2009 Nissan Z

[280Z Turbo]

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/57748/ni...es_on_zcar.html

Nissan Raises Stakes On Z-car
Wednesday 22nd June 2005

Demand for Nissan's 350Z has never been greater, but that hasn't stopped the firm from thinking about its next generation of sports cars. As well as preparing a facelifted 350Z Roadster for launch early next year, the company has revealed plans for its replacement, due in 2009.

The former, pictured in this week's mag, is mechanically identical to the current car, but will get new-look headlamps, LED tail-lights, a revised front bumper and increased specification for no extra cost.

But it's the latter news which will really excite enthusiasts. The new car will take the current 350Z and add a more involving chassis and punchier engine. Olivier Paturet, chief product specialist at Nissan, told Auto Express he wanted the next Z to be a more hardcore machine, targeted squarely at Porsche buyers.

"We've seen what Porsche is doing with the Cayman, and I would like our new car to have more power, less weight and be more driver-focused," he said. "There's certainly a market in Europe for such a machine - it's simply a matter of convincing our US and Japanese divisions that this is the way forward."

[280Z Turbo]

Will this be another S30? No.

There will never be another Z like mine. People want too many comfort and safety features. They semi-understand the advantage of 350 hp, but don't understand the problem with 3500 lbs.

There are also too many federal regulations. Cheap, lightweight cars are a thing of the past.

[Raza]

This is why Porsche needs to make my 929!

[Speed_Racer]

There will never be the ORIGINAL 240Z. My dad had one of those, and he said it was an amazing sports car. Until the rust killed it.

I would love to eventually pick one of the early 70s 240Zs.

But anyways...each generation has become heavier, and more expensive. Until they fix that, I don't plan on considering a Z in the future.

[Raza]

There will never be the ORIGINAL 240Z. My dad had one of those, and he said it was an amazing sports car. Until the rust killed it.

I would love to eventually pick one of the early 70s 240Zs.

But anyways...each generation has become heavier, and more expensive. Until they fix that, I don't plan on considering a Z in the future.

3200 pounds is alot, but then again it isn't "by today's standards" as some would say.  It's not too bad, as long as the suspension can keep up with the weight.  Eventually, however, physics will take over and beat the engineers.

[footoflead]

There will never be the ORIGINAL 240Z. My dad had one of those, and he said it was an amazing sports car. Until the rust killed it.

I would love to eventually pick one of the early 70s 240Zs.

But anyways...each generation has become heavier, and more expensive. Until they fix that, I don't plan on considering a Z in the future.

last year when i started to look into what i wanted for my first car...my bro told me to look at the 240 and 280 Z's....it took a little but eventually i fell in love with the looks...it truely is a beautiful car...(now its not to the beautifulness of a ferrari but you get my drift..)

i want one so bad...i would love to rebuid one...but since i lack the proper tools and resources needed to do a proper rebuild...i will put that dream of until i get my career underway....

[Raza]

There will never be the ORIGINAL 240Z. My dad had one of those, and he said it was an amazing sports car. Until the rust killed it.

I would love to eventually pick one of the early 70s 240Zs.

But anyways...each generation has become heavier, and more expensive. Until they fix that, I don't plan on considering a Z in the future.

last year when i started to look into what i wanted for my first car...my bro told me to look at the 240 and 280 Z's....it took a little but eventually i fell in love with the looks...it truely is a beautiful car...(now its not to the beautifulness of a ferrari but you get my drift..)

i want one so bad...i would love to rebuid one...but since i lack the proper tools and resources needed to do a proper rebuild...i will put that dream of until i get my career underway....

I don't know what you're planning to do, but most people I know with careers don't have time to do shit!  

Sorry if I burst some bubbles there.

[footoflead]

There will never be the ORIGINAL 240Z. My dad had one of those, and he said it was an amazing sports car. Until the rust killed it.

I would love to eventually pick one of the early 70s 240Zs.

But anyways...each generation has become heavier, and more expensive. Until they fix that, I don't plan on considering a Z in the future.

last year when i started to look into what i wanted for my first car...my bro told me to look at the 240 and 280 Z's....it took a little but eventually i fell in love with the looks...it truely is a beautiful car...(now its not to the beautifulness of a ferrari but you get my drift..)

i want one so bad...i would love to rebuid one...but since i lack the proper tools and resources needed to do a proper rebuild...i will put that dream of until i get my career underway....

I don't know what you're planning to do, but most people I know with careers don't have time to do shit!  

Sorry if I burst some bubbles there.

depends on the carrer

[Raza]

True.  What are you looking into doing?

[footoflead]

True.  What are you looking into doing?

havent pinned that part of it down yet :D  

[280Z Turbo]

I would love to eventually pick one of the early 70s 240Zs.

But anyways...each generation has become heavier, and more expensive. Until they fix that, I don't plan on considering a Z in the future.

You don't want a 1970 model. They were the newest and most unrefined. I prefer the later 260Z and 280Z because they impoved a lot of the problems with the 240Z.

Anyway...I wish this new generation would be under 3000 lbs with a return to the straight six.

It will probably be a lot more expensive if they develop a dedicated sports car platform.

It also will be interesting to see that 350Z facelift the article talked about.

[R33 GT-R]

There will never be the ORIGINAL 240Z. My dad had one of those, and he said it was an amazing sports car. Until the rust killed it.

I would love to eventually pick one of the early 70s 240Zs.

But anyways...each generation has become heavier, and more expensive. Until they fix that, I don't plan on considering a Z in the future.

well here ya go.

Shakaka!

[R33 GT-R]

Here's a nice one.

[Raza]

I don't know why they need a facelift.  The car is pretty much damned perfect, from a design perspective.

[BMWDave]

I don't know why they need a facelift.  The car is pretty much damned perfect, from a design perspective.

Its got to happen sometime...I think the same about every 911 redesign...and it comes out looking better and better.  

[280Z Turbo]

I don't know why they need a facelift.  The car is pretty much damned perfect, from a design perspective.

Riiiiiiighht. :blink:  

[Raza]

I don't know why they need a facelift.  The car is pretty much damned perfect, from a design perspective.

Riiiiiiighht. :blink:

Point out a design flaw, please.  The proportions are damn near perfect, the wheels are far out at the corners, it's got short overhangs, and a cool fastback rear end.

[280Z Turbo]

Well, it's a matter of opinion, of course, but...

-It has a fat butt. Look at the roadster. Even R&T commented on it saying that the rear of the 350Z was out of place among the other roadsters.

-It's too tall. The doors are too high and the greenhouse is too small. The fender flares help mask this, but it still doesn't look sporty to me.

If the 350Z's styling was stretched over the chasis of a Z32, I think it would look pretty awesome. I like the interior and styling details, but the proportions are wrong, IMHO. What do you expect? It has to share a platform with an SUV.

[Raza]

Well, it's a matter of opinion, of course, but...

-It has a fat butt. Look at the roadster. Even R&T commented on it saying that the rear of the 350Z was out of place among the other roadsters.

-It's too tall. The doors are too high and the greenhouse is too small. The fender flares help mask this, but it still doesn't look sporty to me.

If the 350Z's styling was stretched over the chasis of a Z32, I think it would look pretty awesome. I like the interior and styling details, but the proportions are wrong, IMHO. What do you expect? It has to share a platform with an SUV.

The fat rear is only accentuated in the roadster--the Corvette's plagued by this, but no one really complains.  It's part of being low and wide--sporty.

It's really not too tall...have you sat in one?

I rather think the SUV shares a platform with it...and it's fairly different.  It's a stretched G35 chassis that underpins the FX, and the Z platform is smaller.  

Have you driven one?

[R33 GT-R]

Ahhh hell, I like em like they are.  Leave them alone.

[280Z Turbo]

I've sat in a 350Z, but I've never driven one. I'm only 17. It's not like I get a lot of opportunities to drive cars like that.

I know a guy with a 350Z, but I wouldn't dare ask him if I could drive it.

Not too tall, eh? Look at how much taller it is than the Z32.

[280Z Turbo]

Here's some pics of the facelift:

http://forums.autoweek.com/servlet/JiveSer...ttachment=11337

http://forums.autoweek.com/servlet/JiveSer...ttachment=11338

http://forums.autoweek.com/servlet/JiveSer...ttachment=11340

[BMWDave]

Here's some pics of the facelift:

http://forums.autoweek.com/servlet/JiveSer...ttachment=11337

http://forums.autoweek.com/servlet/JiveSer...ttachment=11338

http://forums.autoweek.com/servlet/JiveSer...ttachment=11340

the whole front looks disproportioned.

[mazda6er]

It looks exactly the same.

[R33 GT-R]

I've sat in a 350Z, but I've never driven one. I'm only 17. It's not like I get a lot of opportunities to drive cars like that.

I know a guy with a 350Z, but I wouldn't dare ask him if I could drive it.

Not too tall, eh? Look at how much taller it is than the Z32.

stop telling stories

[BMWDave]

I think of all the Zs, the Z32 is my favorite.

[TBR]

Can't really tell the difference between the current and facelifted versions.

[Raza]

It looks exactly the same.

It looks like they forgot to close the hood.

[Raza]

Height for 350Z: 51.9"

Height for 300ZX: 48.4"

The 350Z is a GI Joe figure taller than the 300ZX.  

[280Z Turbo]

Height for 350Z: 51.9"

Height for 300ZX: 48.4"

The 350Z is a GI Joe figure taller than the 300ZX.

It still looks taller because of the proportions.