The New Z Proto: What to expect of Nissan's latest version of the Fairlady

With the current 370Z slowly aging towards a well-deserved retirement, many wonder what it means for the iconic car whose history dates back more than 50 years ago. It wasn't just another tuner that was only good for a lot of noise and smoke. This is the end of an era for the traditional sports car that was light on luxuries but still delivered a fun driving experience. Well, now that we have a peek into the next iteration in the series called the 400Z, it is important to take a look back what makes this car series so special.

 

The 400Z is the latest addition to Nissan's Fairlady Z series.

Back in the late 1960s, the Datsun 240Z made history as a halo 3-door sports coupe from Japan that could challenge the British MG GT and the American Ford Mustang Fastback on the track any day of the week. In addition to its robust performance, the Fairlady Z was surprisingly economical and didn't suffer from the occasional breakdown when used as a daily driver. This was a cultural icon that Nissan didn't let go even after its merger with Datsun.

 

The Datsun 240Z was the dawn of Japanese sport cars.

As the dawn of the new century came close, the Nissan 350Z set the groundwork for what the series' future would be. This new Z33 coupe was sleeker, meaner, and much more customizable. With a new 3.5L V6 engine, it was more powerful as well. For the next two decades, the 350Z was a benchmark for Japanese tuner cars. Even the new generation of teens who knew nothing about automobiles had at least played a racing video game with the Nissan 350Z in it. However, the name of the game was modification. There are Z33 builds out there that have more than 700 hp on the factory engine. Especially with the Toyota Supra and Honda S2000 out of stock in the United States, the 350Z was the canvas where the best of tuners painted their magnum opus.

 

The 350Z set the benchmark for all future tuners.

While the next in line, the 370Z, didn't have a lot of upgrades over its predecessor, it was still a fun-to-drive car with the bare basic in terms of comfort. And Nissan was adamant about tradition. So much so that this was the only sports car in 2020 that still had a CD player as standard. Now, I am going to be frank here, there is "traditional" and then there is the "How do you do, fellow kids?" meme. Thankfully, it seems Nissan is pulling away from this trend for the 400Z.

For 2021, there are a fair few upgrades(pun intended) to make the Fairlady Z truly deserve the title of a sports car of the 21st Century. This time, you don't need to buy an extra turbocharging kit right after driving it out of the showroom. Nissan is generous enough to grant two of them right off the assembly line. The powertrain is clearly inspired from the similarly aged GT-R. Although some might see this as an attempt to extend the lifespan for an old powertrain, to me it seems like they are taking the best out of the previous generation Godzilla of a track car and making it tamer for a more street-friendly use. And yes, a manual 6-speed transmission comes as standard.

The insides of the Nissan 400Z are more modern than ever in the series.

On the inside, the difference between the 400Z and the 370Z is night and day. Gone are the cramped cabin seats and dull dashboard. Instead, you get a full digital display and a console touchscreen that has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity(Finally!). You get a drive mode selector switch by default and an option for premium leather upholstery means the new Fairlady Z can have a gentleman's ambience on the inside.

On the outside, you can clearly spot the beautiful lines and front grille that pay homage to the classic Fairlady Z. As you move backwards, the sleek slopes remind you of the Z33 and the 370Z, finishing with the multi-section tail lights that Datsun first introduced in 1966. If that wasn't enough, a lot of Z badges and the redesigned headlights clearly lets anyone know exactly what they're looking at. Nissan will allow the classic bright yellow color schemes for all trims but it should be noted that more skins and a better performance NISMO version shall also be available down the line. So, fingers crossed.

 

Sticking to tradition, even the tail lights remind of the classic Fairlady Z.

It is clear that this new Fairlady Z is a direct rival to the new Toyota Supra, moving away from its more traditional competition such as the Subaru BRZ and the GT 86. The Supra is quicker to hit the road with the first pre-orders fulfilled as early as February 2020. Yet, it is clear that the 400Z is more about the traditional sports car fun, rather than the Supra which has gone full BMW with no manual transmission even as an option. It is still unclear when we'll get to drive one but one thing is certain: this would be a showdown to watch out for.