Quote:
Originally Posted by SG4247
I worked for many years (over a decade) as a teir one supplier to Nissan, Subaru and Honda for engine and drivetrain assemblies.
As a result, I know each company, their engineers and management very well.
Bottom line: Nissan does not make money on the 370Z program. Not enough sales volume and margin to invest in new product design and development. I know that there are those at Nissan that have great loyalty to the long heritage of the Z product (like Corvette & Camaro, do at GM).
Problem is the the bean counters put pressure on leadership to make certain margins and payback on capital investments by program. Nissan has hopefully now gotten thier ROI on the product since production began in 2008, but I would be surprised if the bankers would be willing to invest millions in new design and tooling for a new 400Z.
I really love the 370Z product, and even liked my old 280ZX very much.
The 370Z is a great and well balanced performance sports car that is affordable.
Hang on to yours, because in 10 years when there arent any, you will be glad you kept it.
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Yeah, that's the point. The Z is still here because it's a heritage product being kept alive because it costs them nothing. The only way they can move it forward is by turning it into something that can provide a return on investment, makes market sense. That means a $30,000 Z34 that's in it's
10th model year, or a $65,000 niche sports car with multi-corporate engineering and multi corporate sales and hybrid tech that will let it compete with the 2019 Supra. And
then the problem becomes what company will want to partner with them that can or is willing to compete in that market space? Because Nissan will never go it alone...too big a project and too much at stake. Toyota/BMW's approach is really smart.