This week's Nissans 360 showcase offered clues to the direction the maker will take its iconic Z sportscar. And driving enthusiasts take note -- it's all good news.
Eager to ensure the two-seater doesn't reprise the gradual size and weight gain of the original and second generation Z-cars, the new model -- expected to be unveiled in production at this December's Los Angeles Motor Show -- will be both smaller and lighter than the current car.
Relaunched as the essential Nissan sporty in 2002, the 350Z was refreshed in 2005. During that time Nissan has remained disciplined, retaining the car's two-seater, front-engined, rear-wheel drive elemental layout.
The replacement, which some speculators are calling the 370Z, will continue the basic configuration, but will arrive sharper and more focused, say Nissan insiders.
Perhaps one of the brightest lights for the company at its Portuguese pow-wow, a full-size 'sculpture' of the new Z hung on the wall of the event's 'home room'. And while the fabric sheathed body-side buck, complete with 20-inch wheels, showed an exaggerated wheel-to-guard relationship, it did give strong indications of the flavour of the new generation car's styling.
Now responsible for Infiniti's models and design language, the new Z's designer director Takashi Nakajima told the Carsales Network the N360 'phantom' was correct in terms of key dimensions. He also confirmed the new car would be smaller than the current car and lighter.
It appears in designing the new car, Nakajima has devolved the 350Z to be closer to the long bonnet, rearward cabin layout of the original 240Z. Overhangs have been cut and the wheelbase shortened. The shallow glasshouse of the current car looks set to become even shallower.
Nakajima confirmed the new car gets an increase in track front and rear.
As noted above, speculation has the new Z's engine growing in capacity to echo the 3.7 V6's that powers the Skyline/Infiniti G37 models. This engine features Nissan's variable valve system, VVEL (Variable Valve Event and Lift system), and delivers a healthy 20kW on the current 350Z set-up.
Next year marks the 40th anniversary of the debut of Nissan's original Z-car, the ground breaking 240Z.
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