Nissan officially unveiled its newly redesigned Z sports car Tuesday. The 2023 Nissan Z is reminiscent of the original Datsun 240Z in terms of its style but with updated tech such as a new and power twin-turbo V6 engine and advanced safety features.
Nissan is likely depending on the success of its new Z sports car given its aging lineup and the tarnishing of its reputation following the arrest of its chairman, Carlos Ghosn, in 2018. Nissan said the decision to design the new model to resemble the original Z sports car is a symbol of how the company wants to get back to its roots.
"At the time, we were looking at who we are as a company. This car, being a little bit 240, is a metaphor for a company that was looking to find itself again," Nissan's global head of design Alfonso Albaisa said.
Similar to the very first Z sports car, which was released in 1969, the 2023 Nissan Z has a long hood and a roof that curves down to its tail. The new car also looks very similar to the Nissan Z Proto concept cat that was unveiled by Nissan in September last year, albeit with subtle design changes.
Another big difference is the car's name. Instead of placing a three-digit number before the "Z," the new model is just called the Nissan Z.
Under the hood, the 2023 Nissan Z sports a twin-turbo V6 gasoline engine capable of generating up to 400 horsepower. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission as standard. Nissan said buyers can also opt to spec their vehicle with a nine-speed automatic transmission.
Apart from the typical digital dash and 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, the new Z will be coming with three old-fashioned analog gauges that will show drivers the car's turbo speed, turbo pressure, and electric voltage.
The 2023 Nissan Z will be offered in two trim packages, namely a Sport and Performance version. Engine and performance will be the same on both trims. However, the Performance version will come with added goodies such as a rear spoiler, leather seats, and launch control.
The new Z is expected to hit dealerships in the spring of 2022. Nissan has yet to announce its official price but it should be similar to the price of the current Z model, the 370Z, which starts at around $31,000.
