car. >.<

I kinda like and don't like the rendering. That exaggerated headlight swoosh and quarter window point are awful, though. I *kinda* like that it looks like it was melted out of a block of ice, with lines created not via ridges but from curves. But that's really reaching. It otherwise has proportions like any ol' normal car, tbh. Depending on other view, this looks an awful lot like a smaller BMW.

Thank again, I love the 370 styling so much I can fap out some of my own QD spray, and I'm not sure anything will be better without being a huge change.

I saw this a couple weeks ago and the exact words came out of my mouth. Except the owning 2 nissans and 2 hondas. I only had 1 honda before my Z :P

I guess Im keeping my 2009!

I'll withhold any judgment on styling until we see the real thing, this is just a cobbled together pic for an article imo.

As far as them staying with an FM platform, it makes sense for a $$ saving perspective but it makes me a bit worried that it means verly little weight savings possibly and this car needs to shed an honest 100-200 lbs with similar power imo.

If it comes in around the same or a little lighter than the 370 and has 350-380 hp I'll probably replace our nismo with the next gen nismo

IF they address the biggest flaws the current car has: oil cooling, brake cooling, ice mode, fuel starve, lack of real lsd etc.

I hope since Nissan seems to be getting more serious about racing etc that the next Z won't need major aftermarket stuff to be truly trackable out of the box. fingers crossed.

well according to the infiniti website the outgoing G37 base has a curb weight of 3633lbs. and the forthcoming Q50 base has a curb weight of 3574lbs. so around a 60lbs. reduction in weight with the new platform is what it looks like...throw in a manual transmission instead of the G's and Q's standard automatic transmission and i imagine a combined weight savings of approximately 100lbs. on the low end not counting if nissan decides to incorporate more aluminum in the construction of the next Z.

For "just under $35,000" the speculated specs will be a failure. The Z needs an overhaul if its going to be competitive at that price. People cross shop that with Mustang GTs and 3 series..design aside, I know I probably wouldn't pick the Z in 2016 if these specs turn out to be correct. At that point the new Mustang and Camaro platforms will be out. The Mustang has been rumored to be a couple hundred pounds lighter and possibly pushing 450hp. Some say the Z isn't necessarily a competitor of the muscle cars, but the consumers say otherwise.

With the refresh going back to the 350z front bumper, I think the next Z will have a much more conservative design approach.

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That will be a sad year for the Z. They've lost their roots. They need to compete with the FRS/BRZ, get rid of VVEL, join the direct injection club and crush the 350hp range. And they need to start offering serious factory spec upgrades like the Mustang al a carte menu. Holy crap, every single stang out there is different from the next. They have become so personalized and "custom" straight from the factory that there is no need to mess with them. And they are looking damn good too. They still drive like boats but they are quickly coming along in terms of design. If Nissan took this approach and even offered a factory Z (GT type) vehicle pushing 550hp, they would certainly garner some attention. But let's face it. They're lazy. They don't want to put in the work or the effort to really create something special. They want to use an existing frame of a much larger vehicle. IMO, that is just bad business. At this rate, Hyundai is on track to crush the Z with their Genesis. Yup... I said it!

But if the Toyota Supra makes its way back into the market I'll be first in line. Not sure I'd let the Z go but she'll certainly remain undriven for extended period of time.

around 100lbs lighter with a bit more power and if it also has better balance/handling dynamics and that is gonna be a very good thing.

Word! Drive it over here and the current horsepower does not FAIL! Where do you want to use your power if you dont track in the US? Seriously give it up. You cant use the 3330+ now on the street or freeway on cruize at 72mph etc.

Its nice to brag at Cars and Coffee about your hp numbers but for the real world 330+ is a serious amount of power. Period.

That concept design looks hideous...

I don't think any of us could handle 3330 h/p on the streets....:stirthepot::icon14:. I know what you mean (33*hp).

Concept drawings never look ANYTHING like the final design. All I hope is that they hire the same designer (I forget his name ATM) who designed the 370z, because I trust his design skills after putting out this sexy machine.

I hate it I don't understand why all These articles keep insisting on bringing the z back to its Datsun days.... Those days are long gone the z has evolved into something great why knock it down from a mid range sports car to an entry level sports car? Why wouldn't they just revive the s chassis? Leave the z alone don't kill it

The price is killing the Z. It happened with the last 300z and its happening now. Part of the reason the 350 did so well was because it was relatively cheap.

I actually wouldnt mind a turbo 4 banger, but that grill rendering suuuuuuucks. looks like an altima/maxima :shakes head:

This is NOT a High HP discussion thread!!

Lets Keep It On Topic!

Thank You

Still looks like a BRZ...

Bad Rendering Z

Looks like a Genesis Coupe.
I don't like it.

+ power - weight - price = success

I'm going to speculate that most of this guy's speculation is just speculative and wrong. There, I said it.

And i hope you're right because next gen, we need something fresh. The Jay Leno interview at Nissan sounded like they wanted to give us something truely special. So from your lips to Japans ears bruh. :tup:

Keep the rims, ditch the rest and start over.....

I know i want Ray's and Akebono to still handle our wheel and brake package.

I'm all for having a Cayman S or 991 variant as a benchmark. I don't care how they get there, so long as the result is comparable. I'm also all for an evolutionary design as opposed to a retro or all new. Nissan did create the GTR and it rapes everything under $400k. I trust they will make the Z special as they say.

Agree with SS above. I would love the body style to evolve rather than change. I also don't mind the price remaining the same if there are performance increases in all categories. I like the exclusivity of our Z's.

As far as design, I want in the middle of revolutionary and evolutionary. I want the Z to keep it's 240z original identity while bringing something completely new to the design. Not just a glorified exterior refresh...

Everything else that SS said. I'm with.

This is the problem in a nutshell. It needs to be better to compete at its current price point, but the improvements cost money. It's a fine line between improving the car and killing sales with the price. I'd hate for the Z to get killed off again because the market won't support a $45-50k Z. It'll never have Mustang/Camaro sales. It's much more of a niche product than the domestic pony cars.

The price isn't the problem, the people wanted something to look good and sound good but not be really that good. Quality, people, costs money. Which is why the 370Z costs more than the 350Z. Bigger engine, better interior, more hp/tq, bigger brakes, better technology! You won't get that sh¡t for the same price from the last model. Try to be more realistic please! I mean come on... 35K for the best dollar/performance sports car is NOT bad. I'm about to go out and drive my 370Z and love it, you guys go ahead and stare in misery at yours.....

Sorry man, but price is the problem. You are right of course, quality costs money, and that directly affects price. People, reviewers, critics all expect improvements on all fronts when a new car comes out. Nissan provided that, but it also priced them out of sweet spot of sales.

You can look throughout all of the Z history, and most other car lines for that matter, how price (and everything else that goes with it, including quality) affects purchasing. When the Z originally hit the American market, it was essentially today's Toyobaru with an inline six. Cheap car, small revvy engine, great handling. The reason the 300z ended with a hiatus was specifically because it became too expensive. It was more luxurious, it was absolutely more powerful, but it wasn't what the Z was originally about.

Consider this, the Toyobaru twins have a weak 4 banger engine, terrible interior, and few options. But they are flying out of the showrooms. You don't think that has anything to do with price?

That is why you see a lot of people saying the 370z should compete with the Toyobaru twins, because they epitomize what the 240z was. The reality is that time has passed, the Z is a different type of car now, but $42k for a fully optioned Z and $45k for a Nismo, are easily $5k more than they should be.

It doesn't make the Z a bad car, just an expensive one.

Well put ^^

Remember that the price they sell it for directly results in the value of the yen. The yen was getting stronger against the dollar for the past few years. It wasn't until recently that it started dropping again. Building a car for X amount of yen, then selling it for X amount of dollars, they need to have a profit margin. Sure there is a few thousand in every vehicle, but it is not out of line with the profit margin of a car that is similarly equipped. Now if they are able to build the Z here in the states, they can reduce the cost for manufacture, but they still need to sell enough to justify that investment. Look at what Subaru and Mitsubishi gives for their sports cars. A turbo 4 banger, AWD and not much else, but it costs the same. Nissan isn't alone in this price conspiracy.