Filed under: LA Auto Show, Coupes, Japan, Nissan
Nissan considering high-performance V8 version of Z car, more 370Z details
The crew at 7Tune got a hold of the latest issue of Best Car, and in addition to creating their own full size Z34 Nissan through the use of bondo and stickers, they've got more details on the next iteration of the Z car.
Due to go on sale later this year, likely after an official unveiling at the LA Auto Show, the 370Z will be packing the same 3.7-liter, VQ37HVR V6 found in the Infiniti G37, with output estimated at around 335 hp and 278 lb.-ft. of torque (JDM spec). Best Car spoke with the Z34's Chief of Production, Shinjiro Yukawa, and he revealed that a special edition model is being considered that would significantly raise the performance of the new Z by fitting a V8 underhood.
The new car will come in about 100 kg (220 pounds) lighter than the outgoing model, and equipped with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed sportshift-equipped automatic. Double wishbones will suspend things up front, while a multi-link arrangement will handle duties in the back. The top-spec S and ST versions are expected to roll on upgraded 19-inch wheels, while lower models make due with 18-inch hoops, and Brembo 6-piston front and 4-piston rear brakes will halt forward progress on the high-end models.
As expected, the headlamps will feature the same L-shaped design originally debuted on the new Maxima, while the A-pillar and roof treatment are rumored to ape the lines found on the R35 GT-R. Also expect upswept side windows and more bulbous fenders to round out the exterior makeover.
[Source: 7Tune]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Soul Shinobi 1:06PM (6/26/2008)
A V8? It just doesn't seem to fit the car to me... But maybe they could make it work if they kept the engine's weight down. Maybe a small displacement high-revving V8 would be cool. The VQ37HVR is already pretty powerful for the size of the car, and it's quite tunable just through the ECU.
Reply
aaron 1:15PM (6/26/2008)
Small displacement high-revving like the M3 V8? But you could run the risk of having the same torque numbers compared to the V6...
Soul Shinobi 1:29PM (6/26/2008)
That is a valid point, I guess it's going to be bigger than the V6 one way or another.
James 3:15PM (6/26/2008)
Nissan only has one v8 - the VK series. Seeing as how they just updated it for use in the FX50, there is a very small possibility it will be shoehorned into the next Z. Don't count on it though.
Temple 4:49PM (6/26/2008)
It would probably be more fitting to make a V-8 Z-car an Infiniti model with unique design rather then a "500Z" (assuming they use the 5.0L VK V8 found in the FX50). Being that Nissan already has the 370Z, GT-R, and upcoming confirmed-replacement to the Silvia. Infiniti would do good to have its own sportcar especially with the brands launch in Europe.
It would be a steller sports car, the engine already makes 390hp in an SUV, it should easily make much more then 400hp+ in a sports coupe. Beyond that the car should be 2-seat V8 RWD sports car, and should be a good alternative to Nissan's GT-R which is a polar opposite of what this car would be.
SimbaDogg 2:24AM (6/27/2008)
the idea of having a 5.0 liter Z that has more displacement than the "OMG" GT-R...sorry, that wont jive w/ the marketing department one bit
phooky 1:07PM (6/26/2008)
I personally really like this style of headlamps.
Reply
RobertCP 2:00PM (6/26/2008)
I completely agree. For some reason, this style of headlights looks much, much better on the Z than the Maxima. I think a lot of it has to do with just how wide the Maxima lights are as compared to these...
As for the V8 thing, it does seem rather odd that Nissan would tout the supremacy of its V6 on the GTR, only to drop a much more 'serious' engine into its Z...
Guenther 2:01PM (6/26/2008)
While I agree, It's funny to me that the same HL design on the Maxima draws nothing but grumbles.
hoosker_doo 2:17PM (6/26/2008)
Ugh, I have to disagree on the design of this pig. If this is really the next Z then Nissan did a half-assed job of designing it. It literally looks like they just replaced a few things here and there and made some pretty ugly headlights. They exhausted their design efforts on the GT-R and crapped out this rather ugly Z. Just my opinion though, I know others find it cool.
I was really hoping they’d do a FMC and make it look more like the old 240Z :(
JagGill 1:08PM (6/26/2008)
I hope that's what the final production car is gonna look like. Too much of the same with an ugly rear end.
Reply
xpolarx 1:14PM (6/26/2008)
That bestcar mock-up may be the stupidest thing I've ever seen. You have to wonder what the tought process was there...
"I still don't know what we should do with this $20,000 we have lying around."
"I have an idea...let's build a car that looks like an amateur rendering of a car that hasn't even finished the design process."
"But why?"
"Uh...you obviously don't understand what I'm saying...build car...amateur rendering...what do you mean 'why'?"
"Well...can we use bondo and stickers and just basically ruin a car rather than do it properly?"
"See. There you go. Now you're using your head."
Reply
John R 1:17PM (6/26/2008)
I really like that they're going with up-swept windows in the sides. A sort of tip of the hat to the S30 Fairlady ( http://wmexpressway.net/index.php?showtopic=26883 ).
Reply
Naveed 5:26PM (6/26/2008)
those were beautiful
Pokey 1:26PM (6/26/2008)
They just ruined the looks of the Z.
Looks like the GT-Rs ugliness is contagious at Nissan.
C'mon Nissan, just a few years ago you were making some of the best looking cars on the road. What happened?
Reply
Sandok 1:26PM (6/26/2008)
While it does look good, personally, I prefer my 350Z... The profile view, which is my favorite with my current car just looks wrong with the 370Z (sort of like it's got a fat ass).
Dunno, bigger engine with such high gas prices (7$ a gallon here) doesn't make me wanna switch either...
Reply
tuna 1:32PM (6/26/2008)
I think you will change your mind once you see the new one in person. It has much more dramatic, muscular, fender flares than the 350. Very 911-like.
tuna 1:31PM (6/26/2008)
Why use a V8 when you can get same or better performance (and economy) from a turbo 6?
Reply
John Johnson 1:33PM (6/26/2008)
Is it just me, or does anyone else expect to hear about a large amount of stabbings in front-end collisions caused by the new knife-in-the-headlights design of all of Nissan's vehicles :/
Reply
yacoub 1:34PM (6/26/2008)
"The new car will come in about 100 kg (220 pounds) lighter than the outgoing model, and equipped with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed sportshift-equipped automatic."
Well crap so much for it getting a DSG transmission option instead of regular old slushbox automatic :(
Reply