Almost Bankrupt Nissan Still Has Big Plans For A New Z Sportscar

The 370Z has a pretend base price of $30K but that's a "VW" base price because (1) it's not likely to be on the lot and (2) it definitely is not optioned the way you want it. Click a few boxes and you're pushing $40K and for that money, a Mustang GT or a Camaro SS are better sports cars. Yes, SPORTS CARS.

And for $30k-the base of the 370Z--the Mustang Ecoboost is a better choice.

Quality control also needs lots of attention. The 350/370 are known to have brake systems that have issues and their transmissions are less than sturdy.

The 400Z if positioned well could be a real image changer for Nissan. Lengthen the wheelbase, bolt in AWD, and boost the engine and you have a properly repositioned GTR at a $50K base.

Yes, image cars are usually niche cars for the brand, but they still need to sell well enough to be seen and the 350/370Z and GTR have failed miserably at that task.

@MD- Instead of sports cars they should be doing a Leaf "skateboard" and making a sedan, SUV and Minivan from it. They need volume and much higher quality.

Typical socialist bullshit from your mouth. They don't have to choose between doing a 400Z or a Leaf V3.0, they can do BOTH. Of course being the communist you are, you want to destroy people's choice.

Awesome! Don't let us down with the new Z like the Supra did.

Right, and hell “almost bankrupt”? Prepare to see more companies join that list this summer

The Z was never an attractive car to my eyes. It will never be a volume car for them either. With a sinking ship this model is the least of their worries.

I'm a long in tooth sports car fan and owner but is this really the market segment Nissan should be devoting precious resources and energy on...don't think so!

If they do it right, it's brilliant marketing is why they need to do it, but they need to do it efficaciously.

Agreed. Pet projects are for successful car companies. In its best year the current Z-Car did 10k units. Last year it did 2.5k. This is a money pit and a loser. Both it and the GTR should go away for a while and focus on volume vehicles and profitability. Being broke means tough choices. Not indulging yourself.

Matt said: bolt in AWD

I am not understanding that?

Hardly mysterious. The business case for two very important niche cars like the Z and the GTR would be to put them on a shared platform. RWD for the Z and AWD for the GTR.

Profile looks promising
2 choices of engine should be provided

Agreed on both, looks promising and the need for two engines. Base 4cyl at $27k ($30k well equipped) and the 6 (should have been an inline but oh well) at $33k ($36k well equipped).

Did you know FED's balance sheet is now twice of 2019?

I'm all for socially ecological vehicles but god dammit. Lets not abandon sports cars. They have and should stay a part of society for ever in my book. Second I'm all in for retro at this point. Sports cars make up a sliver of a car company's sales. If you got a heritage Icon embrace it. Nothing wrong with going back to the heritage of the 240Z. Look at Porsche. Every vehicle they produce has some 911 style DNA in it. It's their identity. A Nissan Z should look like a 240 Z brought up to date. Going radical is not going to cut it. The 370Z is simply to generations out of date. Lengthen the wheelbase 3 to 4 inches with short overhangs. Widen the track a couple of inches. Nothing wrong with sharing the chassis with Infinity G cars either. If anything it brings the cost down. The good news is that Nissan has all the hardware. Un like Toyota they don't need to go outside Nissan to build it. Its all about the engineers and how well they bake the cake. Suggestion. The engineers that built the GTR should be the ones engineering the new Z. That's all it takes. Nissan has the engineering know how. They can build a sub 40K car and really take it to Toyota. Especially if they offer a stick. Field of dreams. "Build it and they will come".

Nissan is irrelevant so who cares if they disappear?