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At long last, Nissan has finally removed the covers from the upcoming Fairlady Z sports car, albeit in the guise of the Z Proto concept. The new vehicle is still in its prototype phase (hence the Proto), and production is anticipated to begin sometime in 2022 before being sold in early 2023.
What you are seeing is an amalgamation of Fairlady’s ancestors; They weren’t kidding when they said the Z Proto will sport a “heritage-inspired” design. Nissan chief designer Alfonso Albaisa said that combining a retro-futuristic theme was a challenging task, but ultimately decided that the Z Proto should “travel between the decades, including the future.”
Written and developed by the design team in Japan, the Z Proto features teardrop-shaped LED headlights with dual-curve LED DRL lights on each side. This is a nod to the original 240Z (or more specifically, to the circular reflections in the 240Z’s headlights), and between them is a vertical rectangular radiator grille with oval fins, the dimensions of which are apparently similar to the outgoing 370Z.
The cabin profile to the rear is clearly Z. The roofline flows from the nose to the square rear, a look very reminiscent of the original Z. This is further amplified by the way the rear quarter glass passes into the tailgate.
Clearly inspired by the 300ZX, the LED taillights continue to feature the same oval design motif seen on the front grille, while the one-piece rear bumper has an integrated trim with two sizable tailpipes. There are also Z rounds just above the haunches, plus a Fairlady Z badge on the back.
Finally, there are the carbon fiber side skirts, the front lower lip and the rear apron, as well as the 19-inch bronze alloy wheels shod with mixed-profile tires. The bright pearlescent yellow paint pays homage to the popular paint scheme introduced on both the S30 240Z and Z32 300ZX, which is contrasted with a black roof, low-profile black spoiler, and black wing mirrors.
The modern retro design approach continues in the cabin. Interestingly, the interior appears to be production ready, complete with a deep-dish three-spoke multifunction steering wheel with a red-line shift point at the 12 o’clock position. The driver also gets a 12.3-inch all-digital instrument cluster and a trio of gauges (angled toward the driver) at the top of the center dash.
Look closely at the display content and you’ll see a nice Easter egg: the “1969 km” mileage counter points to the year the S30 (or original Fairlady Z) was first introduced, while the range of “370 km” refers to the most recent Z car. Nice touch, Nissan.
Other notable features include a sloped touchscreen, yellow contrast elements used throughout the cabin, and a six-speed short-throw stick. There also appears to be a rev-adjust button on the right (like on the 370Z), as well as a USB Type-C charging port just in front of the shifter boot.
Now, Nissan says this rival A90 Toyota GR Supra was built to “bring the joy and excitement of owning a sports car” to as many people as possible. Throughout the history of the Z, each new generation is more powerful than its predecessor, and the same should apply here with the Z Proto.
The automaker has yet to reveal the technical details of the car, but reports suggest it will be built on the front-engined, rear-wheel drive FM chassis, with power derived solely from a 3.0-liter biturbo V6 petrol engine with no electrification at all. . . Its supposed name 400Z indicates that it will produce at least 400 hp and 500 Nm, with transmission sent to the rear wheels via the standard-fit six-speed manual transmission.
Nissan’s chief product specialist for the Z Proto, Hiroshi Tamura, said the Z is measured by more than just its production numbers. “Z is a balance of power and agility. It is a vehicle that creates a connection with the driver not only physically, but also emotionally, and responds to the driver’s impulses, ”said Tamura.
Lastly, for dimensions, the low-rise Z Proto measures 4,382mm long, 1,850mm wide and just 1,310mm high. During the digital presentation, Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida said that the Z is a pure sports car that represents the spirit of Nissan. “It is a key model in our Nissan NEXT transformation plan, and it is a test of our ability to do what others dare not do, from A to Z. As a fan of Z, I am excited to announce that the next Z is coming, ”he said.
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