NISSAN Z FANS HAVE BEEN EAGERLY anticipating the arrival of the latest model, and Nissan Australia has confirmed it will be here mid-year. They’ve also locked in Australian prices for the highly anticipated new twin-turbo V6 sports coupe, with the latest version of the legendary Z to be introduced at $73,300 (plus on road costs).
To celebrate the launch, a special edition Proto Spec flagship version, exclusively in Ikazuchi Yellow paintwork topped by a Super Black roof, will be offered until sold out. The Z Proto Spec, with its bespoke interior and 19-inch bronze forged alloy wheels enclosing yellow brake calipers, will be priced at $80,700 (plus on road costs).
Unlike the Z Coupe, which will arrive in greater numbers, the Z Proto is strictly limited, with several hundred reservations so far received by Nissan Australia.
“I know Australian fans of the Z family have been waiting patiently for further details about this impressive new sports coupe, and I’m thrilled to be able to confirm pricing and further specification details for our market,” says Nissan Australia Managing Director, Adam Paterson.
“The fastest, most powerful and most exciting Z car ever is now ready to launch in Australia, and I can’t wait for people to climb behind the wheel of this new icon.”
The latest Z, proudly still rear-wheel drive and offered with the option of a close-ratio manual gearbox in keeping with the Nissan Z car sports lineage, can trace its origins back to the much-loved 240Z, which was first introduced to Australia in September 1970.
The new Z is powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 with variable valve timing, force-fed by small-diameter turbochargers, regulated for maximum spooling speed and to balance power output and throttle-response time.
These enhancements improve power to weight by 13 per cent over the Z’s hugely impressive and much-loved predecessor and shave the acceleration time from rest to 100km/h by approximately 15 percent.
Peak power and torque rise in the new engine to 298kW and 475Nm – the latter being 31 percent higher than its predecessor – ensuring exhilarating performance in the new Nissan Z.
The standard specification for Australia will load the Z with a leather-accented interior, launch control, a fully customisable 12.3-inch TFT display, an 8.0-inch infotainment screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smart-phone integration, and three driving modes – Standard, Enhanced and Sport – each one automatically optimising the information provided to the driver.
The Z’s six-speed close-ratio manual gearbox variant is paired with a high-performance clutch supplied by Japanese motor racing specialist Exedy, and linked to the rear wheels via a carbon-fibre composite driveshaft. The optional nine-speed automatic gearbox is fly-by-wire for rapid response to inputs from the aluminium paddle-shifters and features two drive modes – standard and sport.
All automatic transmission-equipped models feature the launch control system. Manual-transmission-equipped models also feature a carbon-fibre composite driveshaft and Downshift Rev Matching.
The new Z will be on sale in Australia in mid-2022.