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Nissan Z Concept Last year we interviewed Jerry Hirshberg and managed to sneak in a question about the new Z. He proclaimed... "And if the engineering, performance and price are anywhere near what is being talked about, stand back! This car will be an event. And it will surely reflect the new cultural values of the Corporation." Roll forward to 2001 and two words pretty much sum up this debut, "It’s back!" After the heart breaking retirement of the legendary Z series in 1996, Nissan has resurrected the famous final letter in sports cars. FreshAlloy.com brings it to you first....   The looks are purely futuristic. Large, aggressive fender-flares, a substantial air-sucking grille and an overall look of power are the signature cues of this neo-Z. "A long wheelbase and wide stance provided a great starting place," said Diane Allen, chief designer, Red Studio, Nissan Design America (formerly NDI). "Our first thought was to recreate the sensation of an open-wheeled Formula 1 car - all wheels and an intimate center structure."  The cockpit is modern, but with a few retro touches thrown in for good measure. Following the latest trend, the Z concept has lots of metal surfaces throughout, it also continues the Fusion Concept’s theme of offering new materials. In this case, a unique mesh-metal cloth that wraps the seats. The interior features retro cues like 240Z-style 3-pod gauges, yet features a navigation and video display system. " We want to emphasize the practical, performance nature of the strut brace by making it visible from the exterior - like looking at jewelry through a display case. The essence of the Z is performance and we want the design, inside and out, to reinforce that impression," added Allen. The car was designed primarily at Nissan Design America and further at Nissan Technical Center in Japan. Nissan is keeping a tight lip on the performance aspects of the Z, but here's a few clues from sources. "Though we are saving the details for later, our target for the new Z is to be the best handling, best performing volume sports car on the market," said Carlos Ghosn, Nissan CEO. "Its performance will match the high expectations that the design presents." Some of the details that were released...The Z will be powered by a VQ based 3.5 liter V-6 producing over 260 bhp with a target 0-60 mph below 6 seconds! While preliminary reports mentioned a 300 bhp magic mark, there's still a possibility it may reach that high in certain trim models. The RWD Z will feature 4-wheel independent suspension and both a 6-speed manual and 5-speed automatic transmission are planned. Huge 20 inch tires and wheels will be shown on the concept. Expect more realistic 17" or even 18" wheels on the final production model. It’s a design unlike any other Nissan we’ve ever seen, and like it or not, the Z concept proves Nissan has the balls to pull something like this off. Various sources have pointed out this version to be shown will not be the final version but tweaked even further until it goes on sale in mid to late 2002 as an early 2003 model. Still our community forums are polarized between those who hate it and who love it. And Nissan insiders say the target price is under $30k. "The new Z is one of those rare examples of 'product out' design. That is, we created the absolute best sports car we could without worrying about market niches or buyer profiles," said Ghosn. "Now that it’s nearly here, we know the buyers will find its unmatched combination of exotic car performance and entry-level price point irresistible. The new Z is a serious sports car and we’re very serious about regaining its original place in the market."
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