All-new Nissan Z makes its Australian debut with the help of its past generations
CY Foong · Aug 10, 2022 01:45 PM
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The Nissan Z is one of the most recognisable names in the sports car world and after hanging on for 11 years, the Z34 370Z is finally replaced by the RZ34 Nissan Z in 2022. Though it’s unlikely that the all-new Z will be brought into Malaysia officially by Edaran Tan Chong Motors (ETCM), the legendary model is recently launched in Australia.
According to Nissan Australia, the limited-edition Z Proto has been sold out but it still lists the standard Z Coupe for sale from AUD 80,095 (~RM 250k). The all-new Z might look like an evolution of the Z34 in terms of overall design and as the code name suggests but it is an important model in an age where electrification is the way to survive.
To commemorate the launch of the all-new Z Down Under, Nissan Australia gathered the most immaculate-looking bunch of its past 7 generations for a promotional shoot with the current Z.
Beginning with the Datsun 240Z in 1969, it was Japan’s proof to the world that it can produce a luxuriously appointed high-performance sports car fitted with a 6-cylinder engine that produced 136 PS. That might not sound like much today, considering the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine in the current Z makes 406 PS and 475 Nm but back in the late sixties, it might as well be a rocket.
Though the overall design shares the same silhouette as the original Z, the main inspiration behind the all-new Z’s design is the Z32 300ZX. The Z32 is also designer Alfonso Albaisa’s favourite generation of the bunch.
The twin-turbo V6 engine on the current Z is paired to either a 9-speed automatic or a 6-speed manual transmission that sends power to the rear wheels.
The Nissan Z is a thoroughbred sports car and in an age when enthusiast-oriented models are being whittled down in favour of EVs, crossovers, and everything in between, let’s acknowledge the beauty of these past and present generations of the famous Z while they are around.
Traded advertising for a career that fits his passion for cars. Enjoys spotting cars during his free time and has a soft spot for Japanese Kei cars but drives a thirsty manual sedan.
