The 2023 Nissan Z is the much-awaited seventh iteration of Nissan?s popular two-seat sports car. It debuted as the Nissan Z Proto concept in 2020, wearing new and vintage design cues that pay homage to its predecessors. It shares the same Z34 architecture as the outgoing 370Z, but the new Z car has its fair share of updates to run alongside competitors like the Toyota GR Supra and the 2024 Ford Mustang.

Setting The Stage

The iconic Nissan Z sports car has an interesting bit of history. When Nissan was looking to develop a replacement for its legendary Datsun Fairlady sports car in the 1960s, the Japanese automaker went to Yamaha. However, Nissan had apprehensions about the Yamaha-built and designed 2.0-liter DOHC four-banger engine and abandoned the project in mid-1964. Yamaha went to Toyota after refining the prototype sports car, which eventually gave birth to the mythical Toyota 2000GT.
As for Nissan, it eventually launched the first-gen Datsun Fairlady Z in 1969, and the Z car has become a cultural icon over the past six generations. ?The Nissan Z is our company?s heart and soul, bringing sports car design, performance, and excitement to a broad range of buyers, starting with the introduction of the first generation more than 50 years ago,? said Michael Colleran, Senior Vice President, Nissan U.S. Marketing and Sales.

2023 Nissan Z: Engine & Drivetrain

We?re talking about a new Nissan sports car, so the engine and driveline need to take center stage. ...