The Future of the Z Car?

Lug · 02-09-2011, 02:19 PM

Unless they try to build a frame that is similar to the Lotus (underpinnings for the tesla) and not a standard setup, it will most likely be to heavy to be fast. they claim a "rollbar-integrated aluminum chassis swathed in a composite shell" but the lotus has a glued aluminum tub that only wieghs about 150 lbs with everything else hung off of it. The Leaf's battery pack weighs 600 lbs. You may get some weight savings by switching out the gasoline engine for 2 smaller electric motors but most likely it's still gonna be a little pig.

SoCal 370Z · 02-09-2011, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lug

Unless they try to build a frame that is similar to the Lotus (underpinnings for the tesla) and not a standard setup, it will most likely be to heavy to be fast. The Leaf's battery pack weighs 600 lbs. You may get some weight savings by switching out the gasoline engine for 4 small electric motors but most likely it's still gonna be a little pig.

Under current technologies, most likely true, but newer technologies could change all that.

Lug · 02-09-2011, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCal 370Z

Under current technologies, most likely true, but newer technologies could change all that.

Cleaned up my original post a bit.

The reason the tesla has great performance numbers is the frame design from Lotus. No one is coming close to it's weight with normal frame design. The advantage to electric is instant torque. I remember when the Leaf was at this point, people were speculating a 2800 lb car. That turned out to be a gross miscalculation. You have to change battery tech to really get some weight savings and that's going to be problematic. Zinc/Air batteries show great power to weight ratios but they tend to catch on fire if pushed too hard. Not a great feature in a car.

flashburn · 02-09-2011, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lug

Cleaned up my original post a bit.

The reason the tesla has great performance numbers is the frame design from Lotus. No one is coming close to it's weight with normal frame design. The advantage to electric is instant torque. I remember when the Leaf was at this point, people were speculating a 2800 lb car. That turned out to be a gross miscalculation. You have to change battery tech to really get some weight savings and that's going to be problematic. Zinc/Air batteries show great power to weight ratios but they tend to catch on fire if pushed too hard. Not a great feature in a car.

Unless it's a Ferrari.

Mr. Q · 02-09-2011, 03:38 PM

I physically recoiled when I scrolled down. I need an Aphex Twin windowlicker gif to represent my reaction

toxik · 02-09-2011, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Q

I physically recoiled when I scrolled down. I need an Aphex Twin windowlicker gif to represent my reaction

haha aphex twin, like!

Falcor · 02-09-2011, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThoriumHotdog

Uhg.... I'd rather own a car that eats gas like crazy and only drive it once a month than an electric car that gets its power from smog producing coal plants.

Seriously!! i dont know why everyone always over looks this. People call electric cars "green". dont they know where that electricity is coming from?

not to mention how hard the manufacturing process of these batteries is on the environment.

hypocritical.

HKYStormFront · 02-09-2011, 03:52 PM

a little birdie told me they already have the next Z pretty much ready. not sure if that means the Z35 or the refresh/update of the Z34 but i'm interested to see what's on the horizon. also, since the GTR has moved up to (a rated) 530 hp, that leaves room for the Z to make upwards of 400 hp or so realistically without encroaching on R35 sales...

Mr. Q · 02-09-2011, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcor

hypocritical.

I'd call it plain ol ignorance, coupled with the way people love a damned bandwagon.

Falcor · 02-09-2011, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Q

I'd call it plain ol ignorance, coupled with the way people love a damned bandwagon.

m4a1mustang · 02-09-2011, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HKYStormFront

a little birdie told me they already have the next Z pretty much ready. not sure if that means the Z35 or the refresh/update of the Z34 but i'm interested to see what's on the horizon. also, since the GTR has moved up to (a rated) 530 hp, that leaves room for the Z to make upwards of 400 hp or so realistically without encroaching on R35 sales...

If the next gen Z had 400+ hp and looked anywhere near as good as the 370 I would put one in the garage next to the 5.0 no ifs ands or buts about it.

DevilZ34 · 02-09-2011, 03:59 PM

That concept looks fugly lol, but then again, its only a concept... Only time will tell what the next gen will look like.

b1adesofcha0s · 02-09-2011, 04:15 PM

I wouldn't mind a hybrid or an EV Z, as long as the looks and performance are there I'm happy. The Porsche 918 concept is a perfect example of something like this, if they ever put it into production. I don't think I would get the next gen Z, however it is. I'm saving up for the next gen GT-R R36 whenever it comes out

370z TT · 02-09-2011, 07:57 PM

The front looks like a corvette concept and the rear looks really bad. Hopefully nissan doesn't use this concept to design anything because I can't see this being my next car.

02-09-2011, 02:19 PM	#31 (permalink)
Lug A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 1,926 Drives: 2006 350Z Rep Power: 20	Unless they try to build a frame that is similar to the Lotus (underpinnings for the tesla) and not a standard setup, it will most likely be to heavy to be fast. they claim a "rollbar-integrated aluminum chassis swathed in a composite shell" but the lotus has a glued aluminum tub that only wieghs about 150 lbs with everything else hung off of it. The Leaf's battery pack weighs 600 lbs. You may get some weight savings by switching out the gasoline engine for 2 smaller electric motors but most likely it's still gonna be a little pig. __________________ keep Chubbs in your pocket - Chubbs Last edited by Lug; 02-09-2011 at 02:23 PM.

02-09-2011, 03:52 PM	#38 (permalink)
HKYStormFront A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Greer, SC Posts: 14,954 Drives: 06 Frontier SE 6spd Rep Power: 52	a little birdie told me they already have the next Z pretty much ready. not sure if that means the Z35 or the refresh/update of the Z34 but i'm interested to see what's on the horizon. also, since the GTR has moved up to (a rated) 530 hp, that leaves room for the Z to make upwards of 400 hp or so realistically without encroaching on R35 sales... __________________ Patrick // 06 Frontier 6spd Nismosis // Mods: Uprev Tuned @ Z1 Motorsports: 257whp & 292 ft lbs 09 Pontiac G8 GXP // M6 // Sunroof // Tint... For now

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
The future of how to steal a Z...	Xan	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	25	01-10-2011 11:35 AM
Future Value	mengel	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	25	12-04-2010 12:29 PM
370 in my future?	blueVQ	New Forum Member	3	10-02-2009 03:27 PM
the future look....	tru_Asiatik	Southern California Region	10	05-05-2009 09:33 AM
Will future Z be like this?	zero	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	31	03-17-2009 08:58 PM

02-09-2011, 03:38 PM	#35 (permalink)
Mr. Q Enthusiast Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 349 Drives: 09 MB 370z Rep Power: 15	I physically recoiled when I scrolled down. I need an Aphex Twin windowlicker gif to represent my reaction

02-09-2011, 03:59 PM	#42 (permalink)
DevilZ34 Base Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Vancouver Posts: 3 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 14	That concept looks fugly lol, but then again, its only a concept... Only time will tell what the next gen will look like.

02-09-2011, 04:15 PM	#43 (permalink)
b1adesofcha0s A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: MD Posts: 40,963 Drives: HypeTrain Choo Choo! Rep Power: 141	I wouldn't mind a hybrid or an EV Z, as long as the looks and performance are there I'm happy. The Porsche 918 concept is a perfect example of something like this, if they ever put it into production. I don't think I would get the next gen Z, however it is. I'm saving up for the next gen GT-R R36 whenever it comes out

02-09-2011, 07:57 PM	#44 (permalink)
370z TT Base Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: New Jersey Posts: 160 Drives: 2010 Nissan 370z Rep Power: 15	The front looks like a corvette concept and the rear looks really bad. Hopefully nissan doesn't use this concept to design anything because I can't see this being my next car.