Is the decision irrevocable?
For the moment, Nissan has no plans to market in Europe the seventh generation of its sports coupe born under the sign of the Z. It is a shame as this coupe, which marked the spirits, has many enthusiasts.
As an unmistakable sign, the latest generation intended for Americans has just been unveiled in Brooklyn, a stone's throw from the place that saw the debut of the Datsun 240 Z in the fall of 1969. From this sporty coupe, the line of the last Z is largely inspired without going into the neo-retro.
But we find the typical codes of sports cars: long hood, cockpit thrown back to the rear, short overhangs and receding roof line.
To discover
What responsibility at the wheel of an “autonomous car”?
Nissan
The long hood with LED lights whose shape recalls those of the famous 240 Z houses a new 3-liter twin-turbo V6, instead of the naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V6. This new engine delivers power of 400 hp at 6,400 rpm, an increase of 68 hp, and torque of 475 Nm from 1,600 to 5,600 rpm, which represents an increase of around 30 % compared to the older generation. Nissan announces performance up by around 15% for the 0 to 100 km / h fiscal year. Sophisticated, this block adopts electronic variable valve timing (e-VVT). It is associated with a six-speed manual gearbox fitted with the SynchroRev Match® system activating the electronic throttle on downshifting. A 9-speed automatic transmission is also available as an option.
The absence of hybridization would have been right for the marketing of the new Z in Europe.
In view of the overly restrictive regulatory requirements in terms of pollution control and the taxation that has become punitive for this type of vehicle, the level of CO2 would be too high to guarantee sufficiently large volumes.
Nissan
Despite the presence of 12.3-inch digital instrumentation associated with a central touchscreen, the Z cabin retains a scent of nostalgia with its three dials that sit at the top of the board, its analogue display meters and its mechanical hand brake.
The new Nissan will go on sale in the United States from spring 2022.
Larry Chen
