World famous car guy Jay Leno was in Japan recently where he paid a visit to Nissan’s design studio. Not only did he jump behind the wheel of a restored Fairlady 240 ZG, he also chats with designer Shiro Nakamura and takes a peek at design progress on the next generation Z. If what we see in the video is true, it seems Nissan is planning to take the Z back to its roots for the upcoming model.

The design sketches show lots of S30 influence, and I don’t think there are many who think that’s a bad thing.

Take a watch and see for yourself.

-Mike

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1

bring back the s chassis!  =)

2

since the z was basically a rip-off of the jaguar e-type, maybe nissan could borrow from the modern jag, and just make it smaller. 
 
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VGXCA-bqE6c/TWPkjQynmUI/AAAAAAAAcao/NtQVebhgwlI/s640/Growler-E-2011.jpg
 
 

3

i wonder if this is why nissan is not going to do a S16 silvia, they will do a smaller Z car instead. 

Author4

 @Heathrussell That may be the case. There's been lots of rumors of the next Z being a stripped down, smaller model to battle the the Toyota86.

5

 @Mike Garrett  @Heathrussell Would be great, I was sad to hear about no S16. At least now with the 86/BRZ/FRS We have something fun and Japanese to play with, right? 

6

I saw this 240z redesign a while back and thought it was pretty cool... and honestly, I think it resembles the original model a little better... http://www.diseno-art.com/encyclopedia/concept_cars/datsun_240z_concept.html

7

What!? he doesnt like the Z32 that much?  Car is amazing haha.  I'm hoping the next Z is turbocharged like the Z32 and previous Z's.  And then have a S16 to battle the 86 GT.  Kinda how the S13 was the rival to the AE86, kinda...

8

I'm pretty sure when jay bent over prentending to wash the car, he was making love to it

9

me like!

10

 @dangina the fact that he has such great appreciation for a rear quarter panel shows that he's definitely a car nut. =)

11

Is that a BRE Air Dam or Jay Leno's chin under his lips!?! LOL!!!

12

screw the z series. bring back silvia

13

 @Heathrussell  I DONT WANT ANOTHER Z GOD DAMMIT, THEY LOOKS LIKE SLIGHTLY MORE AGGRESSIVE AUDI TT BUBBLE CARS. I WANT AN S16!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

14

 @EthanGuzzi Why not both? The comeback of the S-chassis could compete with the FR-S/BRZ while the Z cars keep their place as a mid range sports car.

15

 @Supra 

16

 @Supra Agree with Jay on this one, Z31 and Z32 are like the R33's of the Z family fat and ugly imo.

18
BenjaminSaucier

The way Toyota kept showing off AE86's during the design and concept stages of the FT-86/FR-S/BRZ. Nissan is doing the same thing with the 240Z. Seemed like Nissan waited on Toyota to take the dive first though, so  I would think the Toyota/Subaru was a much more thought out machine in comparison to the Nissan. Only time will tell if it's the best, but for sure the new Z should be great!!!

19
BenjaminSaucier

The way Toyota kept showing off AE86's during the design and concept stages of the FT-86/FR-S/BRZ. Nissan is doing the same thing with the 240Z. Seemed like Nissan waited on Toyota to take the dive first though, so  I would think the Toyota/Subaru was a much more thought out machine in comparison to the Nissan. Only time will tell if it's the best, but for sure the new Z should be great!!!

20
BenjaminSaucier

The way Toyota kept showing off AE86's during the design and concept stages of the FT-86/FR-S/BRZ. Nissan is doing the same thing with the 240Z. Seemed like Nissan waited on Toyota to take the dive first though, so  I would think the Toyota/Subaru was a much more thought out machine in comparison to the Nissan. Only time will tell if it's the best, but for sure the new Z should be great!!!

21
BenjaminSaucier

The way Toyota kept showing off AE86's during the design and concept stages of the FT-86/FR-S/BRZ. Nissan is doing the same thing with the 240Z. Seemed like Nissan waited on Toyota to take the dive first though, so  I would think the Toyota/Subaru was a much more thought out machine in comparison to the Nissan. Only time will tell if it's the best, but for sure the new Z should be great!!!

22

 @ClaytonPayton That rear reminds me too much of a Miura Concept...

23

I just can't like that concept. I really want to, but it's missing something. The slight kick up right at the end of the deck lid, the too modern front end design (the headlights have potential, but the front bumper opening is a complete mess). Give it a bit more definition, a few more creases in the sheet steel, lose the horrific rear slope and give it a graceful flattening before dropping for the bumper line, and simplify the front end and you'd have a modernized 240z. And I would certainly hope its an N/A straight six, but knowing the climate for cars, it'll likely be the VQ.

24

Too bad Nissan waited so long... I'll be replacing my 240Z with a Subaru BRZ as it's much closer in spirit than the current generation Z.

25

the guy doing the sketch looks like Dai

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