The look of the 2023 Nissan Z calls upon the aesthetic stylings of the classic sports cars of yesterday. A retro-styled exterior design that’s backed up by loads of new performance and feature upgrades. Debuted to the public via the Z Proto, it’s meant to inherit the role of the 2020 Nissan 370Z.
This all-new iteration stays close to its roots, aiming to offer great performance wherever it goes. The Nissan Z is powered by the same twin-turbocharged V6 engine as that of the Nissan GT-R. It does differ from the GT-R though, with the Z using a 3.0-Liter mill that’s capable of up to 400 horsepower. The Z will also come exclusively in rear-wheel drive, as well as the transmission options of either a six-speed manual or a nine-speed automatic.
A limited-slip differential is also available, aiding the Z with better grip and traction when flying out of tight corners. All models of the Nissan Z can also come with a launch control setting. This helps acceleration by reducing the amount of wheel spin and hop by staying at a specific rpm, modulating power as the car lunges forward.
The interior layout of the Nissan Z doesn’t come with much changed, remaining as a two-seater coupe without rear seats. However, the Z does sport a much more modern-looking cabin, completely updated with new high-quality materials. The included performance seats improve on lateral support, as well as including an “anti-slip material” and a slide-reducing center pad on the seat cushion. Knee bolsters are also included for the driver’s comfort when racing about. Interested buyers can also expect a whole host of leather upholstery and fixings and an automatic dual-zone climate control system.
Drivers are in for a treat with how tricked out the vehicle’s controls are. The steering wheel is leather-wrapped, inspired by the same design on the GT-R R32. A Sport Mode screen is available on the digital display which was made in collaboration with Tsugio Matsuda who is a prolific racer in Japan’s Super GT. Lastly, a triple pod cluster allows the driver to view key information on the car’s performance. Info such as the turbo boost, turbine speed, and voltage are all recorded on the cluster.
The Infotainment features on the Nissan Z’s cockpit have also undergone so much needed upgrades. A new 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster is available to the driver. Nissan’s very own NissanConnect system comes integrated within a 9-inch center touchscreen console, allowing features such as Wi-Fi hotspot capabilities, Remote Access, and Door to Door Navigation. It also comes with support for Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The standard sound setup on the Nissan Z is a six-speaker stereo, but buyers can also go for a premium audio setup that’s been engineered by Bose.
There’s not much info floating around on the fuel efficiency and pricing, but we expect it to get clearer as we near its market release date. The 2023 Nissan Z is expected to hit US Markets by the spring of 2022.