2015 Nissan Z may be lighter, leaner
 

Not sure if I like the direction Nissan going into with its "The 2015 Nissan Z will be lighter, leaner and appeal to a more mainstream audience."

2015 Nissan Z May Be Lighter, Leaner

Why not. Sales matter or the line is dis-continued. As long as its got good performance, style and value for money paid Im for it. I wont judge the concept too early. We shall see when the first spy photo's appear :)

Good catch and thanks for posting.

4 cylinder...I hope so! It wont make me regret having an older car :tup:

glad I have my 10..

Not too sure how I feel about this.

O the horror....a 4 cylinder z. And they want to appeal to the masses, that Would be a big mistake.

Why not just give it a 3.0 Turbo and try to shave 300 lbs. That will be enough to get 360-400hp with weight of 3000 lbs. Every car enthusiast will buy it then and they will have great sales.

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I'll wait and see what comes out, but happy with my '11.

Nice find OP. Rep'd.

:iagree:

I wonder if they'll change the moniker to just Nissan "Z". One more reason why the 370Z will likely be a keeper. It's probably going to be the last N/A "large" displacement V6 they'll ever place in the Z. Glad to hear that Nissan is aproaching the design the right way instead of just dropping a bigger engine. I would expect their goal would probably be to create a car that's halfway between the 370 and the current GT-R in terms of performance. I really hope they stick to a smaller displacement V6 TT instead of a turbo straight-4. There really isn't a whole lot of V6 turbo powered sports cars around and we already know the potential.

A reduction in power would really help my car keep its value as long as its power to weight is also worse than the current gen's. However, the weight savings is much needed. 3300 is really heavy for a sports car this size, and it's easier to live with adding power (FI) than dropping weight (stripping interior, smaller battery, etc).

It's not light, but I wouldn't really call 3,300 lbs "heavy." I think a curb weight of 3,000 lbs would be right on the mark. Anyway, I think the GT-R can attest to the fact that lighter doesn't always mean faster. They need to work their magic on the Z.

i discount that entire article as pure (reckless) speculation based soley on the statement that it "could be" a turbo 4 cyl. the Z is a 6 cylinder. it always has been... it always will be. a smaller turbo engine is possible but i've heard that that card is not in the deck. expect a slight bump in displacement, direct injection, 8 cogs in the auto for EPA mileage purposes, possibly a dual clutch setup but probably not due to the extra weight of it, and more use of aluminum in the chassis to drop the weight. cost will probably go up a good bit, figure the next Z (coupe) as more of a $35k-45k car instead the $32-40k it is now.

The article doesn't quote the Nissan guy as saying it would be a turbo 4. He just says lighter and it seems like the writer is interpreting that as a turbo 4. Wouldn't a turbo 3.0 be smaller and lighter than the 3.7 we currently have? I'm still enjoying the 370 so it looks like I'll have at least a few more years of that and even longer if the new one is a disappointment.

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.

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

no a turbo 6 cyl would need to be built to withstand the pressures of forced induction which would make it heavier, not to mention heavier parts outside the motor like the manifolds, turbos, downpipes, wastegates, piping, intercoolers, BOV's, etc. keep in mind that differences in displacement doesn't translate directly to differences in weight. an older 3.0L VQ would weigh roughly the same if you punched it out to 4.0L. it might gain a few lbs from heavier pistons and crank but the block would stay roughly the same. the liters does not correspond to the physical size of the motor with the exception of taller deck height needed with larger displacements

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

+1 :iagree: 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.

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.

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...

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

Oh gawd, I hope they aren't trying to copy toyota/subaru. 3 liter turbo, just do it!

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.

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.:happydance:

same here. this car i will keep forever

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.

yup same here, my first sports car, it might soon get a make over (sort of) im holding onto this car:tup:

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

I don't think it's really about fuel economy but rather effeciency. There's always going to be a compromise in fuel economy if you want to go fast.... and "Datsun" isn't coming back in the US anytime soon, if ever. They reintroduced the brand to represent the "economy" side akin to Scion with the Nissan brand in the middle. They already found out the hard way that putting a smaller engine (Infiniti G25) to reduce the price doesn't work.

mike speaks troofisms^ :iagree:

at the end of the day, cars today are better than they ever have been, all things considered. yes there have been some great cars in the past. especially in the muscle cars and the beginnings of the import scene. still, when you look at the stats, cars cost less in adjusted dollars, have 2-3x (if not more) the longevity, require way less maintenance, get way better gas mileage and are immeasurably safer than in the "good old days". just be thankful you are living through what may go down as the 2nd golden age of performance cars. they continue to get better because of racing and top models but even the "pedestrian" models blow the doors off most exotics of just a couple decades ago. i remember watching a segment on The Car Show where they were comparing boring *** toyota's with 80's supercars and it was just embarrassing. the current Sienna left a deloreon like it was in reverse, tho granted it was never really a "fast" car. a camry v6 destroyed a ferrari 328 (i think? or was it a 308?). having said that, i'd probably take the ferrari over the camry any day of the week, just because it's not as fast doesn't mean that it doesn't make a great noise or isn't a lot of fun to drive :driving:

I sure hope they don't put a 4 cyl in the next Z. I think a 400 hp and 3000 lb Z with a TT V6 sounds good for the next Z, but I wouldn't expect all of that from Nissan. Most likely what Patrick said, small bump in displacement, DI, and some weight reduction. Though if they really want to make an impact with the next gen Z, they have to seriously step their game up with the new Mustang coming out in 2015 as well.

Smaller engine=less mass=better fuel efficiency=better performance all around.

Some of you guys need to get with the program and get your head out of the sand.

i believe Datsun was brought back in Europe and a select few other countries. the idea of Datsun coming to the U.S. was highly unlikely if ever, like you said lol

I would love to see a V6TT maybe pushing close to 400hp not a 4-cyl T.

:tup:



:yum:

I'd rather have a V8 in there than a V4. LS swap for 2015 Z? :roflpuke2:

Unfortunately the industry/majority doesn't agree with you. Everything is going to lighter, smaller and more efficient.

From the racing front, F1 is going to <2.5L V6 I think in 2013. LeMans had been running the green program for a few years now with the hybrids and diesels. NASCAR went to EFI and unleaded finally. Indycar is doing turbos once again.

On street cars, cars are becoming lighter, faster even though it is using less gas and putting out a smaller carbon footprint. Just look at what BMW is doing with their 328, Ford with their EcoBoost engines, Toyota with their hybrids. They put out the same power as their predecessor without burning all the extra fuel while lowering their weight, resulting in a faster car.

Yeah I know. Honestly, as long as it has the performance, looks, and sound I will be ok with it.

It will. Cars aren't getting slower, they are able to do it through different ways. Instead of boring motors out, they are using turbos and shave weight to achieve the same performance goals.