Quote:
Originally Posted by RicerX
A Corvette Stingray is 500 hp and starts in the $50k range. If you push the Z into the $50k range without matching or exceeding the Corvette pound for pound, dollar for dollar, and hp for hp, it will last maybe as long as the Z32. If the Z ends up there, it's truly in the Corvette class, whether you want it to be or not - the cars are both two seat sports cars at that point, and you're not going to convert very many, if any, Corvette buyers. The demographic is too "BY MURICA FOR MURICA" to buy a Japanese two seat alternative.
On the other hand, if they do match or exceed it, then you provide a Nissan alternative to the GT-R for less money (500 hp range), and you'll find out how many people bought the GT-R because the Z didn't reach high enough for them. (I'll be willing to bet there are at least a few GT-R owners that would have a Z instead if it had 500 hp).
It's a dangerous place to be in and they have to be meticulously strategic with it.
The smartest thing you could possibly do with this car is find a way to make it a Camaro SS/Mustang GT/Challenger RT alternative (biggest chunk of the market) while retaining the Z formula. This means that 400-450hp at the same price point given all other things equal (weight from the Z34 for example) would be a larger hit than the Z34 on the market, especially if you gave it some sort of a backseat a la Z32.
They have to go where the market is for this car while still being unique.
That's why half of these reports are so freakin illogical. A Z with a turbo 4 by itself makes ZERO sense - why move the car to a smaller market (BRZ)? It only makes sense if it's one piece of the puzzle where a higher performance version is offered (turbo 6) because then the market coverage expands to a Camaro/Mustang alternative (multiple powertrains, lower cost of entry, high performance bargain). Those things only work if they meet competitors in the market. Sure a $25k turbo 4 Z makes a ton of sense only if the turbo 6 Z offered with it is in the $40k range (TOPS), not $60k.
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AMEN... I haven't disagreed with one thing you say pertaining to the Z. This car unfortunately is plagued with 50% of its buyers liking the styling but wanting it to be, everything the Z was designed NOT TO BE.
Because of this, Nissan Z has the worlds stupidest rumor mill in the whole car industry...It feeds on people that want anything from a more powerful miata, to a mustang competitor to a porsche killer. This one car can't serve every single market. I just stopped looking for Z news till i see a concept or pre-production model.
By offering two engines, I think the Z will appeal to a broader market from a price range perspective. Stealing some FRS, Miata buyers with a 2.0 and SOME muscle car buyers with a 3.0TT. Some of the tuner share will be stolen, if the Z is easy and cheap to mod & if it can fight a vette with a few grand in mods? I can imagine a 2900lb 2.0 turbo rated about 276-300hp and a 3100lb 3.0TT rated at 400-420hp.
A 2.0 would probably start at $27k and a 3.0 at $34k... If for some crazy reason there is a $60,000 Z? It will probably be a limited production, stroked out 3.4ltr, limited edition 480hp Nismo RS type car that is a track monster RWD version of a GT-R. Otherwise? It ain't happenin'!!
Nissans goal is probably to sell 20k/30k units annually in the U.S. and 60K worldwide. Im sure they're not expecting to hit the 80k mark annually like the camaro does. Making it broader in the price range should help that goal.