CONFIRMED - Next-gen Z gets turbo 4-cylinder

[AZhitman]

Reliable word out of Nissan has it that the next-gen 370Z is going to be powered by a turbocharged 4, in an effort to make the Z "leaner", in weight, price and efficiency.

What does this mean for the Z-car in terms of its status as one of the world's premier affordable true sports cars?

And, more importantly, what will it be called?

I'll go on record right now: Call it simply, "the Nissan Z."

[themadscientist]

3.0 four would be a whole different kind of four.

[RBishop85]

IMO Rather than worrying about how to shrink the Z Nissan should just bring back the S-chassis... but that's just my opinion =D

[AZhitman]

3.0 four would be a whole different kind of four.

Yeah, that won't happen.

Any speculation on which current-generation four they could boost, and make the kind of power the Z will need to remain competitive?

[IanS]

I are disappoint.

At least at this moment. I don't understand why they need to undo 40 some years of tradition. The Z is and always has been a 6 cylinder. Personally, I would like to see a smaller displacement 6, V or straight.

Nissan already had a small 4 cylinder sporty car. It was lean, and it sold very well. Why not bring back an S to compete with the 86/BRZ. Then try to push the Z a little closer to corvette territory. There is a HUGE gap between the Z and the GT-R. Why make it wider?

[leesredgt]

Im with Ian on this. The Z has always been some form of a six cylinder engine. Just for tradition alone it should stay that way.

Whatever.

[nissangirl74]

<sigh> All I can say is that Nissan better do it better than they have ever done anything before. I am a traditionalist. The Z should always have a 6 IMO. However, I'll drive it before I pass judgment on it. They better do some redesign on the front end though. If not, that engine bay is gonna look awfully empty.

[supergoji]

All I have to say to that load of s*** is..


WHAT THE f*** NISSAN?!?!!?!??!

[AZhitman]

By the way, it will debut at one of the major auto shows in 2014.

Expect comparable power and performance to the current 370Z (0-60in just under 6 seconds), but emissions and fuel consumption will be significantly improved.

I'm not seeing a downside. Lighter, leaner, faster, cleaner, cheaper - and whatcha know about turning up the boost?

[themadscientist]

3.0 four would be a whole different kind of four.

Yeah, that won't happen.

Any speculation on which current-generation four they could boost, and make the kind of power the Z will need to remain competitive?

[Sentientbydesign]

I just got happy in the pants. Thanks to Greg or Becky on posting this on Facebook.

Maybe the smaller engine might bring a lower price tag too, something that has made 370Z less popular and less modder friendly than the 350Z. Scale the weight back to sub-3200lb territory and push out 300+ hp and now we're talking.

Essentially...I want a RWD, Nissan built, EVO

[nissangirl74]

Here's my only requirement.

NO CVT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


If they do, I'm buying a Genesis and starting a Hyundai forum.

[leesredgt]

I'm not seeing a downside. Lighter, leaner, faster, cleaner, cheaper - and whatcha know about turning up the boost?

While I do agree with all this and it is an improvement, in my opinion it just wont be the same. Why not just bring back the 240sx name plate for it since everyone seems to want to see it make a comeback.

[Razi]

Interesting.
I wonder what motor they'll use.

[asoomal]

WHAT?!!!

A four cyl? SERIOUSLY? I don't care if it makes 750 to the wheels, a four cylinder does not belong in a Z!

It's the same as if Ford discontinued putting V8s in their Mustangs.

Just imagine a 4 cylinder Z with an aftermarket exhaust.. That would sound horrible.

Akio Asakura would be choked.

[themadscientist]

I was going to write a response, but I suspected I had already done that before. I believe in recycling!

that would ruin the z. its been a 6 cylinder its whole life and the fact that they would put a german pos engine into it

ORLY?

As for the sound. It will probably sound like this.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GNJSFW5DTc[/youtube]

[Bubba1]

I willing to reserve judgement until I drive one. But I agree with Bex, If they make a CVT standard, that thud you hear will be me jumping off the Nissan bandwagon.

[eds13]

nissan is trippin their balls off right now. i just dont understand how their going to "cheapen" down the current Z that much to keep it competitive with the genises, the brz and the frs...

[BigNateLvHc]

ive found some


http://www.topspeed.com/cars/nissan/201 ... 05552.html


http://www.roadandtrack.com/future-cars/2013-nissan-z

[krash]

Thats s***. As efficient as it may be, I don't like it. I grew up with all the VG powered Z's, so when I think Z, I automatically think 6 cyl. Oh well. I guess we can safely assume that theres no brz competitor? I wonder what this will do to the price of the Z

They better do some redesign on the front end though. If not, that engine bay is gonna look awfully empty.

SHHHHH!!! Next thing you know it'll have the front end from a murano! It won't look that empty, check out the engine bay of the genesis with the turbo 4:

[Jesda]

I love turbo 4s (I drive an old one daily) but part of the appeal of owning a Z is the way Nissan's V6 engines sound and feel. I would have hoped for a turbo V6.

[Ace2cool]

I called this. If I was on a laptop, I'd pull the post up.

Now that I think about it though, I would really like to see a turbo I6. That would be really cool to me.

[MuranoDriver]

I are disappoint.

At least at this moment. I don't understand why they need to undo 40 some years of tradition. The Z is and always has been a 6 cylinder. Personally, I would like to see a smaller displacement 6, V or straight.

Nissan already had a small 4 cylinder sporty car. It was lean, and it sold very well. Why not bring back an S to compete with the 86/BRZ. Then try to push the Z a little closer to corvette territory. There is a HUGE gap between the Z and the GT-R. Why make it wider?

This exactly!

Keep the Z as a 6 and make a smaller version with a turbo 4.

[Loki]

I don't really see the point of dropping to a 4-cylinder. I can understand dropping the displacement in favor of a turbo and engine management, but why shave off two cylinders? Would a 2.5l 4 cylinder be more efficient than a 2.5l 6 cylinder?

[Rev_D21]

It doesn't matter what Nissan does from here on out...they are dead to me.

[RicerX]

I'm absolutely dumbfounded.

IMHO - you have a few applications where a turbo-4 works in today's "performance" car market. Evo/STi are given. Take it down a notch and you have the Mazdaspeed3, base WRX, and GTi.

The 370Z is in between the Evo/STi and say the newer pony cars in the Mustang GT (5.0) and Camaro SS... all those cars line up nicely. The Z just needs a bit of a push forward in power to be a true competitor there.

Why is Nissan SO AFRAID of anything that doesn't have an electric motor or a crossover with a CVT attached to it?

Instead of filling the gap as someone said above and pushing the Z closer to the V8 sports car area (where it BELONGS - the Z is the ONLY true two seat sports car under $100K besides the Corvette and to a much lesser extent, Miata), they're pushing the Z closer to a Mazdaspeed3/GTI/BRZ/FRS - a class of vehicle it has NEVER participated in.

They're not going to make a 300hp turbo 4 cylinder. I just don't see it. They never have before. Subaru and Mitsu have been working on the WRX/Evo platforms for DECADES now and are just getting to touch 300hp levels.

I want to be wrong. I really do. But in light of the GT-R possibly being killed off and this talk of the Z, I am losing faith in Nissan to continue its tradition of producing exciting, innovative vehicles. If they decide to "settle" for the FRS market by sacrificing the prestige of the Z car, in my eyes, they will have officially joined ranks with Honda and Toyota - completely unexciting car makers that are exceptionally proficient at manufacturing vehicles that do no more than privatize the functionality of public transportation. Maybe that's what they have wanted to do for a long time now.

I hope Nissan is truly hiding an ace up their sleeve. I don't want to buy a Mustang. Or a Hyundai Genesis Coupe with a V8 in it. But I will if they fail to meet expectations. Or just forever hold on to the last of the Mohicans in my 40th 370Z.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Expect comparable power

Get real, Greg. The VQ37 is powerful by even v6 standards. So much so that the competition needs boost in THEIR V6s to compete. There is no way in HELL any Nissan 4 is going to come close, regardless of boost. The closest thing they've got is the Juke powerplant and all the boost on earth won't make 330hp out of that thing in a street car.

I'll concede that modern boosted fours are getting impressive. But they are NOT comparable to the best of the best of their V6 brethren.

[AZ89two4Tsx]

Sure Nissan. Make your Altima nice enough to compete with the Maxima, yet downgrade your "iconic" 6-cylinder sports car to a four banger that shouldn't even be called a Z.

Whatever though. Honestly, I won't see it till I believe it. I really hope the head dudes at Nissan aren't that ignorant. Only time I will tell....

[leesredgt]

I really hope the head dudes at Nissan aren't that ignorant.

Need I say more....

[300ZXttZMAN]

For the love of MR. K

Why Nissan, WHY!?!?