Proto Z

triso07

It would be different if it was the Nissan Z with a 3.0 badge, but the way Nissan does it is different as it's actually part of the naming convention itself. To compound on that it has essentially always risen with each model. It would be an interesting marketing exercise to release a name that goes backwards and is essentially named after pre-existing model.

240Z
260Z
280Z
300Z
350Z
370Z
300Z again?

That's why coupling it with displacement is challenging.

HP is no different as things can get awkward quickly.

takemorepills

"300Z" would be an all new name, "300ZX" was used twice already.

viiv

I've been thinking about it.

350ZX and 370ZX just sounds horrible, which is why I am sure they didn't go with that.

But for the number '300', it's a unique situation where ZX just goes better with it than Z. Thus 300ZX just sounds better than 300Z.


I understand the X denoted luxury, and I know some people here see the Z35 as a more return to form of the original 240Z, but let's be honest the Z35 has more luxury than the Z32 could have ever dreamed of.

takemorepills

Remember 2+2's? They occurred about the same time as "ZX" nomenclature.

The Infiniti G and Q Coupes are basically 2+2 ZX's. Makes sense why Nissan decided to go back to Z for Y2K....

I think Z32's are more luxurious than the upcoming Z. Ignoring the typical push of modern progress, the intent for luxury in the Z32 era was greater than the upcoming Z. The Z32 had trick AC controls on the binnacle, option for back seats, leather and T-tops and it stood out against other cars in the market. The modern Z35 has nothing an Altima won't already have....aside from a serious approach to performance.

viiv

Yes I agree the modern Q60 is the hard fork from the Z32 2+2.

About the T-tops, with the reliability issues the Z34 Roadster faced, a Japanese source stated that this time for the Z35, Nissan was considering some sort of targa removable roof panel to debut in the 2nd or 3rd model year instead of a retractable roof roadster model.

Evildky

Because instead of expressing the value in liters, or milliliters they chose decaliters which is an unusual unit of measure.
The Numerical value has always gone up because the displacement has always gone up or stayed the same in as with the 280Z and 280ZX, and the two generations of 300ZX
240Z (S30)= 2.4 liters, or 240 decaliters or 2400 milliliters
260Z (S30)= 2.6 liters, or 260 decaliters or 2600 milliliters
280Z (S30)= 2.8 liters, or 280 decaliters or 2800 milliliters
280ZX (S130)= 2.8 liters, or 280 decaliters or 2800 milliliters
300ZX (Z31)= 3.0 liters, or 300 decaliters or 3000 milliliters
300ZX (Z32)= 3.0 liters, or 300 decaliters or 3000 milliliters
350Z (Z33)= 3.5 liters, or 350 decaliters or 3500 milliliters
370Z (Z34)= 3.7 liters, or 370 decaliters or 3700 milliliters
300Z (Z35)= 3.0 is the Obvious choice following the historical system

triso07

Yes I understand that very obvious observation. The name increased because the unit of measure increased. That's my whole point. Coupling the name with the engine puts you in a weird spot from a business and marketing standpoint. The general public is going to see this progression ... 350z -> 370z -> 300z and be confused.

What happens if a future Z is electric? Coupling name to power plant or HP creates marketing challenges.