A swoopy deck and lower headlights make a huge difference.
Nissan would be hard-pressed to find a vehicle that doesn’t evoke the spirit of the classic, 240Z. This is the Z. From its rectangular grille to its fastback and pointed roof, the seventh-generation model is a tribute to the original. There are a few other generations represented, but it is easy to see the 2023 Z’s connection with the original Fairlady.
Is it retro enough?
Enter famed automotive designer Chip Foose. He takes a deep dive into the new Z in his latest Hagerty video. While his assessment is positive, he believes there are still some areas for improvement. He uses the 240Z to guide him. He focuses on the headlights that are too low and sit above rather than flanking the grille. He also changed the proportions, giving his design a longer tail and more defined lines to the sides.
You might not be able to see the changes in his sketch, but with the new Z beside, you can. It might be hard to believe that Nissan didn’t incorporate these design cues into the actual car. However, unlike Foose, Nissan designers had limitations. The new sports car shares a platform with the 370Z. Motoring enthusiasts have been critical of the Z, some seeing it as a facelifted version of the 370Z.
From the outside, there is some credence to this opinion. The Z’s interior is modern, with both digital and retro gauges on the dash. The twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 from Infiniti is also available. It produces 400 horsepower (298kilowatts), and can be sent to the rear wheels via an automatic transmission or a manual three-pedal.
We can’t wait for 2022 to arrive so that we can test the Z. Although it may not look as impressive as Foose, behind the wheel we think will be irrelevant.