Hiroshi Tamura, Chief Engineer of the Nissan Z project, has that the development team prioritized driving experience over such abstract figures as top speed or sprint times.
Apparently, rather than turning the new Z into a car with a great spec sheet, the engineering team chose to compare it to a dance partner: the interaction between the driver and the car is what mattered the most, according to Tamura. Hence, all drivers who would rather see some higher figures in their vehicle passports are encouraged to pick another car.
The new Nissan Z comes equipped with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 mated to either a six-speed manual or a Jatco nine-speed automatic transmission. It sends up to 405 PS (400 hp / 298 kW) to the rear wheels. The 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint time is not announced, but we are told it is 15 percent shorter than that of the original 370Z – in other words, around four seconds.
Sales in North America will start next summer, and the estimated minimum price is $40,000.