#2023NissanZ

I recall reading reviews of the Nissan GT-R back in 2008 when it debuted - holy crap, that car is STILL being built! - where it was labeled a digital car for the PlayStation generation. This was often ascribed to the big screen in the center console which allowed for the tweaking of various settings. Reviewers often lamented these changes as a drift away from a traditional enthusiast vibe. It’s funny to see that nearly every sporty car on the road has followed this path of high-tech performance.

And, indeed, there remains a big screen atop the dash in the 2023 Nissan Z. Yet I feel this is perhaps one of the last genuinely analog sports cars around. In a world dominated by ones and zeroes, there are still those who prefer to indulge in film cameras and vinyl records. The Z is a trip to a time when holding something tangible was worth something, and embracing imperfections was better than chasing theoretical perfection.

Meet the new Nissan Z. Same as the old Z.

Well, sort of.

Nissan has worked hard to hype the new Z – yet it’s an open secret that the new car shares some of its bones with the previous-generation car.

Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Since last night’s unveiling of the 2023 Nissan Z, I’ve been chewing over my thoughts on the car. Is it good, or is it another misfire from a brand that’s struggling to recapture glory days?

After exerting far too much brainpower on the question — I’d rather ponder what’s for lunch — I’ve arrived at my answer.

BROOKLYN, NY — The 2023 Nissan Z is here. And it’s dropping the numeric nomenclature.

That’s right. Just call it Z.