It’s good news again.
We know Nissan will not switch to SUVs or crossovers , and the Z family sports cars are unlikely to be axed anytime soon. MotorAuthority has been told by a source close to the Japanese automaker that there is strong support within the company for Z to continue. In the meantime, Philippe Klein (Nissan’s Chief Planning Officer) stated that the Z is not a priority in the company due to its difficult market case but is safe for at least the near future. The long-term is uncertain as Nissan needs to make a final determination.
Klein stated that “The Z market is difficult.” It is actually shrinking around the world. We believe that there is still a place for Z, and we want it to continue to thrive. That’s why we are working on this. This is for the short-term. There are other factors to consider for the long-term. What should the vehicle be if we make a new car?
The 370Z has been in production since 2009. We can expect a mid-cycle facelift to the car soon. However, nothing is known about a new generation. Although this may not be enough to please the fans, it is contrary to reports that suggested that Nissan might drop the nameplate altogether.
Michael Bunce (Nissan Vice President of Product Planning), confirmed earlier this month that the marque is ” going to not walk away form the nameplate”. He is currently looking at different options for the Z’s next chapter. The sports car was the least-sold coupe in America with just 4,614 sales, compared to nearly 82,000 for Ford Mustang.