I think that cayman turbo rumor is being confused with the Porsche 961: Porsche 961 confirmed | Auto Express
They won't let the cayman be better than the 911, but they will let another in house mid engine coupe be better.
It seems Porsche is all about making a new model almost every year going into the future.
Whatever they do to the new Z, I would love it to be lighter.

Spot on. I would go for and prefer the small 6 but if a small 4 can meet the goals. I wont knock it for being a 4. In the end, i just want a better performing easier and cheaper to modify Z. FI, for me is my savior because tuning and modifying is much more cost effective for power gains.

The specs on the cayman turbo is only 350hp on a 2.4L turbo 4. The 911 is is a 3.8L turbo 6 rated @ 500hp. How would it be better? The article did say they'd be using the porsche turbo engine on multiple models so, your point is STRONGLY in the valid area.

I am no newby when it comes to engines but I appreicate where your coming from. Your argument is understandable BUT consider today's technology and the fact that I was implying a complete redesign for the engine. The VQ is not exactly on the weight loss plan especially when ancient pushrod technology like the LSx series motors with more displacement are coming in lighter. Now also consider that those motors were designed to allow for varrying displacement. You can only go so far due to the size/design of the block. I further realize turbo equipment will add weight to any engine bay but your talking about perhaps 30 to 40 lbs if done right. With that said if you build a physically small, efficient, light v or i 6 block and add a turbo I believe 1) if Nissan chooses they can make a smaller chasis 2) this design would be easier to cram against the firewall 3) displacement will be up to design and physical dimensions.

Actually, I did read this thread entirely and I saw a lot of bad ideas...Sorry. You missed my point entirely. The irony is that Mazda designed the Rx8 on a McDonalds budget. They only had a hand full of engineers and designers working on it. And you are 100% incorrect as that chasis was shared with the Miata. It is a streched Miata chasis. As far as the drivetrain...Let's see Tranny handles 400 to the wheels (ask the 3 rotor guys)...Drive shaft over 600 wHP...Rear end unknown...I know this because there is a crazy dude I know running a 3 rotor in my neck of the woods and that car was nuts...All being run off the Rx8 drivetrain. You are right though it was out of passion but id did make total sense just look at some of the NAtional Autocross champions and what they are driving Miata's and Rx8's to name a few. It's sales sucked because the engine tech just wasn't there.

As far as the Z going to a dedicated chasis your making assumptions on my part. I assume Nissan is going for a redesign here. They've already implied a smaller platform so I assume they will have a BRZ/FRS competitor with a Z badge and a stretched version of that platform for the Infinity G so I would say the G is going on a diet as well.

My point is that Mazda did something right...They engineered an amazing chasis capable of handling much more power then it came with. Nissan would be wise to pay such attention to detail in there chasis. Small/strong turbo 6 cyl as close to mid-engine layout as possible (attached to the firewall and low) and over engineered drivetrain.

Lol my Honda prelude was faster than an rx8 that car was a joke compared to the s2000 and 350

Oh I meant any Cayman being better than any 911. So a Cayman Turbo would certainly be better than the base 911, especially since the Cayman S is already so close to the performance of the base 911.
I just think it would be weird for Porsche to have a Cayman Turbo AND a 961. Then again I never would have thought Porsche would have an SUV, and now they're going to have 2, not to mention 2 different 4/5 door models (at least) as well.

Put it on a track with more then strait lines and you'd be wrong. The S2000 is the only car you mentioned that I cannot deny was faster in a strait line and on the track from factory but this is not relevant.

Not that it means all that much, but the rx-8 and 350z put down the same time on the Top Gear test track.

I wouldn't call it a shoe string budget, it was worked in secret before upper management got wind of what was cooking.For a company the size of Mazda, I would consider it a hefty sum. It's true components of the chassis and it's design are shared with the Miata, but I wouldn't go so far as to call it the same platform, hence why the chassis designations aren't the same.. The FM platform is used on the Z, G, M, and FX vehicles. Vastly different in size to a 2500lbs Miata. Nissan is only on it's 2nd generation with the platform, it really isn't that old and would most likely prefer to have it play host to another generation of vehicles. Every vehicle using the FM platform has received very positive feedback with regards to the bones.

The VQ designation is a bit long in the tooth, but the engines now only share very basic design elements with the original VQ engines. They have evolved at least once every model generation. Nissan is going to tap that thing out until it's just not competitive. It is the highest performing NA V6 on the market. Even amongst all these brand new engines, it stands above the rest in terms of performance. NVH, different matter :)

Back the RX-8 (I really like the 09-11 redesign and came close to purchasing one). Torque is the real determining factor to when things break. Torque is the amount of force that is applied, not the actual speed of the movement (that's hp). I admit not knowing the full picture with the RX-8 drivetrain, but it really was designed around the characteristics of the Renesis engine. Take a look at how light and small components for Formula cars are! They don't make a lot of torque, but they make a lot of hp. Mazda will only overbuild it to a point, just like every other manufacturer. I don't think anyone would prefer a structurally weaker drivetrain as a cost for weight savings. That really handicaps the aftermarket community.

And BTW, thank you for keeping it clean. Even if we disagree on things, I think it's irritating when someone gets butt hurt when someone else challenges their view.

Yeah but the base 911 is till 3.8litre 400N/A HP which can sustain power longer through the revs with way more continuous torque than a 2.4 l4. the 911 would still be a sub 4 second to 60mph car while the porsche cayman would get 4.4 sec to 60 ONLY with the sport chrono package. Without it, specs sound like a 4.7 to 4.9 sprint. The 911 went through "They cayman is better from 2007-2012" anyway. Many felt though the cayman was slower, it was a truer sports car. Regardless, the 911 is still considered legendary.

Even the miata is getting a 1.3sky activ turbo. lol :tup:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...EUjkg3KPwJ9RCw

Anyone driven a supercharged z4M, that thing felt like an s2k on steroids

My concern about the next gen Z is this....

Look back at all Z's produced PRIOR to the 370Z. In all of the marketing and ads, the names were referred to as the ***Z (insert favorite model). They referred to the 350Z as the 350Z and the 300ZX and the 300ZX. But look at the all of the marketing materials for the 370Z. Nissan does not refer to it as the 370Z, they instead call it just the "Z".

This is not a very BIG thing, but if you pay attenion to Nissan's nomenclature. The *** (300, 370, 240) indicated engine displacement. If Nissan were to release a 1.8L Turbo 4-banger (based on the Juke engine), then it would be referred to as a 180Z. This would be HUGE since it would be the first time Nissan decreased engine displacement and would not follow tradition. However, if Nissan were to install a 2.4L turbo engine and called it a 240Z, it would have puriest outraged that they are attempting to redo the classic '70s 240Z.

With this said, if Nissan conveniently DROPS the *** numerical nomenclature from the title and just refers to the model as the "Z". They can stuff whatever engine they want into the chassis and most people would not care (except the Z purests).

I vote Nissan breaks the mold and goes a performance oriented NA VK56-based V8. Make it the Mustang GT/ Camaro SS killer priced accordingly. This would allow it to be powered LOWER than the flagship GT-R, makes additional power, and would really excite the aftermarket with parts by having one of the first widely available V8-powered sports cars from Japan. Nissan has put a lot of effort in developing the VK56 engine both in V8 Supercars and the LeMans racing series around the world. The only missing part of the equation is stuffing it into a performance oriented street chassis.

Regardless of this turbo nonsense for the likes of Porsche and Toybaru. I want a turbo'd Z next generation. Where is the speculation at on that? Where are the "credible" online sources fleshing this story out? This is insanity! I demand answers :stirthepot:

A V8 Z would be awesome. If you look at Nissan's website, they already call it the "Z coupe" and "Z roadster" dropping the 370 from the name. It only says 370Z when you click on it to explore the car further.