370Z hybrid?
 

I know the idea has gotten kicked around in the rags and all that, but what do you think? I know some of you keep a LOT more in tune with Nissan than I do. I have kept in-tune with GM. I LOL'ed when people mentioned TT V6 and all that, because that's not what GM is going to do. Are you guys LOL'ing at the hybrid/diesel thing, or is Nissan serious?

Just curious as I have my sights on the new Z, whenever that happens. Apparently for 2012 there are no changes. Not even a different shade of grey that I noticed.

Who knows at this point. I was LOL'ing the hybrid EVO idea when that was being discussed...

From what I know. 2 years ago it was being considered, then Nissan came to the conclusion that it might not be beneficial with the current car. They are not completely against the idea for future Z's.
I think the hybrid battery in a sports car would be good for a couple things. That would be to power the electrical components, ecu, A/C etc. I figure by doing this, it will give back some horsepower to the rear wheels considering the battery pulls a lot of power from the engine to power the car.
Another way to put the hybrid to good use is with cruise control and idling. That would save a lot of gas. The only thing is, this technology would have to work in hundreths of a second. For example, you are idling at a red light and hybrid power steps in. No one wants a 1 second delay on an accelerator due to the switch of power when the accelerator is touched. That would diminish sporting intentions. I would guess a sport mode can bypass this hybrid idle mode etc.
I know when we think hybrid, we think prius n think it would kill all the fun. But if hybrid technology can be used in sports cars for other functions than accelerating the car like the ones I suggested? Then it might be beneficial?
As far as added weight. If the mazda rx9 can be less than 3,000lbs then the Z can make it in at 3,000lbs with a hybrid if redesigned with one.

Correct me if I am wrong, but Nissan's hybrid on the Altima is sourced from Toyota. Do they even have their own system yet?

My opinion is that I'm ok with a hybrid Z as long as performance isn't negatively impacted or price artificially inflated.

I don't care how the power is delivered if the car is a reasonably priced true performer. That's what a Z should be imo.

Correct, and its dropped for the 12 model yr Alti.

You know they've got a couple mules running around with the turbo six, right? It may not make it to production, but they're definitely trying to get it going.

Have you guys seen the new Nissan commercial? It has been been airing on Versus TV since Nissan is a major sponsor for the Tour de France. Anyway, it's the commercial where it starts out with a convertible crossover. At the end of the commercial there's a car that has "Z" like qualities and the narration that says "if going electric could feel...electric".

Makes me think that they're still throwing around the idea. Full electric or hybrid? Could be interesting. I don't know much about the technology other than what i've read about the Leaf, Prius, and Volt.

Well if all these hybrid and electric supercars are any indication, the tech is there. the pricing however isn't. Like looking at that porsche 918 its possible to make a hybrid a droooooool worthy piece of bad@$$ery. but the price tag that goes with hybrid tech just isn't worth it yet IMHO. give it a couple years, it will be another sports car dark ages. then about 10 years down the road or so we will another sports car rent-assaince. followed by sports car golden years. etc etc etc

The car in that commercial is the Nissan Esflow concept, which we had many threads on some months ago. It is definitely a concept that evokes an "evolved Z" look, and it is electric iirc.

Ahh.. so it has a name. Thanks for the info. :tiphat:

Once again, the tech doesn't belong to Nissan yet. They can't even make their own system, they had to source it from Toyota on the Altima...

^ I was referring to hybrid sports cars in general. Once a technology comes out, its only a matter of time before its in common use by competitors. I am just trying to promote hope in the impending death of the all gasoline powered sports car.

Yes, nissan has just completed itts own hybrid system. It was introduced last year in the infiniti M. Its called the infiniti direct response hybrid. Its the hybrid system that everybody thought is going into the Z. It will be in the altima with the altimas redesign as a 2013 model, as well as in a couple of future hybrids that nissan is planning on building in the near future.

I consider the Altima a Z car with slightly rounder edges. I bet a version of it does go in the Z at some point.