Basic Performance Predictions

dkmura said:

With increasing U.S. safety standards, curb weights are sure to rise.

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thats a great point and a lot of time the engineering for weight savings is more to try to "break even" with the upward weight trend due to safety / regulations /modernization than anything else. so an incremental gain for a decade newer car would be a success.

most of my experience is from the GTR world but a good example is like i mentioned earlier the 2017+ facelifted GTR NISMO weighs about 24lbs more than the original 2015. the 2020 jumped up in price by another almost $35K and added carbon ceramic brakes carbon fenders roof and hood and the total weight savings over the 2015 is only 18 lbs. so it took a huge amount of expensive parts to undo ( and then some) about 5 years of weight creep just from safety modernization ect. With the proportions of the new Z being similar to the 370 and similar pmaterials used in the car. I think its a win if it stays within 40-50lbs of the 2008 car that came before it. Thats why im saying that your best stock 370z unicorn acceleration times and take 2-3 tenths off that and you are gonna be close to where this car should sit performance wise.

kbl911 said:

I'd say that, if the new Z is still in the 4 second range (particularly with an automatic), Nissan will have failed. To produce a vehicle - a sports car - that is only marginally quicker than its 13-year-old predecessor would be somewhat embarrassing.

Again, the Q60 can reach 60 MPH in 4.4 seconds according to Car and Driver and it weighs almost two tons. Supposing the Z gains a little weight, I'd still place it around 3,400 lbs. If they can't make that engine perform more impressively in a far lighter vehicle, they didn't try very hard, in my opinion.

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For 2WD cars I tend to disregard the 0-60 claims. Oftentimes, the 0-60 performance is equally reliant on chassis dynamics. With the new Z being significantly more powerful (if 400HP minimum is what we get), and the same weight as the 370, I suspect 0-60 times won't be wildly different. I do believe a turbo Z will absolutely get out in front of a 370z with no doubt as to who is winning, but traction will be the issue. I prefer to look at 1/4 mile trap speeds. Much like how a Dodge Challenger Scat Pack Widebody can keep up, if not out-accelerate a Hellcat on the street, the Hellcat will eventually run away from the 392 Scat.

Going by well established stats, the quickest I have ever seen a 370Z 7AT trap in a 1/4 is 108mph. I have consistently seen Q60 RS 7AT do 111mph. Rough rule of thumb is each 1mph at the end of a 1/4 looks like a full car length, roughly. So, a Q60 is 3 cars ahead of a 370Z 7AT at the end of a 1/4. Whilst carrying several hundred pounds more weight.

My older 3.7 7AT Q60 (it's technically a G37, but in 2014 Infiniti got weird with the names) can only get through a 1/4 at 104mph. So, the sister 370Z 7AT is 4 mph faster than it's exact Q60/G37 sister. This should translate well to the new Z as the current Q60, my older Q60 and the 370Z and new Z will all have about the same relative weights for the most part.

If we apply that exact same delta to the new turbo Z, plus account for the extra power, it would be fair to say that the new turbo Z could easily be +5mph faster than the current Q60, if the new Z uses a 7AT. That would put it trapping 116mph, only 1mph behind a BMW Supra. However, if Nissan gives us an amazing automatic trans, we could see even another 1-2mph gain from a better trans. So, it is quite feasible a new turbo Z could run neck-and-neck with a BMW Supra.

But, it doesn't matter to me one bit. I would never cross-shop a BMW with a Japanese car. My current considerations for my money are:
Supercharge my Q60 (this is the cheapest option by a long shot)
2022 BRZ (I know, not a HP monster, but it is a very compelling Japanese RWD coupe)
new TLX Turbo V6
new Turbo Z

And all of the aforementioned choices are with full knowledge that an upper-level AWD Tesla could whoop up on any of those choices. Can easily whoop the snot out of a BMW Supra too!

Good points because the Z really isnt a straight-line car and has never really been that competitive with the muscle car alternatives in its similar price point. A trip down tail of the dragon or a run on a tight track or autoX course have been where its the most fun. But with that said the 0-60 1/4 are still somewhat important because for better or for worse, they are lowest common denominator of understanding performance. Still to this day when I read a review of a new car I skip down to look at the times before I even read the article just because im programmed to compare how that benchmark stacks up vs other cars. Not to mention you will always be asked about it for the rest of your life while pumping gas or at a cars and coffee. its just how people understand cars. as not everyone has been on a track or done canyon runs but everyone has floored it at a green light. so that frame of reference will always exist.

but yeah the electric car has really skewed and almost broken these comparisons as this the new mustang GT SUV or even the new hummer will probably dust the Z 0-60

I've never been smoked by a Tesla truck yet!

And the 300Z Twin Turbo will not disappoint, I am sure. Many times the Q50/Q60 cars are derided for almost every aspect of their existence, but heaps of praise is put onto the VR30 for being an excellent engine. I am always hearing of praise for it's ability to pull linearly right up to redline, a trait many modern turbo cars have lost. Here's a great article from 3 days ago, poo-pooing the dynamics of the Q60 but praising the engine: 2021 Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400 Struggles to Engage Its Pilot

You can bet, with a 6MT and the way that VR30 pulls, it'll put a smile on everyone's face in the 300Z Twin Turbo.

My friend has a Tesla Model 3 dual motor (the fast one) and no doubt it is ridiculous. But, I never, ever have wanted to trade in my VQ37 powered Q60 with Infiniti sports exhaust for such a car. I get out of his Tesla and drive home in my Q60 with the windows down with a much bigger grin on my face hearing that exhaust and all of the imperfect mechanical pieces whirring away.