The prospect of a Z car having more than two seats may not be totally alien to Nissan's engineers - but the idea of it being a jacked-up crossover certainly is.
Nissan is about to take a huge risk with its sports car sub-brand by creating a new Z car in the image of a crossover, and it knows it. As creative director Shiro Nakamura describes it, this will indeed be a “revolution”.
Sadly, that’s what is required - because when all’s said and done, the Nissan 370Z has done little to boost Nissan’s image or its sales sheets. Its combination of a hefty V6 petrol engine and rear drive has looked increasingly old-school against ever more sophisticated rivals.
Furthermore, the sports car market itself has been shrinking, squeezing the potential impact of even a successful Z car.
We’ll know more in a few weeks, when we finally get to see what Nissan’s interpretation of a sports crossover looks like. But the company has a terrific record on SUVs, and if it can mix that slightly raised stance with entertaining dynamics and a trick hybrid powertrain, it could have a fascinating Z on its hands.
Not a traditional one, I grant you, but potentially a sales hit.
Join the debate
Add your comment
Car makes sense, Z does not
Nonsense.
Simple answer to the question "Why a Z crossover makes sense
See - zhome.com/History/Zproduction which covers Total production of the Z Car throughout its life.
I selected a new 260Z 2+2 (bought in Australia) when I moved to Australia in 1974. Simple engine to maintain - even in the Outback. It did a remarkable job of towing my boats. I also had a rare Lancia Fulvia 1.6 HF that I shipped to Australia from UK together with a new spare engine.
The Z was a comfortable long distance tourer that I used between Outback farm and City restaurant businesses.
A Z Car SUV would suit my needs perfectly. Then & Now.