All-New Nissan Z: Fast Facts and First Official Photos

Alvin Lee August 18, 2021 News 954 Views

The all-new Nissan Z production model has been officially unveiled today, replacing its 12-year-old predecessor. Previewed late last year with the Z Proto, today’s debut is accompanied by first official photos and the full specification of the production Z.

For the first time, new Z has dropped its numeric moniker in its name and is called simply the Nissan Z. It will go on sale in selected major world markets in early 2022, with roll out in other markets to follow later in 2022.

Penned by Nissan’s design studio in Japan, the new Z boasts a modern silhouette that communicates respect for the original Z model. The colour palette welcomes the return of the bright yellow pearlescent paint – a tribute to a popular paint scheme on both the first generation Z (S30) and the 300ZX (Z32) – and a black roof.

The shape of the bonnet and the canted, teardrop-shaped LED headlights are both unmistakable reminders of the original Z, while the rectangular grille’s dimensions are similar to the current model with the addition of oval grille fins to offer an updated modern look.

Here are some fast facts:

Variants

The Z is available in two grades – Sport and Performance.

Engine

The new Z is powered by a 3.0-litre twin turbo V6 developing 298kW (400hp) at 6,400rpm, accompanied with 475Nm (350 lb-ft) of torque from 1,600 to 5,600rpm. The VR30DDTT is the same engine found in the Infiniti Q60 Redline Coupe.

Drivetrain

Paired to the engine is a 9-speed automatic transmission, with a 6-speed manual also available to the delight of purists. Power is channelled to the rear wheels, with the manual model utilising a carbon fibre composite drive shaft. The Performance Model is equipped with a mechanical limited-slip differential for sharper handling performance.

Brakes

For the Sport model, fixed cast iron 2-piston front and single piston rear callipers are used, while in the Performance, stronger braking is provided using aluminium floating 4-piston front, 2-piston rear callipers. The Performance model also uses larger disc brakes all around.

Wheels

The Sport mode is fitted as standard with 18-inch wheels, while the Performance model gets larger 19-inch forged aluminium-alloy RAYS wheels as standard. The former is wrapped in Yokohama Advan Sport tyres measuring P245/45R18 all around, while the latter is shod with Bridgestone Potenza S007 in staggered sizes of P255/40R19 at the front and P275/35R19 in the rear.

Seating and interior

As with all previous Z models, the new Z is a strict two-seater. An 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with 6-speaker is standard in the Sport, while a 9.0-inch touchscreen is fitted to the Performance, along with an 8-speaker Bose premium sound system with active noise cancelling. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity are also featured, along with a fully digital instrumentation cluster.

Performance

For both transmission types, the new Z dashes from 0 to 100km/h in 4.6 seconds, en route to a top speed of 253km/h.

Safety

All models include a range of standard driver assistance and safety technologies, including Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, High Beam Assist and Intelligent Forward Collision Warning.

Nissan Z Proto Spec Special Edition

One special edition is available, celebrating the distinctive Z Proto introduced in 2020 – called the Proto Spec. Limited to just 240 units in the U.S., the Proto Spec model includes yellow-coloured brake callipers with Z logo, bronze-coloured 19-inch RAYS aluminium-alloy wheels, exclusive shift lever knob (6MT only), exclusive Proto Spec leather-appointed seats with yellow accents, exclusive Proto Spec suede + cloth door trim with yellow stitching and special Proto Spec interior stitching.