by Update on the Current Nissan Z Model
While Nissan is preparing a completely new generation of the Z car, the company plans to continue improving the current model. The Z recently received a design update, and the top Nismo version got a new six-speed manual transmission. According to Nissan America’s product and planning chief, Ponz Pandikuthira, the brand will continue to actively update the car, drawing on its heritage.
A lot of it will be based on heritage. Going back to the authenticity of what the Z was in the past. Creating special editions that resonate with that heritage, and maintaining a lifecycle of updates.
Pandikuthira emphasized that the company does not intend to simply release a model and forget about it, but aims to keep it relevant.
Future Plans and Special Editions
It is expected that within the next three years, Nissan will introduce a series of special editions of the current Z to revitalize the model lineup. At the same time, the company is already actively discussing what the next generation of the sports car should look like.
Connection with the Future GT-R
The launch of a completely new Z will likely occur after the arrival of the next-generation GT-R, which is expected to retain the twin-turbo VR38 engine but become a hybrid. The future Z should logically fit into the model range below the GT-R, both in status and performance.
It also needs to make sense in the context of what the next-generation GT-R will look like. It must occupy a place lower than the GT-R.
Challenges of Developing a New Platform
The current Nissan Z uses a platform from the previous 370Z model, equipped with the VR30DDTT engine that debuted in the Infiniti Q50. A future generation would greatly benefit from a completely new platform. However, given Nissan’s not-so-strong financial position and the relatively low expected sales volumes of the Z model, justifying the cost of developing a new architecture could be a difficult task for the company.
Nissan’s strategy for the Z in the coming years appears balanced: maintaining interest in the current model through updates and special editions, while simultaneously preparing the ground for a more radical change in the future. The success of the next generation is closely tied not only to its own engineering solutions but also to how the entire brand’s sports car lineup develops, especially the legendary GT-R. This creates additional pressure but also opens up opportunities for synergy between the two icons.
