2023 Nissan Z

Overview.

The outgoing 370Z from Nissan was getting dated with its outgoing overall design language. However, Nissan recently announced their all-new Z coupe which is quite strange as there are no alphanumerics this time. That said, it is an almost-all-new car with a new engine from Infinti, interior, exterior, and updated echnology. Its fire-breathing 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 engine is borrowed from the Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400 and makes a lot more power than that of the outgoing generation.

The newer infotainment screen and a highly customizable driver information display make their way to the updated cabin. This rear-wheel-drive coupe features a six-speed manual transmission as standard and is equipped with all the updated driver assistance features including blindspot monitoring and lane departure warning. The new Z will be offered in three trim levels at launch: Sport, Performance, and a limited edition Proto Spec. Pricing is expected to start at $40,000, which menans it will compete with the new Toyota Supra and the Audi TT.

Trims and Features.

Nissan has confirmed that the new Z will be available in three trims: Sport, Performance, and Proto Spec. The base Sport trim will be priced around $40,000 and will have features like automatic climate control, cloth seats, manually adjustable front seats, 18-inch alloy wheels, and more. The Performance trim will be priced higher and will have a few upgraded features over the standard ones found on the base trim. Features like leather seating with front heated seats, LSD, larger brakes, bigger 19-inch alloy wheels, 9-inch touchscreen display, performance exhaust, power-adjustable seats, and an eight-speaker Bose premium audio system. Seems like it is the ideal trim to opt for and will be highly recommended.

The Proto Spec is a limited-edition trim and only 240 units will be built for the U.S. It is meant to carry a few additional luxury materials that will make it stand out. 19-inch bronze painted alloy wheel, faux suede door panels, and a few more features are its specialties.

Will the exterior of the new 2023 Nissan Z impress the crowd?

The 2023 Nissan Z features a retro-modern exterior design that was clearly inspired by earlier Z cars. The front fascia has a sharper nose than the earlier generations and has a newly designed intake grille and LED headlamps which are half-circled. The headlamp design is said to be inspired by the 240ZG from the late 70s. The front-end design is set to impress a lot of audiences and, in fact, if you look from the sides, it looks somewhat similar to the Ferrari Roma.

As it is a two-door coupe, there is a sloping roofline from the A-pillar which directly meets the rear spoiler. The rear has the LED taillights but the design has been changed to make it look futuristic with the sleek twin horizontal lamps on either side. The twin exhaust cutouts give a sporty touch to the tail-end. Nissan has worked hard to make the new Z aerodynamic, and there are even cuts and vents on the body to help create downforce. The 18-inch alloy wheels which come as standard can be easily upgradeable to the 19-inch ones for better track performance.

A warm welcome to an updated engine and superior handling dynamics.

The outgoing 370Z was powered by a 3.7-liter naturally aspirated V-6. The 2023 Nissan Z, however, comes with a 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged, V-6 engine that is borrowed from the INFINITI Q60 Red Sport 400. It produces 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of maximum torque, which is about 68 horses and 80 pound-feet more than the outgoing generation. Also, the new engine has a good amount of lower-end torque thanks to the two turbochargers. Nissan has stuck to its roots by offering the six-speed manual transmission and RWD as standard equipment. However, a nine-speed shiftable automatic transmission has been offered as an option. The real-world performance should be impressive as we saw the Q60 perform 0-60 mph in around 5 seconds. The lighter body of the 2023 Z will contribute to faster acceleration and even cover better standing quarter-mile timings than its predecessor.

The driving dynamics have been improved from the earlier 370Z and are now more precise, thanks to - in part - the electric power steering. The dampening has improved and still is on the stiffer side to match its cornering capabilities and better on-road stability. The rear limited-slip differential is a good addition to the new Z which makes driving on various road conditions easier. There are two driving modes: Standard and Sport. The Standard mode makes daily drives effortless with better traction control, better steering feel, and lower engine power. Turn on the Sport mode and the Z will come to life with maximum engine output, maximized throttle response, and brake feel.

Interior: Major Upgrade?

With its aging interior design and the lack of advanced features, the 370Z was not as exciting as the competition. But those days are over and the new Z got the updated cabin it needed. The cabin is new, but there are some resemblances to past models. There’s a modern touch 12.3-inch driver instrument panel which has three display patterns to offer customizability and an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment screen. The dashboard quality should be better and looks like it is blacked out. The steering wheel is all-new leather-covered with integrated buttons for launch control, cruise control, and other multimedia buttons. The GT-R-inspired seats come cloth-covered, unlike the higher trims which have faux-suede on the dash and door panels and leather-covered seats. The sports seats are not the best for long highway rides as it is slightly on the harder side. That said, the cabin is fairly spacious to fit two people but the dimensions are yet to be declared.

The infotainment system as standard comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a 6-speaker audio system, SiriusXM, and a fairly intuitive user interface which is seen on most Nissan SUVs. The Performance trim gets updated features like a bigger 9.0-inch touchscreen display, integrated navigation system, an 8-speaker Bose premium audio unit, WiFi hotspot, etc.

A few of the major interior features of the 2023 Nissan Z are:

Automatic climate control.

• 12.3-inch driver instrument panel.
• 8.0/9.0-inch touchscreen display.
• Leather seats with faux-suede interior trims.
• Power-adjustable seats with multi-level heating options.
• 8-speaker Bose premium audio experience.
• Navigation system.
• Satellite radio.
• Aluminum paddle-shifters.
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

How safe will the new 2023 Nissan Z be?

The new Z is already late to the party with the much-awaited updates but now that it is here, let’s appreciate what it brings to the table. Apart from ABS, traction control, stability control, and tire pressure monitoring, the Nissan Z has the following safety features:

• Lane-departure warning. (Helps in keeping the car in the same lane and warns if the car drifts out.)
• Forward collision warning. (Helps in warning the driver of any impending collision and might apply brakes in extreme cases.)
• Blindspot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. (Helps in the warning the driver if any vehicle is trying to approach while they are changing lanes or while in reverse.)
• Adaptive cruise control. (Maintains variable speed depending on the front vehicle distance while on cruise control.)

Is the 2023 Nissan Z the Coupe You Should Consider?

Based on the expected price tag, yes. The 2023 Nissan Z could be a great 2-door coupe and with all the updates, the fans are already drooling over it. That said, these are the early impressions of the coupe and from that point of view, Nissan has done a great job with the overhaul and especially the superior powertrain.