Test bench | Nissan Z: before winter

With such limited ground clearance, the Z prefers to spend the winter warm. Last look before dropping the tarp.

Eric LeFrancois
special cooperation

Save Private Z

Like its rivals, which are often more expensive, it made the front page of specialized magazines. It attracts the attention of passers-by (and the police too). And yet, sports cars like the Z are dying.

The category is dying, but there are obviously still people on this earth who are concerned about keeping alive this symbol of sportiness that the coupe embodies like no other.

Here, in the fall, sportswomen wither like the leaves. Like the latter, the wind takes care to sweep them away. The snow, to bury them. Sometimes for good. During the winter, other more seductive cars will make us dream of the return of sunny days. It’s always the same story repeating itself. Sports cars age quickly and badly. Especially those born in Asia. How many hearts are still beating when crossing the GT-R, NSX or Supra?

The great seduction

The same fate awaits the seventh generation of the Z, which appeared discreetly this year. The very small club of passionate amateurs has already placed an order. And the uninitiated, them? Will they prefer a more recent model or another, probably older, but subject to continuous upgrades? The future will tell us, but, one thing is certain, to ensure the sustainability of this model, Nissan will have to invest more.

The Japanese brand will have to create a catalog of accessories and new variations to hold the attention of buyers. As Porsche and Dodge do so well to keep the 911 and Challenger in the spotlight. Especially since the “new” is not as young as she looks. Her nostalgia-embroidered dress masks underwear that no longer ignites the imagination. And for good reason: you have to go back to the last century to trace the origins of its architecture.

Don’t make that face! Nissan has neither the resources nor the interest at this pivotal time in automotive history to start from scratch. Held back for these reasons in its desire to innovate, the design team of the Z knew how to make an arrow of any wood. The shelves of parts from Nissan and its subsidiary Infiniti made it possible to retain the services of an engine (that of the Q60 Red Sport 400) and an automatic gearbox (Titan). Once altered, these components will add to the modernity of the Z.

Alas, these additions, as modern as they are, mask the main problem of the Z: its weight. This is equivalent to that of the Subaru Outback tested in our pages last week. If it had been lighter, the Z would have been faster. Also more sober. And all of this brings us back to the budget allocated to this redesign…

More GT than athletic

That’s the verdict handed down a few months ago when we first encountered the Z on Nevada roads and the Las Vegas Motor Speedway practice circuit. This judgment also applies when the Z puts its wheels on Quebec asphalt. The difference, because there is one, is in the dysfunction suffered by the suspension elements in overcoming the (many) imperfections of the road.

The bleeds and undulations brutalize the Z and invite you to maintain your high level of concentration. And both hands on the wheel.

All the more so when the tires of this Nissan engage in the furrows sown by heavy goods vehicles. On the other hand, if the asphalt has few or no folds, this coupe regains its superb.

The steering has the desired firmness, but not the desired smoothness in the winding sections where the Z weighs, alas, with all its weight. And this is felt particularly in the fast sequences, where this sportswoman reacts with a certain softness, hence the need to brutalize her a little. On the other hand, as soon as the bends open up, it demonstrates unfailing stability and traction.

The manual transmission, meanwhile, handles with a firm grip, without haste, but with great precision. This box undoubtedly provides more pleasure, but does not prove to be the best for extracting performance. We prefer the automatic which, despite its conformism (no double clutch and presence of a torque converter), better suits the characteristics of a turbocharged engine. At low speeds, the supercharged V6 displays the flexibility of a gymnast. When it is solicited frankly, this suave sweetness is transformed into a surge of colossal energy. The Z thus passes from a nonchalant step to a disheveled pace with equal happiness.

On board, there are seats cut for long-haul trips, a trunk large enough for a two-day getaway. The Z allows you to enjoy a comfortable driving position from where you can contemplate the trio of counters climbed to the top of the dashboard. Like in the good old days…

Technical sheet

Engine

• Turbocharged 3.0L DOHC V6
• 400 hp at 6400 rpm
• 350 lb-ft of torque between 1600 and 5200 rpm

Performance

• Weight: 1610 kg
• Acceleration (0-100 km/h): 4.7s
• Ground clearance: 121mm

Gearboxes

• Standard: 6-speed manual
• Optional: 9-speed automatic
• Drive mode: propelled

Tires

• 245/45R18 (Sport)
• 255/40R 19 275/35R19 (Performance)

Tank capacity, gasoline recommended

Dimensions

• Wheelbase: 2550mm
• Length: 4380mm
• Height: 1315mm
• Width: 1845 mm (exterior mirrors excluded)

Nostalgia when you hold us !

On October 22, 1969, the first deliveries of the frail 240Z (1025 kg) began in North America. Coming from Japan, where it made a career under the name of Fairlady Z, the 240Z then defended, on our continent, the colors of Datsun. She was the purest of the siblings, but the least successful of them all. From the original model, the seventh generation has retained certain style elements, but above all the price-performance ratio that made it one of the darlings of its segment.

On track

Passing by the SEMA Show in Las Vegas last week, Nissan management unveiled the GT4 version of the Z. This model intended for competition will produce 450 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque at the rear wheels by the through a sequential box. Nissan is setting the entry price for this model at CAN$317,637 (US$233,000), which is scheduled to debut on the track in 2024. You have winter to think about it, Nissan is accepting orders until June 2023.