2023 Nissan Z Preview
- 2-door rear-wheel-drive sports car
- 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine
- 400 horsepower
- 350 pound-feet of torque
- Standard 6-speed manual transmission
- Optional 9-speed automatic transmission
- Standard 8-inch infotainment touchscreen
- 12.3-inch driver information display
Introduction - Find the best Nissan deals!
When the Nissan Z Proto concept debuted last year, its design was considered "close to final." Fast forward to the debut of the 2023 Nissan Z, and all speculation regarding the production-ready prototype is confirmed. During the reveal event, Nissan Motors Chief Operating Officer Ashwani Gupta admitted that the Z Proto was 95 percent reflective of the production Z.
The Nissan Z has a storied 50-plus-year history of sports car innovation, starting with the 1970 Fairlady 240Z, initially sold under the now-defunct Datsun moniker. What followed was six generations of Z and 1.8 million global sales (of which 1.35 million were in the United States). The 7th-generation Nissan Z is very much a modern interpretation of the automaker's most iconic nameplate. And to keep things as sleek as its shape, the new Z even drops its numerical prefix for the first time in the U.S. market.
Scheduled to arrive in dealerships next spring, the 2023 Nissan Z will be available in two trim levels: Sport and Performance. Buyers can have each with either a manual or automatic transmission. A special-edition model based on the Z Proto concept will also be offered, limited to 240 units in the United States.
Exterior Features - Find the best Nissan deals!
Distinct from the 6th-generation model, which debuted in 2009, the next-generation Nissan Z offers a significant design change in the most subtle ways. Undoubtedly recognized as a Z silhouette thanks to its long hood and short deck, the all-new model is a mixtape of heritage elements coupled with updated design cues.
The new model's profile pays direct homage to the first-generation car. Its low and lean proportions exude sports car finesse. While there is a noticeable lack of stylish character lines, the Nissan Z offers a style of purpose and performance. The door handles are now flush-mounted, and the rear hatch is thinner than ever but built with increased rigidity, Nissan says.
But updating a vintage look with modernized flair is no easy task, yet the new Z seems to do it with ease. Its LED headlights feature a half-circle design inspired by the Japan domestic market (JDM)-only 240ZG. Also, the front fascia is said to harken to the original 240Z thanks to its grille fins. But the black chasm of a grille isn't exactly a stunner. The forward-facing view is larger, wider, and flatter (likely designed to accommodate pedestrian safety regulations).
So, a vehicle from the 1970s dictates one's impression of the front fascia while another model from the 1990s breathes life into the LED taillights.
If the rear combination lamps trigger a bit of deja vu, that's because they're essentially lifted from the Z32 300ZX built from 1990 to 1996. If you cut-and-paste your own work, is it still considered plagiarism? Regardless, the new 3D signature LED taillights make old-school style look like new-age funk.
Other heritage nods include the "Z" logo on the C-pillar and the "Fairlady Z" script on the trunk lid, which are modern takes on the original 240Z's simple badging style.
Yet even with a new outfit, some Z things will always be Z things. Like that iridescent yellow paint color. The 240Z, 300ZX, 35th Anniversary 350Z, and countless other model years and special edition Z cars—including the Z Proto—have had an unmistakably sunny disposition.
For 2023, the Nissan Z will be available in three monotone shades: Black Diamond Metallic, Gun Metallic, and Rosewood Metallic. A two-tone exterior option pairs a Super Black rooftop with six shades. When the new Z appeared on stage, it debuted in two new colors: Ikazuchi Yellow and Seiran Blue. These join the existing attention-grabbing palette of Brilliant Silver, Boulder Gray, Everest White Pearl, and Passion Red.
Interior Features - Find the best Nissan deals!
The Nissan Z interior is fresh, albeit also familiar. The driver-oriented cockpit is considerably digitized. The overall look is almost a carryover of the current model, except the analog instrument panel is now replaced with a 12.3-inch digital meter display. The driver information panel is fully customizable and features three display modes.
"Normal" provides a balanced view of navigation, audio, and vehicle data. "Enhanced" pushes the tachometer and speedometer to the edges of the screen, creating a larger field of view for the navigation map and vehicle information. Sport, of course, brings performance data to the forefront. Tachometer and shift information is prioritized, and drivers can also display the boost gauge or G meter.
The center stack takes a design cue from vintage Z cars and features three analog pod gauges. This retro triplet displays boost pressure, turbo rpm, and battery voltage.
Ergonomic improvements include a new 3-spoke steering wheel with intuitive and quick-access controls. Also, the new manual and automatic shift levers were engineered to provide optimal grip and comfort, according to Nissan.
Sport models will feature black woven cloth upholstery with suede inserts. Standard is an 8-way manual driver's seat and 4-way manual passenger seat. The Performance trim upgrades seat surfaces to heated leather seats and 4-way power adjustments for both driver and passenger. Additional creature comforts for the driver include a manual lifter, lumbar support, and thigh support.
Interior color choices are black, red, and blue. The limited-edition Proto Spec will feature prominent yellow accents, including contrast stitching on the instrument panel, as well as layered seat materials to create depth and a gradation effect.
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