V8 in 370Z

zsport1 · 12-15-2008, 01:38 PM

Not the first time Nissan played with the V8 Z Car idea. IMO it won't happen with the 370Z. Wouldn't make sense with the GTR now in the mix not to mention the world economy in the state it's in.

Here's Paul Newman's V8 280ZX race car.

sbsmoov · 12-15-2008, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zsport1

Not the first time Nissan played with the V8 Z Car idea. IMO it won't happen with the 370Z. Wouldn't make sense with the GTR now in the mix not to mention the world economy in the state it's in.

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GTR and 370z is apples to oranges--GTR is in a different league @ 75K+ bucks.

Nissan has no offering in the 40k to 50k sports car segment . Nissan has yet to address this segment--base Corvette (430HP), Dodge Challenger SRT-8 (425HP), Camaro Z28 SS (420HP), Ford Shelby GT500 (500HP), etc., etc.

Nissan's VK50VE, which is based on the VQ V6, would fit this segment nicely with 390HP & 369 lb-ft of torque. Price it just below the base Corvette and Nissan will have another awesome machine at an incredible bargain in this price segment.

And 390HP is nowhere near the 485HP of the GTR--so don't give any silly arguments of how a V8 Z car would be a threat to the GTR. Like I said--apples to oranges.

Why a V8? The answer is simple. Purist Sports Car . (No forced induction wizardry, bells & whistles, & techno gizmos to make power). Incidentally, it would be the polar opposite of the GTR.

A purist sports car--N/A V8 Z would embody a purist approach to driving enjoyment combined with agressive looks, great handling, and a gorgeous exhaust note. It would represent an outstanding/best in class value in this segment.

Nissan! If you build it, we will buy it!

zsport1 · 12-15-2008, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbsmoov

GTR and 370z is apples to oranges--GTR is in a different league @ 75K+ bucks.

Nissan has no offering in the 40k to 50k sports car segment . Nissan has yet to address this segment--base Corvette (430HP), Dodge Challenger SRT-8 (425HP), Camaro Z28 SS (420HP), Ford Shelby GT500 (500HP), etc., etc.

Nissan's VK50VE, which is based on the VQ V6, would fit this segment nicely with 390HP & 369 lb-ft of torque. Price it just below the base Corvette and Nissan will have another awesome machine at an incredible bargain in this price segment.

And 390HP is nowhere near the 485HP of the GTR--so don't give any silly arguments of how a V8 Z car would be a threat to the GTR. Like I said--apples to oranges.

Why a V8? The answer is simple. Purist Sports Car . (No forced induction wizardry, bells & whistles, & techno gizmos to make power). Incidentally, it would be the polar opposite of the GTR.

A purist sports car--N/A V8 Z would embody a purist approach to driving enjoyment combined with an outstanding value in its segment, agressive looks, great handling, and a gorgeous exhaust note.

Nissan! If you build it, we will buy it!

All good points that have been brought up before. And in no way am I saying that a V8 Z Car would threaten the GTR. Would a V8 Z Car be cool? Ya sure. But your not going to see a $40K-$50K Z Car again anytime in the near future. Except maybe the NIMSO 370Z (not the S-Tune) that might be slightly over $40K. The Z has always been a "bang for the buck" sports Car. That's the Z's heritage. I had the opportunity to sit down with the lead designer of the Z Car at the Z Car Convention this year in Cleveland and was told "no V8" in the Z.
Sorry, there will be no V8 Z Car.

sbsmoov · 12-15-2008, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zsport1

All good points that have been brought up before. And in no way am I saying that a V8 Z Car would threaten the GTR. Would a V8 Z Car be cool? Ya sure. But your not going to see a $40K-$50K Z Car again anytime in the near future. Except maybe the NIMSO 370Z (not the S-Tune) that might be slightly over $40K. The Z has always been a "bang for the buck" sports Car. That's the Z's heritage. I had the opportunity to sit down with the lead designer of the Z Car at the Z Car Convention this year in Cleveland and was told "no V8" in the Z.
Sorry, there will be no V8 Z Car.

Yes the Z has always been a "bang for the buck" sports car. And it would still represent the best bang for the buck in the 40k-50k segment if priced below every other competitor in that segment. That is the point i'm trying to get across!

In other words, there's a huge gap in Nissan's sports car portfolio--there's no offering to fill the empty space bewteen the 370z and the GTR. Maybe it should be an entirely new car, but that gap should be filled.

zsport1 · 12-15-2008, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbsmoov

Yes the Z has always been a "bang for the buck" sports car. And it would still represent the best bang for the buck in the 40k-50k segment if priced below every other competitor in that segment. That is the point i'm trying to get across!

Sure, and the 300ZX Twin Turbo in the mid/late 90's was still a great value in the mid $40K range at that time. But consumers weren't willing to pay and Nissan pulled the plug on the Z Car in the US market in 96'. Which is the point I am making.

sbsmoov · 12-15-2008, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zsport1

Sure, and the 300ZX Twin Turbo in the mid/late 90's was still a great value in the mid $40K range at that time. But consumers weren't willing to pay and Nissan pulled the plug on the Z Car in the US market in 96'. Which is the point I am making.

A lot has changed since the mid/late 90's. I think that's an outdated comparison or case study to refer to and use some 12+ years later in 2008/2009. Nissan has allot more credibility now especially with the success of the GTR. The GTR proved to the world that Nissan has some very talented engineers. There not the same company back in the 90's on practically all levels.

This has nothing to do with cars, but i'm bringing it up to make a point. Do you remember Sony's Betamax versus JVC's VHS format war? Do you think Blu-Ray would exist today if Sony looked back at their defeat in 1988 and concluded that they should not introduce Blu-Ray because in all likelihood it would meet the same fate as betamax? Using your "passed performance" logic, that is what Sony should have done. Well we all know what happened.

zsport1 · 12-15-2008, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbsmoov

A lot has changed since the mid/late 90's. I think that's an outdated comparison or case study to refer to and use some 12+ years later in 2008/2009. Nissan has allot more credibility now especially with the success of the GTR. The GTR proved to the world that Nissan has some very talented engineers. There not the same company back in the 90's on practically all levels.

You can argue your case until your face turns blue but the fact is there will be no V8 Z Car. It's not going to happen.

FricFrac · 12-16-2008, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zsport1

Sure, and the 300ZX Twin Turbo in the mid/late 90's was still a great value in the mid $40K range at that time. But consumers weren't willing to pay and Nissan pulled the plug on the Z Car in the US market in 96'. Which is the point I am making.

Agreed - the death of the Z was overpricing itself out of the market which is exactly what Nissan has corrected with the 350Z and further more with the 370Z. The 370Z is probably the closest to the original concept of the 240Z - uncomparable bang for the buck. The Z has always performed on a 6 cylinder - look at the amazing performance that could be squeezed out of a Z32 TT - 300HP to almost 500 HP with not a lot of effort. I really like to see a TT before a V8. V8 are for American Muscle cars.... keep 'em out of my Nissan. Funny to see the American Muscle cars moving from the low RPM to high reving engines that Japan and Europe has long been using.

But to each his/her own - Nissan has been catering to the North America market so who know's what will actually happen.... its just nice to see

sbsmoov · 12-16-2008, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FricFrac

V8 are for American Muscle cars.... keep 'em out of my Nissan.

Yep. And rap music is just a fad.

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12-15-2008, 01:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
zsport1 Base Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: TEXAS Posts: 224 Drives: 300 Rep Power: 17	Not the first time Nissan played with the V8 Z Car idea. IMO it won't happen with the 370Z. Wouldn't make sense with the GTR now in the mix not to mention the world economy in the state it's in. Here's Paul Newman's V8 280ZX race car.