All the article means to me is Nissan needs to get their head out of their a$$. If they want to compete with the Toyobaru twins then they need to bring back the Silvia. The Z should be competing/cross shopped with the Mustang, Camaro, etc.

Here's a thought Nissan, GTR engine minus boost and maybe a different crank/piston setup (maximized for NA). Plus for enthusiasts it makes going the boosted route a lot easier. Also leave out all the fancy electronics and transmission that make the GTR so f-ing expensive.

the iDX is already going to fill that niche of toyobaru competitor

My thoughts exactly, whatever direction they go the BRZ/FRS competitor won't be it.

All I care about is lightish, good power to weight ratio, great handling, same or better fit & finish, great looks and a starting price < $35,000! :yum: Is that too much to ask?!

Edit: Oh yeah, one to two inches more head room for we tall/long torso folks!

Edit two: Just want to state for the record that I am perfectly happy with my 370!!

Whatever the next generation Z will be, it better come out quick, because after 5 years its about damn time for a new Z.

Please no 4 cylinder. I'll take a lower displacement v6 w/ boost any day, but I will NOT take a 4 cylinder w/ boost.

Also, I'd be very happy w/ 400HP V6 NA too, but that's probably asking for too much.

edit: 400 crank not wheel.

if MB can make 360hp, 330 trq with a turbo 2.0, then Nissan should be able to make a turbo 2-2.5 with equal or more power. Drop that into a sub 3k lb car, make it look sexy, and I'll be in

didnt somebody mention a while back that Nissan had filed a patent on a 2.5L turbo engine recently?

The Merc engine runs 26 pounds of boost. It's a technological marvel. While I think there's a lot Nissan can do when it comes to engineering, their hands will ultimately be tied by the cost of producing such an engine.

Of course, this is where the Nissan/Merc partnership comes into play- hopefully they'll both be able to save a bit of money as Nissan moves back into a FI powered fleet.

:ugh: huh?

wat i mean was let's see some actual progress, not blah blah blah blah, oh we will be introducing the new z at tokyo auto show blah blah blah or not. here, chew on this IDX for a few more months or a year or so... blah blah blah :yawn:

like some dumbarse salesman.. blah blah blah blah blah...

I get u now... Nissan been spending the last 2 years talking bout what they're going to do but showing very little....

yah, want to see a concept and some specs/trim levels, etc.

:iagree: Except it's a little troubling when Nissan's product chief says "its design has yet to be decided"; based on that comment, I bet we're at least two model years away from the new Z's introduction.

yeah, seems like it's quite some time away still

Hopefully the IDx fills the smaller, sporty segment to compete with the Toybaru twins and other up-comers. I'll have to wait until I see the end specs and styling, but I think they'll do just fine in the sub 20-25k sporty segment.

That would leave the Z to be more or less where it was in 2009 when it came out: Cross-shopped with the muscle cars (Mustang, Camaro) and even the sporty cars (Boxster). It surprisingly competed just fine with both groups in 2009. Not sure they can do so today, but that should still be the goal, yes?

I really hope they keep it in that area, where you have some power, you have the sporty handling, and at a price point between those two major groups. It's a really good sweet spot for a low production vehicle that probably couldn't compete directly with either side straight-up. And you throw in two trump cards: sexy looks and at least a really good interior.

I know, preachin' to the choir, but the 370z has been nicely placed thus far. It would be a shame if they mess with that too much.

If there's room for movement, I would say you move the 370Z upwards a bit and make sure it's a Corvette-alternative (surely not as powerful, but as a driver's car, make it a target) and continues to dance at Porsche's heels. It's not like it's going to suddenly get near GTR cost or performance such that it will steal sales. While the 370Z is a baby Godzilla, it's not anywhere close to growing into one. And that's fine. :)