A Nissan exec recently spoke with Auto Express and revealed plans about the replacement for the current 350Z, which is due out in 2009. Citing Porsche's upcoming Caymen as a benchmark to beat, Nissan will infuse with the next Z-car with a more involving chassis and powerful engine. Vague details, to say the least, although the exec goes on to say the next machine will be more "hardcore" in its execution. That sounds great if it happens, although we hope the next Z doesn't tip the scales much more than the current one already does.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
CYRIL COMINSKY @ Dec 18th 2005 11:05PM
Sounds great, what about a back seat?
Al @ Dec 18th 2005 11:05PM
It's a nice weekend car, but is really not practical for everyday use, and it's pricetag!!!! keeps it in only a few lucky garages.
Luiso @ Dec 18th 2005 11:05PM
To my mind this color is so bad, the car must be good, but the color is a bit uncool.
J Zeke @ Dec 18th 2005 11:05PM
This is all probably due to the more hardcore skyline coming out based off the same chassis. I wonder what this means for all the other Nissan FM platform cars, do they get the
"more involving chassis and powerful engine?" And if so, will this force the costs of the infinitis and nissans that use them up?
Ajay @ Dec 18th 2005 11:05PM
If you want a back seat, get a G35 coupe!
Scott @ Dec 18th 2005 11:05PM
Al....I've had mind as a daily driver for nearly 3 years now just fine. I have three other friends who use it as a daily driver as well. Yes it's limited in storage, but for many it works just fine.
Sid Ghosh @ Dec 18th 2005 11:05PM
I want the Azeal. Price it at the Mustang level.
Peter Eipers @ Dec 18th 2005 11:05PM
As a proud driver of a '05 Touring Z for the past four months, I am completely satisfied with the vehicle. Plenty of performance for me, at a fair price. Sure the new 'Vette is better in most categories on paper, as are most Porches (though I could stay close to a Boxter) but my loaded Z came in at well less than $40 Gs, something the above mentioned cars couldn't say.
Oh, and it's my everyday commuter. With dynamic vehicle control, antilock brakes, and viscous limited slip dif, it does fine in the rain. And I don't have to deal with snow here in the south. I've made a few weekend 5 hour roadtrips, and it is o.k. for that. Wouldn't go a lot longer though-- given my middle age physique. Rear seat? Get an Infiniti G35: same car with back seat. But I couldn't be happier with the car so far.
Doogs @ Dec 18th 2005 11:05PM
What's that saying about those who don't remember the past are doomed to repeat it?
Sigh...
In the early nineties Nissan, Toyota, and Mazda all went nuts with their sports cars. Sure, the resulting vehicles were awesome, but priced well beyond the grasp of the buyers who went after them in the first place. Sales plummeted, and the 300ZX, Supra, and RX-7 all went to the chopping block.
Please, Nissan, don't do it again.
charlie @ Dec 18th 2005 11:05PM
Make it lighter and mid-engined, but allow people to get in for $35k reasonably equipped, $40k loaded. I would be marketing heaven for Nissan... they'd be producing one of 3 affordable mid-engines cars in America: 1 of them, the Elise, is a glorified go-kart, and the other, the Cayman, would be stretching "affordable" at at least $65k. If their next V6 is even better than the current, that could be one hell of a bargain.
They do have to watch out for the Corvette. You can get into one well equipped for $43k... only $5k more than Nissan expects people to pay for a 350Z.
Richard Warren @ Dec 18th 2005 11:05PM
Ah yes, back in the day. Not bad looking.
But----- take a trip with me back to November 1969 when a true classic was born. The first and only Z car. The 240Z, 3529 dollars base price, a true classic look that still looks great today. Some great colors, sexy, sleek, fast for it's day.
None of the bullshit either of over pricing the car by the dealers,while they didn't discount much they would some. Bought one, long gone now, but gotta tell you for value,beauty, fun the new ones don't hold a candle to the original.
Loraan @ Dec 18th 2005 11:05PM
Yes, but will they have the tire feathering issues worked out by 2009?
Bigel @ Dec 18th 2005 11:05PM
Olivier Paturet, chief product specialist at Nissan said, "I would like our new car to have more power, less weight and be more driver-focused. "There's certainly a market in Europe for such a machine - it's simply a matter of convincing our US and Japanese divisions that this is the way forward."
Sounds like a no-brainer to me. Since when does this need convincing, especially in the US?!
Motorin' @ Dec 18th 2005 11:05PM
Hopefully they do slim it up a bit in the next iteration. The 350Z is a car that I look at one day and really like and the next day it seems kind of bloated. They're an absolute blast to drive though.
I came back from driving a G35 feeling pretty disappointed (the seatbelt latch position was particularly aggravating along with a few other issues), but I decided to try out the Z since the Nissan dealership was on my way home. I was thoroughly impressed...I'm wondering if the G35C I drove was a little odd since it was a pre-owned '04. The turn in was surprisingly good considering how much it weighed and it definitely exceeded my expectations.
If only the Z had a few more of the nicer design elements (or paint colors) of the G35 I wouldn't be so on the fence about them. Those drilled-finish plastic door handles have got to go.
Motorin' @ Dec 18th 2005 11:05PM
btw, I know I'd love to have a "glorified go-kart"...actually, I suppose I already do.
Adam @ Dec 18th 2005 11:05PM
The cars in the 90's failed because those who wanted them couldn't afford them. Those who could afford them, wanted corvettes instead. Now, those who wanted them are older, and have more displosable income. People now are the ones who grew up wanting supras and rx-7s and such(and not so much corvettes), and now they can afford them. So... bring them back!
Sonic_Extreme @ Dec 18th 2005 11:05PM
Times have changed and I dont think people are buying 350z just cause they can afford them now. If that was the case why did z350 sold only 14.5k cars last year. http://www.nissannews.com/corporate/news/2004/20040602110916.shtml
If they pump the price on the z350 say goodbye to that mark and say hello to more like 8-10k sales. Corvette is in another category due do its perforance stats and pricing but yes still sells around 30k a year.
The Dude @ Dec 18th 2005 11:05PM
The sales numbers from that link were thru May, there were 30,000 sold in 2004. Plus the 70,000 G35's which is the corporate cousin to the 350Z.
In contrast, the 300zx sold less than 10,000 cars total in its final 3 years here in the US.
http://www.nissannews.com/corporate/news/current/20050104102108.shtml
John Bryans Fontaine @ Dec 18th 2005 11:05PM
Maybe the next one won't look like a toothless chipmonk from the front.