The Nissan 400Z was recently unveiled, and it has taken the car world by storm.
The design of the 400Z is based on its classic predecessors, with a long hood and short deck.
It has several styling elements harking back to the original 240Z, too, such as its bonnet bulge, rectangular front grille, and low roofline.
Another historical design cue is the rear lamps that find their roots in the Z32 300ZX.
These design features have undergone a modern twist, however, as it now has LED tail lights – while the grille has been developed with knowledge gained during the development of the GT-R.
Power
The 400Z comes with more power than its predecessor, thanks to a new 3.0-litre, V6, twin-turbo petrol engine mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or a nine-speed automatic gearbox.
This motor produces 298kW and 475Nm at 5,600rpm, and sends this power to the rear wheels.
Nissan also improved the handling of the 400Z by enhancing body rigidity, adding electronic power steering with a mechanical feel, and wider front tires.
The shock dampers were upgraded, too, and are now a monotube design. This results in a smoother ride over uneven surfaces.
The market
If the 400Z reaches South Africa, it will face tough competition from a range of popular sports cars.
While there is no South African pricing for the Nissan 400Z as yet, we can see what it competes against based on power and target market.
Audi RS3
- Price – N/A
- Engine – 2.5-litre 5-cylinder
- Power – 294kW/500Nm
- 0-100km/h – 3.8 seconds
Audi TT RS
- Price – R1,083,000
- Engine – 2.5-litre 5-cylinder
- Power – 294kW/480Nm
- 0-100km/h – 3.7 seconds
BMW M2 Competition
- Price – R1,139,464
- Engine – 3.0-litre 6-cylinder
- Power – 302kW/550Nm
- 0-100km/h – 4.2 seconds
BMW Z4 M40i
- Price – R1,216,888
- Engine – 3.0-litre 6-cylinder
- Power – 285kW/500Nm
- 0-100km/h – 4.1 seconds
Mercedes-AMG A45 S
- Price – R1,196,840
- Engine – 2.0-litre 4-cylinder
- Power – 310kW/500Nm
- 0-100km/h – 3.9 seconds
Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0
- Price – R1,470,000
- Engine – 4.0-litre six-cylinder
- Power – 294kW/430Nm
- 0-100km/h – 4.0 seconds
Toyota GR Supra
- Price – R1,052,100
- Engine – 3.0-litre six-cylinder
- Power – 250kW/500Nm
- 0-100km/h – 4.3 seconds
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