Bitauto Original Not long ago, the latest model of Nissan's Z series - Z (Z34) was officially launched in Japan. It has a history of 53 years since 1969, with a total of 7 generations of models. The Z series has always had two completely different nicknames among car fans, one is "Devil" and the other is "Lady". So today I will take you to review this JDM sports car with two completely different nicknames.
·Previous Life of Nissan Z
Nissan Z is not Nissan’s first two-seat sports car. As early as 1959, Nissan launched a sports car named Datsun Fairlady under the Datsun brand. It is said that the name Fairlady was inspired by the then Nissan president after watching the musical stage play "My Fair Lady" on Broadway. At first, the main competitors of this car were Roadster sports cars such as MG MGA, Triumph TR3, Fiat 1200 and Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider.
In 1960, the Fairlady landed in the U.S. market. Although the car had a good response in the Japanese and European markets, in that era when gasoline was like water, Americans believed that this car The displacement of the 1.2L engine was too small to be called a sports car, so it sold very poorly in the United States. Although two engines, 1.6L and 2.0L, were launched later, they still did not achieve good results.
At this time, Yutaka Katayama, then president of Nissan North America, realized the importance to Nissan of a civilian sports car with equal power and price. So he asked product planners to imagine a new GT sports car series that would be stylish, powerful, reliable and relatively cheap at the same time by using common parts with other Nissan vehicles. Later, Yutaka Katayama was also called the "Father of Nissan Z".
·The first generation Nissan Z S30 (1969–1978)
At the end of 1969, this model was conceived by Yutaka Katayama and produced by Yoshihiko Matsuo. The new GT sports car designed by Matsuo has officially debuted. The new car's chassis code is S30, and it is named Nissan Fairlady Z. We already know the meaning of Fairlady, and Z is because it is the last digit of the 26 English letters, which has the ultimate meaning. So this new model was named Fairlady Z. But in the North American market, Katayama Yutaka believes thatFairlady was not influential enough and was worried that it would fail again, so it used the name Datsun 240Z. The new car began to be officially sold in 1970.
The car is priced at US$3,601 in the US market Yuan, which was $200 lower than the popular MG MGB GT at the time. The Fairlady Z’s long front and hatchback tailgate are very reminiscent of the Jaguar E-type.
The initial version of Fairlady Z adopted the model number L 20's 2.0L inline six-cylinder SOHC engine with a maximum power of 96kW, matched with a four-speed or five-speed manual transmission. The US market is equipped with a 2.4L inline six-cylinder SOHC engine with a maximum power of 110kW, only matched with a four-speed manual transmission. and three-speed automatic transmission. 2. The 4L manual version can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 7.8 seconds. No other vehicle in the same price range can compete with its performance.
In the end, it relies on its fashionable shape and modern The modern configuration, relatively low price and strong performance aroused widespread popularity among consumers and unanimous praise from the media. For several months, dealers did not have any spare 240Z to use as a show car.
Fairlady The nickname Z "Devil's Z" also comes from the S30. The midnight blue Fairlady Z driven by the hero in the comic "Wangan MIDNIGHT" was modified from the S30. The car was modified to have 600 horsepower on the rear wheels and a top speed of over 300km/h. Because of its terrifying power, the previous owners died in car accidents, and it has since been nicknamed "Devil's Z"
Fairlady. In its first year on the market, the Z sold a total of 16,215 units in the United States. By the mid-1974 model year, the car's total sales had reached 46,282 units. At this time, the Fairlady Z had established a solid sports car image in the minds of consumers. /p>
In 1974, Fairlady Z was the first to launch a mid-term facelift model in the US market. The new car was named 260Z because it used a 2.6L engine. The new car was not introduced until 1978 when it was mandated by the United States. The 5 mph low-speed crash test givesRubber buffers have been added to the front and rear bumpers, and the interior has also been adjusted, making it more luxurious than the old model.
At the same time, 260Z also launched a wheelbase extension 300mm 2+2 model. Although the extra second row of seats makes the Fairlady Z more in line with the positioning of a GT sports car and more practical, the extended wheelbase destroys the perfectly proportioned shape of the original version, so this 2+2 version did not gain much popularity. Loved by many.
The engine of the 260Z is an original 2.4L engine with a longer piston stroke, the displacement is expanded to 2.6L, and the maximum power is increased to 123kW. But in fact, due to US federal emissions regulations at the time, the US version of the car was forced to reduce the ignition timing and compression ratio, resulting in its power output being reduced to 104kW.
In 1975, in order to meet the increasingly stringent emission and safety requirements in the United States while maintaining the sportiness of the S30 model, Nissan specially launched the Datsun 280Z model in the North American market. , the engine of the new car has been upgraded again to 2.8L, and a Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection system has been added, with the maximum power reaching 127kW. In addition to the four-speed manual transmission and the three-speed automatic transmission, a five-speed manual transmission is also optional. At the same time, in order to increase fuel consumption, the car also canceled the full-size spare tire and replaced it with a larger-size fuel tank.
·Second-generation Nissan Z S130 (1978–1983)
In 1978, Nissan launched the second-generation Z, officially named Nissan 280ZX, the North American market is Datsun 280ZX, while the Japanese domestic market still retains the nickname "Fairlady". In the same year, Toyota launched the first-generation SUPRA (A40) based on the Toyota Celica liftback in order to compete with the Nissan Z.
The focus of the 280ZX has changed from a sports car to a GT sports car, so except for the engine and gearbox, almost the entire vehicle has been redesigned . The appearance is more square than the old model, the front shape is better integrated with the front bumper, the aerodynamics are optimized, and the drag coefficient is reduced from 0.467Cd to 0.385Cd. The interior features large, soft seats, velvet upholstery and a premium sound system. To improve comfort, many parts including the rear axle and steering system are sourced from the Datsun 810 luxury sedan.
The 280ZX still offers two-door two-seater and two-door four-seater versions, with a new T-tops version with a removable roof. The new car is softer and more secureA quiet car that pays more attention to driver comfort and refinement than handling performance. This also results in its price being much more expensive than the old model, with the basic version priced at US$10,000.
Despite the high price compared to the old model, the 280ZX is still very popular and was selected as the Imported Car of the Year in 1979 by Motor Trend magazine. While the new car is praised for its better comfort and luxury, many Z series fans also regret that it emphasizes luxury rather than driving pleasure. The extra weight also made the 280ZX accelerate very slowly. It took more than 11 seconds to accelerate from 0-60 mph. Therefore, the 280ZX was called a slug by Z-series fans who focused on handling.
In 1981, the launch of the 280ZX Turbo version restored its sports car image. The 2.8T turbocharged engine of this model L28ET uses a Garrett TB03 turbocharger, which can produce a boost of 0.47Bar and a maximum power of 134kW. Interestingly, this engine was considered too powerful by the Japanese Ministry of Transportation and Communications to obtain type certification. The Ministry of Transportation only allows turbochargers to be installed on engines below 2.0L (inclusive), thus giving birth to the 2.0T turbocharger in the Japanese market. Pressure engine version.
According to the 1982 "Road & Track" car magazine test, the manual transmission version of the 280ZX Turbo accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds. , the automatic version is 7.1 seconds. It is faster than the Corvette C3's 8.9-second acceleration and the Ferrari 308GTSi's 7.9-second acceleration at the same time. In the US market at that time, only the Porsche 911SC (930) was the only car that could surpass the acceleration performance of the Turbo ZX.
In 1982, Nissan carried out a mid-term facelift of the 280ZX. The new bumper adopts the same color design as the body, the air duct in the hood has been improved, new 14/15-inch aluminum alloy wheels have been installed, and the B-pillar trim has been changed to gloss black. A very advanced vehicle alarm system of the year was added internally. For example, if the headlights are not turned off after the vehicle is turned off, the vehicle will sound an alarm to remind the driver to turn off the lights.
·The third generation Nissan Z Z31 (1983–1989)
September 16, 1983 The third generation Nissan Z was launched, named Nissan 300ZX, and the name in the Japanese market is still Fairlady Z. The North American market will no longer use the Datsun brand and will be unified as the Nissan 300ZX. This is a model with a strong 1980s style. The square appearance, jumping light design and digital instruments all reflect the unique style of that era.
In terms of power, 300ZX is the first mass-produced car equipped with a V6 engine in the history of Japanese cars. There are two 3.0L V6 engines to choose from. They are VG30E naturally aspirated and VG30ET turbocharged, with maximum powers of 120kW and 150kW respectively. . The American version of VG30ET could reach a maximum power of 170kW due to relatively loose emission restrictions, which also made the 300ZX the most powerful mass-produced car produced in Japan at the time.
In addition, in the Japanese market, Nissan has specially supplied two 2.0L engines in order to cope with taxes and fees related to the Ministry of Transport. One is a 2.0T V6 turbocharged engine model VG20ET with a maximum power of 127kW. The other is a 2.0T inline six-cylinder turbocharged engine model RB20DET, with a maximum power of 158kW. It is worth mentioning that the RB20DET engine is the first mass-produced engine in the world to use ceramic technology turbochargers.
As with the 280ZX, those purists hate Nissan for converting the aesthetics of a GT sports car to sports performance, but for the average consumer, this generation of models combines luxury with high performance. The performance of the tool has been well received. Making it the second best-selling model in the history of the Z series.
·The fourth generation Nissan Z Z32 (1989–2000)
In 1990, the fourth generation Nissan Z was launched. Although it was still named 300ZX, the Japanese market was Fairlady Z.But the chassis code was changed to Z32. But the new car has a completely new design inside and out. The appearance is lower and wider, and the shape reduces hard lines and becomes rounded, making it look more modern. It is also one of the first cars to use CDA computer graphics design
The suspension is also more complex than the old model, and the front suspension The frame uses double wishbones instead of MacPherson struts, and the rear suspension is a new multi-link independent suspension. The rear wheels of the car are equipped with a four-wheel steering system called "Super HICAS" (High Capacity Active Control Steering). If necessary, the rear wheels will have a certain steering angle to reduce understeer. Not only does this make the new 300ZX handle better, it makes it handle better than almost any other new car.
In terms of power, the naturally aspirated version uses the same 3.0L V6 engine as the old model. The new VG30DE engine is equipped with DOHC and variable valve timing (N-VCT). , the maximum power reaches 166kW.
The turbo version uses parallel twin turbochargers and dual intercoolersLayout design, the 3.0L V6 engine of this model VG30DETT has a maximum power of 224kW. 0-60 mph acceleration time is reduced to about 5 seconds. However, in Japan, due to the famous Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) gentleman's agreement, its power is limited to 206kW. At the same time, the 300ZX is also the first model to be launched after the power upper limit agreement.
The Z32 was a success as soon as it was launched. Nissan once again set a new benchmark for the Z series, and finally satisfied both purists and high-end consumers. It was once again named Imported Car of the Year (1990) by "Motor Trend". The turbo version of the 300ZX was selected as one of the top ten best cars of the year by "Car and Driver" for seven consecutive years during its life cycle.
In addition to the regular hardtops, T-tops and 2+2 versions, Nissan added a new model to the 300ZX series in 1992 Convertible model. The car is equipped with a manually foldable soft-top convertible and a roll cage used to increase the strength of the body structure.
In the 1990s, due to the rise in the exchange rate of the yen against the U.S. dollar and the increase in U.S. consumption Due to many problems such as consumers' less and less demand for sports cars, the price of the basic version of the 300ZX rose from more than 30,000 US dollars to 50,000 US dollars in 1996, and sales were getting worse and worse. Finally, in this year, Nissan stopped all sales of the 300ZX in overseas markets, and only maintained sales in the Japanese domestic market until 2000.
Finally, let me tell you a little story about the Z32 car lights. In 1999, Lamborghini Diablo (Ghost) had to cancel the jumping light design due to regulatory reasons, but at that time Lamborghini's new owner Audi had already begun to invest a lot of money in the development of the next generation flagship model Murcielago (Bat). In the end, Lamborghini negotiated with Nissan to install the Z32's headlights on the Diablo, a move that saved Audi millions of dollars in development costs.
·The fifth-generation Nissan Z Z33 (2002–2009)
In 1999, Nissan launched its first international car in North America A concept car called 240Z Concept was released at the auto show. This car was built by Nissan's California design work. It took only 12 weeks from drawing to concept model. Its main purpose was to test the response of the North American market to the Fairlady Z after an absence of three years. As a result, it achieved the desired effect, and people began to discuss the story of "Lady" again.
In February 2000, the then Nissan Motor Co.COO Carlos Ghosn announced at a press conference that the new Fairlady Z sports car will be built and Nissan will make money from it. At the North American International Auto Show the following year, he fulfilled this promise and brought a Fairlady Z concept car that was very close to the production version.
In August 2002, the fifth-generation Z series sports car was finally launched, with the global name 350Z, Japan The market name is Fairlady Z, and the chassis code is Z33. Its smooth body lines and perfect proportions of a long front and short rear are undoubtedly the best interpretation of the Z series. The interior design features a large number of brushed aluminum elements. The barrel-type instruments are mounted directly on the steering column, allowing them to be adjusted in line with the steering wheel. The triple table layout on the center console is inspired by the first-generation Fairlady Z.
The configuration is even more luxurious, it is equipped with xenon headlights , cruise control, GPS navigation, TCS traction control system, VDC dynamic control system, VLSD rear viscous limited slip differential, 18-inch Rays lightweight wheels, Brembo brake calipers, etc. What’s even more surprising is that the base version is priced at only US$26,809, which is nearly half cheaper than the previous generation model.
The 350Z adopts a front-rear drive layout and shares its engine with models such as the Infiniti G35. The engine model is VQ35DE, which is a 3.5L V6 naturally aspirated engine equipped with 24 valves, dual overhead camshafts, variable valve timing and a high compression ratio of 10.3:1, with a maximum power of 214kW. It is matched with a six-speed manual transmission and a five-speed automatic transmission.
This generation of 350Z also provides a two-seater version. The previous 2+2 and T-tops versions no longer appear, but in 2004 , the convertible version of Z returns, named 350Z Roadster/Fairlady Z Roadster. The roof adopts an electric folding soft-top structure, and the configuration and power are not much different from the hard-top version.
On September 8, 2006, Nissan (China) Investment Co., Ltd. held a joint launch ceremony for Nissan imported cars with the theme of "Beyond the Future, More Exciting", officially Announced the launch of 350Z in China, and announced a price of 582,000 yuan, with only 3.5 6MT configurations available.
In 2007, the 350Z ushered in a mid-term facelift. The only difference in appearance was that the engine cover had a raised shape. Not only It reminds people of 240Z. The engine is replaced with the latest model VQ35HR, with maximum power228kW, the redline speed is raised to 7500rpm.
The engine has been upgraded, and the potential of the 350Z has begun to be truly unleashed. Chris Forsberg is a three-time Formula Drift champion driving a 350Z. Perhaps from this time on, Fairlady Z's nickname "Drifting Lady" spread among the people.
In the same year, Nissan launched the 350Z in the Japanese market The strongest version——NISMO Type 380RS. The car is priced at 5.397 million yen and is limited to 300 units. It is built by Nissan's performance department NISMO. The new appearance kit and rear wing add extra downforce to the vehicle.The engine comes from the 3.8L V6 naturally aspirated for racing. gas engine, with a maximum power of 257kW. Standard features include front and rear Brembo brake calipers, Yamaha shock absorbers and lightweight forged wheels measuring 18 inches in front and 19 inches in the rear.
·Sixth generation Nissan Z Z34 (2008–2020)
In December 2008, the Japanese version of the sixth-generation Z was first unveiled. Like the previous five generations, it was still named Fairlady Z. The following year, the North American version was officially released and named 370Z. The appearance continues the general outline of the 350Z, but the lines are more muscular and extremely aggressive. The interior also retains a large number of design elements of the 350Z, but only the details have been optimized to highlight the sporty atmosphere.
As the name suggests, the new car uses a 3.7L V6 naturally aspirated engine model VQ37VHR to replace the old 3.5L engine. The maximum power of this engine is 248kW. Transmission options include a six-speed manual and a seven-speed automatic. Among them, the manual transmission is the first transmission to adopt Nissan's SynchroRev Match system, which can automatically increase the engine speed when decelerating and downshifting, achieving the same oil replenishment effect as toe.
Compared with the 350Z, the new car has made great efforts in size and lightweight. Its length, height and wheelbase have been reduced by 69mm, 7.6mm and 100mm respectively, and the width and The rear track has been increased by 33mm and 56mm. The lightweight design is equipped with an aluminum alloy subframe and aluminum alloy engine.feet as well as aluminum alloy front and rear covers and doors. The front and rear suspension control arms, steering knuckles and half shafts are made of forged aluminum alloy. In addition, through extensive improvements to the body structure, the torsional stiffness of the front of the body has been increased by 10%, and "V"-shaped reinforcements have been added to the rear of the chassis to help reduce rear lateral bending. The torsional stiffness of the rear body is increased by 22% and the vertical bending stiffness is increased by 30%.
The NISMO version of 370Z is also released together with the regular version. The appearance of this version is more conducive to optimizing aerodynamics. The engine power has been increased to 261kW, and only a 6-speed manual transmission is available. Equipped with stiffer shock absorbers and anti-roll bars to improve handling. It uses 19-inch RAYS forged wheels with Yokohama ADVAN Sport tires. The brakes use NISMO Sport calipers with four-piston front and two-piston rear.
In 2010, the convertible version 370Z was released, with the same power and configuration as the hard-top version.
At the 2012 Chicago Auto Show, the mid-term facelift model of the 370Z was unveiled. The changes between the model and the old model are not obvious, and it is available in Magma Red ( and Midnight Blue (Midnight Blue) two new car paints, new-style bumpers and wheels, added LED daytime running lights and a central touch screen, and improved braking system.
2013, Nissan It was announced at the Shanghai Auto Show that the 370Z was officially launched in China, with the hardtop model priced at 608,000 yuan and the convertible model priced at 668,000 yuan.
At the 2014 Guangzhou Auto Show, 2015 model 370Z is launched, the price of the hard-top model is reduced to 525,000 yuan, and the introduction of the convertible version is stopped.
2015 new NISM The O version is unveiled. This version of the aero kit is more exaggerated and aggressive than the old model. The interior adds red and black colors and Alcantara materials, and new-style 19-inch RAYS forged wheels adopt Bridgestone POTENZA. RE-11 or POTENZA S001 tires. Yamaha special performance shock absorbers were added.
At the Shanghai Auto Show in the same year. , Nissan officially introduced the NISMO version into China, priced at 645,000 yuan.
·The seventh-generation Nissan Z Z34 (2022-present)
In 2018, Nissan’s global design advanced Vice President Alfonso Albaisa expressed his gratitude to UMCar magazine WhichCar has confirmed that a successor to the Nissan 370Z is in development, the seventh-generation Nissan Z.
On March 19, 2020, Nissan applied for two new trademark patents: one is a new corporate trademark, and the other is a new Z series logo, which further The existence of the seventh-generation Z is confirmed.
On May 28 of the same year, Nissan’s official YouTube channel released a video called “NISSAN NEXT: From A to Z”. Showing the latest design styles, including the new Z. It can be seen from the video that the new Z will adopt a retro styling style, and its overall outline and headlights are based on the 240Z.
Shortly afterwards, the seventh-generation Z concept car was officially unveiled, named Nissan Z Proto. Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida explained at the launch: "This is not a pure concept model, its appearance is very close to a production car." The Z Proto concept car is a preview of the upcoming seventh-generation Z A first look at the appearance.
At the same time, Nissan also stated that the new Z will not use a new chassis code, but will share the chassis code Z34 with the 370Z and will use a 3.0L V6 twin-turbocharged engine. . Different from Toyota SUPRA (A90/A91), the new car will be equipped with a six-speed manual transmission and is expected to be launched in 2022. The price will be controlled at around US$40,000. And this will be the first Z series without a number.
On August 18, 2021, the seventh-generation Z will have its world premiere. Available in Z Sport and Z Performance configurations, production is expected to begin in spring 2022. In terms of appearance, the production version retains the design of the concept car to a great extent, and the retro shape pays tribute to the first-generation S30 model to a great extent.
Although the interior conforms to the popular simple style, the classic triple table and door panels The air conditioning outlets are also well integrated into it. It is worth mentioning that the new car still retains the mechanical handbrake. This contrary design is commendable.
In terms of power, Z is equipped with a 3.0L V6 twin-turbocharged engine model VR30DDTT, with a maximum power of 298kW. The transmissions matched to the engine are a 6-speed manual transmission with SynchroRev Match function and a 9-speed automatic transmission.
During the 2022 Tokyo Modification Show, Nissan announced that before the regular version is produced, it will launch a first commemorative edition with only a manual version in the Japanese local market, called Z Proto, priced at 6,966,300 yen. The Z Proto is limited to 240 units. If the number of reservations exceeds 240, the purchase rights will be determined by lottery and will go on sale in June. The limited edition will have the same yellow-black body, bronze wheels and yellow brake calipers as the concept version. The interior will also use yellow and black colors and suede material. There will be special limited edition badging on the inside and outside of the vehicle.
In addition to the first limited edition, the new Nissan Z will also launch three configuration models in the Japanese market, namely Fairlady Z, Fairlady Z Version S and Fairlady Z Version ST.
Editor’s comment: Nissan Fairlady Z does not have a wonderful legendary story like Nissan GT-R, Toyota SUPRA, Mazda RX-7 or Honda NSX, but when it was once After the glory of the Four Heavenly Kings of JDM faded, Fairlady Z still shined bright enough to illuminate herself. Nowadays, GT-R and NSX are coming to the end of their lives, and the next generation models are still unknown. SUPRA can only rely on BMW to revive them. Most of the JDM that we born in the 80s and 90s talked about have fallen into the long river of history. . On this occasion, this "lady" who has been dancing beside her elder brother "Godzilla" for more than half a century may be able to become the JDM "demon" of this era with her own power.
Note: Some of the pictures in this article come from official sources and the Internet.