2015 Nissan Z may be lighter, leaner

Streetlife

We'll have to see when 2015 gets here, there's always speculation in any product industry. Just happy and loving my 2012, and not thinking of a replacement anytime soon.

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MattP725

I could see them going with a 3.0T but I doubt it would drop to 4 cyl. That would really warrant rebranding the car IMO.

speedfreek

Yea it would be known as a Silvia/240SX.

enkei2k

+1 or something like it. Why put a 4 cyl in a Z? When was the last time a 4 cyl was in a Z? I think never. Might as well either discontinue the Z altogether or bring back the S chassis if you want to use 4 cyl.

Mythos219

Expect a reconceptualized Z more in line with the scion frs and subaru brz folks.

HKYStormFront

not even close to the same market as a Z. again, this is why a 240sx successor makes sense

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Mythos219

Exactly. These low volume cars aren't profitable which isn't a big deal if its not impacting the bottom line. Its a different story now exacerbated by the fact that the Yen is stronger than the dollar. Part of the strategy is to reduce imports and part of it is to diffuse costs by boosting sales, exactly Nissan's plan for the Z by making it appeal to a broader audience (READ: We're going to make it cheap and affordable which will increase units).

Reconceptualizing the Z would do the latter and given the relative success of the FRS/BRZ makes the most sense. I say relative b/c the North American market overwhelmingly gravitates towards American cars when it comes to sports cars. But it looks to me like Nissan is taking a page out of the Toyota playbook - make it cheap and affordable and give it measurable performance and we'll move more units which will make out balance sheet look better.

Nuccigucci

Exactly what I was going to say the need Not to down size the z that's taking two steps back and demolishing tradition what the need to do is bring back the s chassis which everyone has been waiting for, for a very long time even before the concept s16 came out that's what they really need to do if they do go forward with down sizing the z, well then I'm glad I have my 09 and I'll probably keep it. The z34 will be the last of a very long running z car tradition

Nismo89

nice article, i can see the Company's need for change and better fuel economy with the lighter weight and less powerful engine.

the needs of the many outweigh the needs/wants of the few

the company has got to do whats best for the company, and if dropping the engine to a 4 cylinder and the car being lighter, and the supposedly better MPG, well then thats what they are gonna have to do. economy and gas prices aka....Reality..... are forcing companies to think smaller, lighter, better MPG = the Now and better marketing

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HKYStormFront

i think they would rather develop (if it isn't already in the works already) a 240sx successor to fill that role. nissan has partnered with lotus before (R35 GTR for example). a "250sx" would not be direct competition for anything lotus makes. have them come up with a great, nimble, lightweight aluminum and high strength steel chassis, drop in the 2.5 from the altima in RWD and offer a low production, high profit turbo option using the Juke's motor and you've got a clear winner for not much investment. sell a ton of these in the $25-35k range and take the load off the Z as the "only sports car option other than GTR" in the range of cars. then the Z wouldn't have to be a "40mpg" car.

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Nismo89

i agree, as it stands now i get around 23-24 mpg in my Z now,so this move doesnt appeal to me if it happens... but i dont floor it lol so i really would much rather see a 240sx successor than to the Z. BUT in regards to the article and the words written i could see Nissan's hand being forced to make that type of move with a car like the Z..... sales were down, and have dropped every year since. so in order to boost sales (regular cars as well as its "sports" car line) they are thinking about putting a lesser engine in the Z for better fuel economy exc.

i think its the thought of " all options are being considered" stand point for Nissan, to boost sales from every angle, not that it WILL happen but i understand nissan's thought process in thinking about it ..... regular lineup as well as Sports. lol

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UNKNOWN_370

I was running with the whole lighter, leaner thing till I heard 4cylinder. They should make. It a 3000lb turbo 6, not a turbo 4. It would destroy Z heritage as we know it. The Z has either had an na6 or turbo 6.

The lack of success of the Z has nothing to do with its design, its everything to do with what nissan didn't do. Oil cooler should have been installed in the 2010 model and not have waited till 2012. Brake cooling should have been addressed in 2010 as well. Improvements to the manual transmission and clutch feel should have been addressed by 2011.
2012;Small things like a much improved stereo system, maybe a new tire selection for sport pkg models and more creativity with base interiors as far as sporty interior cloth options may have helped boost sales.
2013 should have replaced the A7 with a dual or single clutch automated transmission. Or at least made a third tranny option with maybe 20hp added to the Z and 10% better fuel efficiency.
2014 should bring weight reduction, a further updated nav system, a forced induction limited edition model that would only run 2014.

The convertible was a waste of nissan money. The Z doesn't grow as quickly as a car like a mustang or bmw 1 series or 3 series. In that respect, it lags behind. Mind you, the Z holds its own and still holds its own reign in the sports car world. But I'm not talking about what it does spiritually. I mean what it doesn't do commercially. The Z business sense moves like a still pond while the competition hits like a Tidal wave.

The only thing that the Z has going for it is, its overall design is brilliant and they always look beautiful to the point where the styling is as timeless as most exotics. But they need help with how the Z progresses once it comes to market as a new car.

Don't be surprised if nissan decides not to bring out the Silvia as a Datsun. Downgrades the Z to a Datsun Z. And changes the altima coupe to a RWD silvia.

Infiniti has a 2.5SC and a 3.0T patented. I'm surprised they aren't considering the 3.0T as an option????? There's something wrong with this info...

brucelidat

Well, they can still figure out other ways to drop weight other than going with a turbo 4. We will see.

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Pauly

i get what you guys are saying about the company priority and all, im just upset that now all car makers are switching focus of freggin fuel economy for sportscars across the board, when the whole point is to have ONE car whose soul purpose is fast, light, and agile. global fail.

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UNKNOWN_370

Hey, there's nothing wrong with focusing on fuel economy as long as they keep it in perspective. I know there are technologies right now that can make our Z's have 24/32 mpg's with the same power and performance. Having a focus on fuel economy is good until they try to take shortcuts.
In other words, instead of using expensive technology and getting subsidies to achieve it. They opt for smaller engines and less power. Going cheap vs going advanced. I'm against that.