THE EU HAS KILLED THE NISSAN 400Z

[cawimmer430]

THE EU HAS KILLED THE NISSAN 400Z

Might as well just rip off the band-aid: the Nissan 400Z won't be available in Europe because it doesn't meet the EU's Draconian emission standards. These rules have been in place for some time now and auto makers regularly fail to meet their targets because they're objectively unrealistic.

Car makers are investing billions for the transition towards electric mobility but the EU is demanding they do so at a higher speed than the existing technology realistically allows. As a result, they usually simply end up shunning the European market in favour of emerging markets, the Middle East and China, and of course Japan and the US, which is where the 400Z, the first new Z car since 2006 (370Z), will be sold.

The problem (for the EU) is that the 400Z is based on the same [heavily revised] platform that the old Infiniti Q50/Q60 used, and powered by an evolution of Nissan's 'VR30DDTT' 3.0-litre V6, delivering (in the Z) 400 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. The engine, however, isn't the only reason why it won't be available in the Old Continent. Europe is becoming an increasingly SUV-centric market, that's basically the only type of vehicle European buyers (especially within the EU and the UK) seem to be interested in.

Nissan knows this and in fact they said as much in a recent press statement. "In terms of European sales, a shrinking European sports cars market and specific regulations on emissions mean that Nissan was unable to build a viable business case for the introduction of the production version of the next-generation Z-car in Europe," the statement read.

The car market - any market, really - acts like a dog that's chasing its own tail. European buyers only want SUVs because car makers only sell SUVs because buyers only want SUVs because car makers... etc. It's a well-known fact that SUVs constitute the bulf of sales in Europe - 1 in 2 vehicles sold here are SUVs - and while I don't subscribe to the 'all SUVs are s**t' party (some of them are, some of them aren't), I think it's a shame to see that the car is turning into nothing but a disposable commodity. Pity.


Link: https://drivetribe.com/p/the-eu-has-killed-the-nissan-400z-VYka5WSST8WiPY5PhddGOw?iid=Y1KZr3i7R1KUTfiSHQfIeQ

[r0tor]

Not missing much

[cawimmer430]

Not missing much

This is the opinion of the author of that article. He's not wrong about the EU. But at the same time Nissan is essentially using an "outdated" V6 motor for this car, so they are partly to blame as well.

[Galaxy]

The 700hp RAM TRX can meet the draconian EU standards. What is Nissans excuse? The fact of the matter it it was a simple business decision since they would sell ~100 cars a year. If that.

[AutobahnSHO]

Yeah the Z isn't prettier, faster, or better than any other car for sale in Europe. Pointless.

[MX793]

The 700hp RAM TRX can meet the draconian EU standards. What is Nissans excuse? The fact of the matter it it was a simple business decision since they would sell ~100 cars a year. If that.

I think that's more likely.  IIRC, US standards aren't any more lax than EU standards (until recently, US standards were actually more stringent in some respects).

[GoCougs]

The Z began life as a bargain sports car (which got lost with 300ZX whereby it morphed into an expensive GT) and returned to its roots in 2003 with the 350Z. Germans don't play in this segment, so Europeans will have to pay at least ~50% more to get equivalent performance to the 400Z. For lots of reasons, that doesn't appear to have any real appeal in the EU. So, yes, it was a business decision to stay out of the EU as there's no real business case, emissions be damned.

Outside that, Nissan has work to do on that motor. It's got good juice, but has a lot of turbo lag and has virtually no character/sound (at least in the Q50 RS400).

[MX793]

The Z began life as a bargain sports car (which got lost with 300ZX whereby it morphed into an expensive GT) and returned to its roots in 2003 with the 350Z. Germans don't play in this segment, so Europeans will have to pay at least ~50% more to get equivalent performance to the 400Z. For lots of reasons, that doesn't appear to have any real appeal in the EU. So, yes, it was a business decision to stay out of the EU as there's no real business case, emissions be damned.

Outside that, Nissan has work to do on that motor. It's got good juice, but has a lot of turbo lag and has virtually no character/sound (at least in the Q50 RS400).

IIRC, the Mustang is the best selling sporty car in Germany (and Europe).  So, clearly, performance cars slotted below the typical BMW M or Mercedes AMG have some appeal.

[Submariner]

In some ways, it feels like Nissan has just given up on life.  Infiniti too.

[MX793]

In some ways, it feels like Nissan has just given up on life.  Infiniti too.

I blame Renault.

Also, Nissan is the largest shareholder of Mitsubishi motors.  Buying into Mitsubishi has never ended well.  Look at Chrysler...