Almost a year to the day since the Nissan Z Proto was unveiled, Nissan has confirmed the Australian arrival, and trim details, for the new Nissan Z.
The seventh-generation Nissan Z is expected to arrive in Australia in mid-2022 with one well-equipped trim level dubbed the ‘Z coupe’. It will be joined at launch by a limited-edition Z Proto Spec flagship model which will tempt purists – if they can get their hands on one.
Channeling the brand’s iconic 240Z – with headlights from the Japan-only 240ZG and oval taillights from the 300ZX’s – the successor to the tired 370Z is a retro-inspired charmer, sporting a sweeping fastback roofline and potent 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6.
“Our designers made countless studies and sketches as we researched each generation and what made them a success,” Nissan design boss Alfonso Albaisa said in a statement. “Ultimately, we decided the Z should travel between the decades, including the future.”
Both longer and wider than the outgoing 370Z, the exterior of the Nissan Z traverses decades, with designers researching every generation of the marque and what made them a success.
Inside, the Nissan Z gets a refreshing of the 370Z cabin with the addition of a new digital gauge cluster, 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a fully customisable 12.3-inch TFT meter display with three display modes designed to match your driving mood. A six-speed close-ratio manual transmission with EXEDY high-performance clutch and carbon-fibre composite driveshaft arrives as standard with a nine-speed automatic transmission, paired to aluminum paddles, as an option.
What 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 will power the rear 19-inch bronze forged alloy wheels is yet to be confirmed, although the Q60 Red Sport produces 298kW from the same engine suggesting it may well arrive with more power than 370Z Nismo‘s 253kW. Nissan says the engine is tuned for immediate response and will see the new Z’s zero-to-100km/h time reduce by around 15 percent.
The Nissan Z coupe will come equipped with leather-accented seats while the cabin is fitted with both Active Noise Cancellation and Active Sound Enhancement, the former to lockout road, wind, and tire noise, and the latter enhancing the natural driving soundtrack.
Safety remains a cornerstone of Nissan vehicles, and the Z coupe’s Nissan Intelligent Mobility suite of safety systems includes front and rear parking sensors, Rear View camera, Intelligent Cruise Control, Predictive Forward Collision Warning, Forward Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection, Blind Spot Warning & Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Lane Departure Warning.
Last year, following its unveiling, Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida assured fans that “the Nissan Z Proto you see here is not a concept. The look of this is close to final.” Thankfully, Mr Uchida has delivered on his promise.
Pricing and full specification will be confirmed closer to launch. Register your interest below.
