Selwyn_Times: December 13, 2023
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34 <strong>Selwyn</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Wednesday <strong>December</strong> <strong>13</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
New Nissan Z pays homage to its history<br />
A NEW and long overdue<br />
version of one of Japan’s most<br />
iconic sport coupes, the Nissan<br />
Z, is keeping the torch burning<br />
for these models, at a time when<br />
many car makers are hitting the<br />
delete button on them.<br />
This is a Nissan with a colourful<br />
history, dated back 54 years<br />
to 1969 when the great grand<br />
dad of today’s Z – the Datsun<br />
240Z made its world debut.<br />
The new, seventh-generation Z,<br />
dropped its numerical prefix and<br />
in the process a little bit of the<br />
cars heritage.<br />
The new Z adopts a traditional<br />
rear-wheel-drive sports car<br />
design, with a long bonnet, lower<br />
rear end stance and a silhouette<br />
that pays homage to the firstgeneration<br />
Z. The designers<br />
utilised the latest technologies to<br />
streamline the design, and incorporated<br />
LED lighting. The LED<br />
headlights have two half-circles<br />
that take their inspiration from<br />
the Japan market-only 240ZG of<br />
the 1970s. The link the original<br />
Z has to this car is most obvious<br />
when viewed from the side. The<br />
roofline flows from the nose to<br />
the squared-off rear to create<br />
a distinctive first-generation Z<br />
Motoring with Bob Nettleton<br />
profile. The latest incarnation<br />
remains steadfastly wed to rearwheel<br />
drive with the close-ratio<br />
manual transmission linked to<br />
the rear wheels via a carbonfibre<br />
composite driveshaft. All<br />
automatic transmission models<br />
feature the launch control system<br />
to slingshot this legendary sports<br />
car out of the starting blocks at<br />
high velocity.<br />
All models run a high-energy<br />
3.0-litre V6 twin turbo engine<br />
with the choice of a close-ratio<br />
6-speed manual gearbox complete<br />
or a 9-speed automatic with<br />
paddle shifters. Both wear the<br />
same $84,990 price tag. The test<br />
vehicle was an auto, which most<br />
buyers are expected to opt for.<br />
The motor features variable<br />
valve timing, force-fed by smalldiameter<br />
turbochargers, regulated<br />
for maximum spooling speed<br />
to balance power output and<br />
throttle-response time. These<br />
enhancements improve the<br />
vehicle’s power to weight ratio<br />
by over 12 per cent and deliver<br />
sharper acceleration compared<br />
to its impressive predecessor<br />
the 370Z – and it was no slouch.<br />
Peak power and torque rise in<br />
the new engine to 298kW and<br />
Ratings out of 10: Performance 8; Handling 8; Styling 7;<br />
Comfort 6; Fit and Finish 8; Value for money 7; Safety – Five<br />
Star ANCAP crash rating. Possible clean car fee of $3248<br />
and $6900<br />
Overall points out of 10: 7.5<br />
475Nm – the latter being 31 per<br />
cent higher than its predecessor.<br />
With its strong, almost turbinelike<br />
power delivery there are few<br />
other six-cylinder coupes that<br />
provide the exhilarating acceleration<br />
of this one for its asking<br />
price. It even knocks the performance<br />
spots off a number of<br />
more expensive rivals. A clever<br />
variable valve timing system<br />
stretches this torque band to the<br />
max enabling the motor to rev<br />
effortlessly across a broader rev<br />
range.<br />
It was a blast from the past<br />
to drive a conventional engine<br />
without any form of electrification.<br />
This is a driving pleasure<br />
that is going to become increasingly<br />
harder to indulge, unless<br />
you have a car like this one<br />
stowed away in your garage. You<br />
have to wonder with conventional<br />
engines about to be swept<br />
away by a wave of EVs, whether<br />
this model could become very<br />
collectable, with the heart and<br />
soul that EVs are devoid of.<br />
The new 9-speed automatic<br />
offers direct and rapid gear<br />
changes that are executed with<br />
pinpoint precision. It gave the<br />
test car an extra lively feel thanks<br />
to its wide gear ratios and standard<br />
launch control system. For<br />
those wanting to get closer to the<br />
gear changing action, aluminum<br />
paddle shifters are standard. The<br />
unique paddle shifters are the<br />
same design used on the menacing<br />
Nissan GT-R, performance<br />
models.<br />
Designed to fit the driver and<br />
passenger like a glove, the snug<br />
cabin seamlessly blends modern<br />
technology with vintage Z touches.<br />
The centre stack uses a threezone<br />
approach, placing three<br />
analogue pod gauges on the<br />
instrument panel (boost, turbo<br />
speed, volt) and all within the<br />
driver’s gaze. Both the manual<br />
and automatic shift levers are<br />
new, each custom-engineered<br />
for the best possible grip and<br />
comfort.<br />
Comfy black woven cloth seats<br />
with an 8-way manual driver’s<br />
seat are a great place to enjoy<br />
all this iconic sport car has to<br />
offer. A full range of convenience<br />
technology includes Nissan<br />
Intelligent Key with Push Button<br />
Start, Intelligent Cruise Control,<br />
auto-dimming rearview mirror,<br />
Rearview Monitor, two 12-volt<br />
power points, and two USB<br />
points (Type-A and Type-C).<br />
There’s a modest 8.0-inch touch<br />
screen, a lot smaller than you<br />
would expect in a car costing this<br />
much. It does make up for this to<br />
some degree with useful no cost<br />
add-ons such as Apple CarPlay,<br />
Android Auto, and Bluetooth<br />
Hands-free Phone System.<br />
There’s been a worthwhile rejig<br />
of the suspension. The front and<br />
rear dampers have switched to a<br />
new mono tube shock absorber<br />
design with a larger diameter<br />
than the outgoing 370Z. The upshot<br />
is an estimated 20 per cent<br />
reduction in dampening force to<br />
help minimise impact shock over<br />
uneven surfaces, and unleash<br />
better handling stability. The<br />
front double-wishbone aluminum<br />
suspension features uprated<br />
geometry with this mathematical<br />
wizardry improving the vehicle’s<br />
straight-line stability. A twopoint<br />
front strut tower brace is<br />
standard. The rear independent<br />
multi-link aluminum suspension<br />
has also been reconfigured with<br />
new settings.<br />
The low speed ride in finest<br />
Z traditions is almost as still as<br />
a British upper lip in low speed<br />
town driving, particularly over<br />
the worst badly worn road<br />
surfaces. The road holding<br />
is simply superb. Whether it<br />
a long sweeping corner or a<br />
tight and unforgiving one, the<br />
test car navigated them with<br />
consummate ease. Its low-slung<br />
stance and the huge footprint of<br />
the meaty tyres give the excellent<br />
grip required to take charge on<br />
bumpy undulating surfaces,<br />
with plenty of adhesion in<br />
reserve if needed.<br />
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