Nissan Tuesday launched the seventh-generation Z-Car with a simplified lineup of two models and a streamlined name; Nissan Z.
The car will have a 400-horsepower twin-turbo V6 engine, an estimated zero to 60 mph time of 3.5 seconds, and a six-speed manual or nine-speed automatic transmission. It will ship in spring 2022 as a 2023 model, with the Toyota Supra as its primary competitor.
Nissan is keeping the lineup and options list simple, mindful that yearly sales haven’t hit 10,000 units in a decade, a far cry from the last century when in the best years annual sales came close to the 100,000 unit mark. The 2023 entry model is the Z-Sport, the upgrade model is the Z-Performance. There also will be a one-time, launch edition run of 240 units as in 240Z, the very first 1970 then-Datsun Z-Car called the Nissan Z Proto Spec.
Launch date and details
The upcoming 2023 Nissan Z coupe’s global launch has been delayed with the manufacturer facing supply chain constraints. Initially scheduled to launch in late June this year; the Nissan Z’s debut has now been pushed back, potentially hitting international streets as late as September. Alongside the announcement of prices in its native Japan, Nissan said the rear-wheel-drive coupe’s release would be impacted by parts supply issues.
When the Z does go on sale in Japan, it will start at $41,081. That gets a person the entry-level Fairlady Z spec with either the six-speed manual or nine-speed automatic gearbox. The two top specs, the Version ST and Proto Spec start at $50,650 and $54,599, respectively, regardless of the gearbox. The only price difference in Japan is between the Version S and the Version T. The Version S is equipped with a manual transmission, and it starts at $47,521. The Version T comes with the auto and starts at a cheaper $44,572. Both are mid-range trims.
The 2023 Nissan Z coupe will arrive in Australian dealerships in the middle of 2022, with a launch edition available in limited numbers. While a single variant of the Z sports car will join the Nissan range locally, a limited-edition Z-Proto Spec is to be offered with a number of unique features.
Borrowing its powertrain from Infiniti models in the US, the new Z will use a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 producing 298kW and 475Nm, powering the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox with an Exedy high-performance clutch and rev-matching.
Although it’s new for 2023, Nissan hasn’t changed the layout of the Z’s cabin. It remains a two-seat coupe with no vestigial rear seats à la Porsche 911. What has changed, though, is everything else. The new Z receives a modernized cabin with updated materials, a welcome improvement over the current 370Z’s dated interior.
Leather upholstery, power-adjustable seats, and dual-zone automatic climate control are all available. Cargo space remains a mystery, but we aren’t expecting the Z to be a Costco-run champion; we fit three carry-on suitcases in the trunk of the old 370Z, which should be plenty for most sports-car buyers.