2023 Nissan Z First Look: No Numbers, Just Twin Turbos
Nissan has come out with a new generation Z. Is this new generation more than just a simple makeover?
Category
🚗
MotorTranscript
00:00 (upbeat music)
00:01 I'm Ed Loh with Motor Trend,
00:03 and this is the 2023 Nissan Z.
00:05 Now, Nissan claims the Z is all new,
00:08 but admits that it's built
00:09 on the previous generation 370Z chassis.
00:12 So what gives?
00:14 Let's find out.
00:15 So first up, let's talk about the name.
00:21 Why is it called the Z?
00:23 So back when the original Z came to the US,
00:25 it was the 240Z.
00:27 Had an inline six-cylinder engine displacing 2.4 liters.
00:30 And every subsequent generation got more sophisticated,
00:33 larger, and more powerful.
00:35 There was the 260Z, the 280Z, 300ZX, 350Z, and 370Z.
00:40 All of those numbers based on the engine size.
00:45 And in America, bigger is better.
00:47 So this vehicle would be called the 400Z
00:50 if it had a four liter engine, but it does not.
00:53 So instead, Nissan decided,
00:55 let's just call it the Z car.
00:57 So Nissan designers claim that the inspiration
01:00 for the Z comes from two vehicles.
01:02 The original 240Z and Motor Trend's 1990
01:06 import car of the year, the 300ZX.
01:10 And when you look at it, it's pretty obvious.
01:12 They're spot on.
01:14 The vehicle has a traditional front engine,
01:17 rear drive, sports car proportions.
01:19 But really up front is where you see that 240Z influence.
01:23 First of all, you see this beautiful grill.
01:26 The overall shape is kind of squared off,
01:28 but it has this metallic accent with these horizontal slats.
01:31 And then you look at the headlights,
01:33 which really recall a special version of that 240.
01:36 It's called the Genos.
01:37 And it has the headlights under glass
01:40 with a distinct daytime running lamp
01:41 that really looks great at night.
01:43 As you move down, you see this Y-shaped hood bulge.
01:47 It's got a nice center line crease
01:49 that sprouts off into two lines.
01:51 Fantastic way to accentuate sort of the power of the vehicle.
01:55 Moving to the rear of the vehicle,
01:58 you see another 240 signature,
02:00 the way the C pillar kicks up,
02:02 and the placement of the Z logo on the side.
02:04 Really does bring back again the original 240Z.
02:08 Out back is where you start to see the 300ZX influence.
02:11 So it's got a wide, flat rear hatch and hatch glass,
02:15 but it's in really in the tail lamps,
02:17 which again, recall this horizontal bar theme
02:20 in the brake lamp and the reflector.
02:22 Really looks like the 300ZX Turbo
02:24 from back in the '90s.
02:26 Fantastic look.
02:28 So let's talk about performance.
02:30 The headline is, "A Return to Turbo Power for the Z."
02:33 Under hood is a three liter, twin turbocharged,
02:36 direct injection V6 that makes 400 horsepower
02:40 and 350 pound feet of torque.
02:42 That's a massive upgrade from the previous generation.
02:45 All that power and torque is connected to either
02:48 a six speed close ratio manual transmission
02:51 or a Nissan sourced nine speed automatic
02:54 with paddle shifters.
02:56 Now in terms of handling,
02:57 the big news is electric power steering
03:00 comes to the Z for the first time.
03:01 This system replaces the traditional rack and pinion
03:05 had in previous generation Zs.
03:07 On the suspension side,
03:08 it's got control arms up front,
03:10 multi-link in the rear,
03:12 and high response monotube dampers at all four corners.
03:15 Options also include a mechanical limited slip differential
03:19 for those of you who like to drift.
03:22 So inside the new Z, it's a very familiar place,
03:25 especially if you are, say, a previous 370Z owner, right?
03:29 All of the controls are exactly where you'd expect
03:31 to find them.
03:33 Same relationship to the driver from the position
03:35 of the steering wheel to the shifter
03:36 and even the handbrake.
03:38 But the big news is really straight in front of you.
03:42 It's the all new 12.3 inch digital display,
03:46 full color, TFT, very sharp, very crisp graphics,
03:50 and it's fully customizable.
03:52 So you can use the controls here on the left
03:53 of the steering wheel to toggle through
03:56 and choose the sport mode.
03:58 It'll show you some of the shift points.
04:00 You can pull up a G meter.
04:02 Very cool.
04:03 Other controls, obviously we're in the six speed manual.
04:06 And again, it has a manual handbrake
04:09 pulled from the previous generation.
04:11 These two things are super rare in cars these days.
04:13 So if you know how to use one of these, enjoy it.
04:15 Three gauges up top, boost pressure, turbo speed,
04:19 and of course, the volt meter to tell you
04:20 what the state of charge is on your battery.
04:22 Other new features, Nissan listened to their customers
04:25 and gave them a second cup holder for the passenger.
04:29 Very cool.
04:30 We are in the sport version of the Z,
04:33 which accounts for the blue trim you see,
04:35 including the blue leather inserts
04:37 and artificial suede inserts.
04:39 Really nice driver focused cabin to be in.
04:43 So the Nissan Z will be available in two different models,
04:46 the base model and the sport model,
04:49 as well as an optional limited launch edition
04:52 that is produced in a run of 240.
04:55 That vehicle comes in the special Ikezuchi yellow.
04:59 It has bronze 19 inch forged wheels
05:02 and special interior trim, yellow stitching,
05:05 leather and suede inserts.
05:08 We can't wait to drive it and tell you all about it.
05:10 So follow along at motortrend.com.
05:13 (upbeat music)
05:15 (upbeat music)
05:18 you