Next Nissan Z to be smaller, cheaper – Toyota 86-rival?

2015 Nissan 370Z NISMO

Nissan’s Z line of sports cars, which started with the Datsun 240Z in 1969, has grown in size and power through the decades – we’ve seen the 240, 280, 300, long pause, 350 and the current six-year old 370Z so far. What’s next? A more expensive, more powerful 390Z? Not likely, according to Nissan’s senior VP and chief creative officer Shiro Nakamura.

The traditional Fairlady format will see a big change. “[The 370Z] is a very expensive car. Therefore we have to make a revolution, a repositioning. I don’t think we have a future of A$60,000 (RM174,190 direct conversion without Malaysian taxes) and 3.7 litre engine, it’s very expensive not only in price but in running costs,” he said.

“[After] 350Z, 370Z I don’t think the next one will be 390Z. It’s not growing, it’s already big enough. I don’t think we should go any higher, maybe go backwards,” he was reported as saying, although nothing is finalised. “We haven’t decided anything about the next-generation Z, whether it should be larger or have more power. We need to take another pass,” Nakamura added.

nissan-idx-conceptThe much-lauded Nissan IDX concept from Tokyo 2013 could end up as the next-generation Z-car

The Z will remain as a rear-wheel drive sports car, and if the next model is reduced in size, price and engine capacity, it will go head on with Toyota’s much-loved 86 and its Subaru BRZ twin sister. That’s good news for car enthusiasts in markets that penalise large capacity engines with high roadtax (Malaysia) or via emissions (Europe). More recently, Mazda has cut down the size and weight of its MX-5 roadster.

But fans of Nissan’s other iconic sporty brand need not worry – the Godzilla won’t be tamed. “The Z is a different story. The GT-R is more evolution. I feel Z needs more revolution than evolution,” Nakamura said, adding that Nissan will limit itself to just two sports cars in the future, the GT-R (700 hp for the next-gen?) and a more accessible one.

Many, including us, would love it if Nissan turns the Datsun 510-inspired IDX concept from Tokyo 2013 into reality. Turns out there’s a chance of that happening. “We are trying to do a couple of new alternatives for next-generation Z. IDX, that could be a next-generation Z, that’s one of the options. IDX is so much supported by you guys, but financially the decision is a separate story.”

Come on Nissan, just do it!

Nissan IDX Freeflow


Nissan IDX Nismo

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • Same Lorr on Jun 15, 2015 at 3:22 pm

    You got no wrong with sushi car.. good RV!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 4
    • kzm buda bodo (Member) on Jun 15, 2015 at 3:46 pm

      I am quite surprised how come UMw did not take the VSC out in this car when it came into Malaysia?

      Oh btw, UMw salesman have no work to do. All bored to death in the showroom. All play whatsapp.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 3
      • Same L0rrrr on Jun 15, 2015 at 5:44 pm

        UMW take VSC out from this Nissan cars??

        Now you know why Proton sales so bad with such salesman quality.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 2
      • Pandainyer….UMW takes out VSC from a Nissan Car(Tan Chong Motors).What a headline

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • MrNoEyeSee on Jun 20, 2015 at 4:52 pm

      Enough with this fake “Same Lorr” account shit that talks about RV dei
      Just give your own opinion and move on

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • They should just revive back the SX/Silvia platform to compete with 86. The Z is too big & expensive to do that

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
    • kzm buda bodo (Member) on Jun 15, 2015 at 4:03 pm

      Sales of Toyota cars are so bad, some people have caught the UMw salesman in the toilet masturbating. Because bored, nothing to do.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
    • Nenek Kau on Jun 15, 2015 at 8:19 pm

      You are wrong mate. No need to redesign what-so-ever with the silvia. Just build again that same old rusty tech silvia with the same old GB and engine and sell them in Malaysia with crazy high price rm150k! I guarantee Tan Chong can get millions of profit just by re-producing this old model.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • thepolygonal on Jun 15, 2015 at 3:39 pm

    180Z anyone?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • donno on Jun 15, 2015 at 3:42 pm

    If it would be a smaller gt86 rival, it should be named the silvia, not a Z

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • kzm buda bodo (Member) on Jun 15, 2015 at 3:44 pm

    The 86 has been a failure in Malaysia. Never even seen one. Why UMW you so greedy and want to cheat rakyat with high prices?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 4
  • what?…from a boxster/cayman rival demoted to brz/ae86 rival.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Jonn Dol on Jun 15, 2015 at 4:00 pm

    The IDX (even in neo-retro form)concept car does not fit the design philosophy of a Nissan Z car, because its appearance resembles a sports sedan car (even though it’s got two doors) in the same vein as say BMW 3-series/M3 lineage. Since the beginning, Nissan Z cars have always been a sleek looking 2-door sports car.The IDX concept car is more suitable and excellent as a basis for a new Nissan Bluebird SSS sports coupe. But a new Z car , it is NOT.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • A Nissan-answer to the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ with high-output 2.0l engine, rear seats and affordable price?

    Come on Nissan, take my money!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • Jimmy on Jun 15, 2015 at 5:02 pm

    8.88 seconds = sportskura-kura

    180Z without turbo = zzz

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • cendol (Member) on Jun 15, 2015 at 5:06 pm

    RM171910 for 370Z he is already shouting no future.
    But RM170k in Malaysia can only get you Toyota Hybrid
    Means Malaysians are ALL RICH PEOPLP

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
  • Edwin on Jun 15, 2015 at 5:24 pm

    How about 2.0 turbocharged engine?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Janwy on Jun 15, 2015 at 6:47 pm

    Nakamura, are you kidding me? The IDX is so so so ugly…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 4
  • nabill (Member) on Jun 15, 2015 at 8:56 pm

    Ona related note, the 350z used market is sooo cheap now… U can get a proper one for below rm60k! Thats alot of car, and engine, for the money!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • das auto on Jun 15, 2015 at 11:36 pm

      But the annual roadtax gonna kill you @ RM4400. Nissan should learn from porsche. Have 2 or 3 different engine sizes. Start at 2.6L , 3.2L and 3.7L. I am sure it will sell much more.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • KarTiN (Member) on Jun 15, 2015 at 9:54 pm

    My preferred Datsun is the 160J, bring that back using the IDX Camaro look a like lines, nice.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Cannot understand the low level mentality of people talking. One of them the buda bodo. He’s been around most of the article commenting the same thing with cut and paste!!!
    You cannot blame high car price and making tons of profit by car dealers like TCM or UMW or HM!!
    It’s controlled by the government for god sake!!! Not them pushing price high for high profit. It’s the give taxes which contribute to the high price.
    Dodo birds around!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • ulkamikup on Jun 21, 2015 at 1:45 am

    200z using mercedes A45 AMG engine but with rear wheel drive. Hehehehehe.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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