Report: Nissan Z Delayed Until Summer
Nissan has delayed its planned successor to the 370Z , citing the now-familiar “unforeseen supply chain issues.” Originally planned for a spring launch, the next Fairlady Z won’t be having her coming-out-party until this summer.
The news came via Car and Driver after the company told the Japanese market it would be forced to postpone the coupe’s launch. Despite the automaker’s U.S. website still listing the model as arriving in the spring of 2022, Nissan confirmed that the Z would be similarly delayed for North America.
Ed. note: The media drives are either already beginning or taking place over the next week, and your humble M.E. has been assigned a test vehicle for next month, so at least some vehicles have been built.
Considering we’ve already waited over a decade, another few months probably won’t kill anybody. It may even continue building hype for a model that’s already created a strong buzz among enthusiasts. The Z’s twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter V6 is something everyone is eager to see flexed against the Toyota Supra. Nissan has also promised that it’s hoping to deliver a performance vehicle that’s focused on the fundamentals while creating an engaging driving experience.
Pricing has not yet been announced but everyone is anticipating the model retailing near $40,000 with Nissan likely trying to undercut the Supra. However, Toyota’s performance coupe starts at $43,290 and comes with a 255-hp, 2.0-liter turbo with the option to upgrade to a 3.0-liter, inline-six producing 382 hp and 368 foot-pounds of torque. Nissan’s 400-horsepower V6 motor is said to be the default powertrain for the Z, potentially making it a massive bargain if it’s priced against the base Supra.
If that sounds too good to be true, remember that the upcoming model is technically underpinned by a modified version of the platform used for the 370Z — which was in itself a modified version of the 350Z’s architecture. There’s a lot of older hardware going into this baby, allowing the manufacturer to save on development and manufacturing costs. But we’ll have to wait a little longer until Nissan gives us a firm MSRP and all we have to fear are the dealer markups.
[Image: Nissan]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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I have owned many of their cars - most had a Datsun label. This really caught my eye with its slight reference to the 240 through the hood lines and a return to a price objective. However, I am surprised by the specs on weight. What I read said 3600#. I guess its a whole new world for a manufacturer. If they tried to sell a '71 240Z today it would be panned for noise, a cheap stereo and lack of lumbar support. I guess I should go listen to Jethro Tull - and not "Thick as a Brick".
Back in 1996 back you could buy a 240Z from Nissan that had been fully reconditioned to a new car. https://jalopnik.com/what-happened-to-all-the-datsun-240zs-nissan-restored-i-1583370936 One of these restored 240Z sold for over 100k. https://www.thedrive.com/news/29086/factory-commissioned-1972-datsun-240z-restoration-sells-for-over-100000-at-auction