Over 400 PS – Nissan 400 Z: Icon back – but no joy


An idea is reinventing itself: Nissan is bringing a new sports car called Z, which picks up exactly where the 370 Z, which was built for twelve years, left off a year and a half ago. But while the previous model was recently characterized by a certain coarseness, the new Z presents itself traditionally, but at the same time up to date.

Even the stylistic appearance can be regarded as unreservedly successful, as the designers have managed to create a shape that appears puristic and reduced, but at the same time subtly alludes to different previous generations. The headlights are reminiscent of the early 240 ZG model, the roofline ties in with both the 240 Z and the previous 370 Z model – and the taillights vary the motif of the Boliden 300 ZX from 1990, which at the time was a foray into the luxury class of sports cars marked.

Nissan offers the new Z in two versions: Sport and Performance. The entry-level Sport model has 18-inch wheels and Yokohama Advan Sport tires, the Performance version has 19-inch forged wheels with Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires. A spoiler lip at the rear ensures driving stability in the upper speed range.

Turbo instead of displacement – and more power
The 3.7-liter, six-cylinder naturally aspirated engine is history, and under the hood is a silky smooth 3.0-liter V6 biturbo with 406 hp (up to 56 hp more than before) and 475 Nm, which is more than capable of delivering its power manually operated six-speed gearbox or a nine-speed automatic transmits to the rear wheels. That means: The news circulating, especially among German premium manufacturers, about the demise of the classic manual transmission is apparently a bit premature.

In the manual model, the frictional connection takes place via an Exedy high-performance clutch. And in addition to the torque increase when shifting gears, there is now a system for a manual switch that – similar to Launch Control in automatic transmissions – optimizes speed and slip for maximum acceleration.

The basis is the predecessor
It was a significant challenge for the engineers to keep costs under control. And so the structure of the new Z is based on that of the previous model, but has been significantly stiffened. The electromechanical power steering is supposed to reproduce sharper reactions than the hydraulic system of the 370 Z.

In the cockpit, a configurable screen replaces the classic instruments, and the center console has another touch-sensitive screen. As a classic element, there are three analog display instruments on the top of the cockpit.

The Nissan Z also has the usual assistance systems, including the often annoying lane departure warning. But in the USA, where the car has now been launched, the system stays off once it has been switched off. European motorists are basically denied this privilege for regulatory reasons.

In general, European drivers can only enjoy the fascinating Nissan Z – which will cost the equivalent of 34,000 euros in the USA – in photos. Because our strict CO2 requirements favor electric cars and make exporting a powerful combustion engine to Europe seem uneconomical. Because the manufacturers are threatened with gigantic fines.

There is one hope for enthusiasts: if politicians decide to classify CO2-free synthetic fuels as CO2-free not only for commercial vehicles but also for passenger cars, there would probably be nothing to prevent a market launch in Europe.

aum / Jens Meiners