[THaskins]

With the news coming out that the R35 has been discontinued in most of Europe because of increasing regulations it's no secret the clock is ticking on cars like it and the Z, which isn't even being sold in Europe.

To increase its availability do you think we'll see a Z hybrid model? Or do you think Nissan will move straight to an EV when the time comes?

 

[MCN1SMO]

good question. there is no question this new Z will be the last pure ICE car. I think since this car already is still a Z34 and its marketed as a purist car and they used so many existing resources on it I dont see like a midlife hybrid refresh that sort of gets away from the point of this car. more so if the lifespan is anywhere near as long as the 370z that takes it right up to around the time where Nissan has publicly stated it will move to electric across all its platforms.

so my guess would be no hybrid and I dont see the Z becoming an immediate electic vehicle in its next gen. I think this car could be the Zs swan song for a while and then one day the Z branding could be reimagined down the road

one counter to this is it depends on what you mean by hybrid. if you mean a mild hybrid system which is commonly a 48 volt battery assist that is mainly for quiet starts and adds small amounts of power yeah I guess thats possible and wouldnt be out of the question as many cars might have to have this just for emissions in the future.

but if you are talking real deal sports car hybrid that calls for chassis changes with electric motors on wheels with a small gas engine I say no way as they are going to ride this Z34 platform as is as long as possible. you can get enough HP out of the VR30 to give it a few small bumps throughout its lifecycle and leave room for a possible NISMO

 

[takemorepills]

Not on the Z34 chassis. BEV usually have their own chassis design to efficiently package batteries, electronics and motor(s). The Z34 chassis was never designed with BEV in consideration.

 

[Vivek Nayyar]

good question. there is no question this new Z will be the last pure ICE car. I think since this car already is still a Z34 and its marketed as a purist car and they used so many existing resources on it I dont see like a midlife hybrid refresh that sort of gets away from the point of this car. more so if the lifespan is anywhere near as long as the 370z that takes it right up to around the time where Nissan has publicly stated it will move to electric across all its platforms.

so my guess would be no hybrid and I dont see the Z becoming an immediate electic vehicle in its next gen. I think this car could be the Zs swan song for a while and then one day the Z branding could be reimagined down the road

one counter to this is it depends on what you mean by hybrid. if you mean a mild hybrid system which is commonly a 48 volt battery assist that is mainly for quiet starts and adds small amounts of power yeah I guess thats possible and wouldnt be out of the question as many cars might have to have this just for emissions in the future.

but if you are talking real deal sports car hybrid that calls for chassis changes with electric motors on wheels with a small gas engine I say no way as they are going to ride this Z34 platform as is as long as possible. you can get enough HP out of the VR30 to give it a few small bumps throughout its lifecycle and leave room for a possible NISMO

You mean with the current technology, hybrid or fully electric versions don't have enough power or offer the kind of performance required to be a sports car?

 

[MCN1SMO]

You mean with the current technology, hybrid or fully electric versions don't have enough power or offer the kind of performance required to be a sports car?

no and two easy examples are the NSX type S is an amazing hybrid and for EV there isnt a car from any manufacturer that touch the Tesla Model S Plaid in a straight line. so the tech is already there for performance for sure. im saying for the Zs purpose and what it stands for it doesnt fit with the hybrid/EV vibe. If the Z continues and we all live long enough there will no doubt be a electrified version of it as gas powered seems to really be out by the mid 2030's but im just saying the Z isnt a brand you jump to associate it with. I wouldnt be surprised if there isnt an immediate EV successor to the Z and they give you something like a electric silvia or something first. just fun speculation based on how things are trending thats all

 

[Vivek Nayyar]

no and two easy examples are the NSX type S is an amazing hybrid and for EV there isnt a car from any manufacturer that touch the Tesla Model S Plaid in a straight line. so the tech is already there for performance for sure. im saying for the Zs purpose and what it stands for it doesnt fit with the hybrid/EV vibe. If the Z continues and we all live long enough there will no doubt be a electrified version of it as gas powered seems to really be out by the mid 2030's but im just saying the Z isnt a brand you jump to associate it with. I wouldnt be surprised if there isnt an immediate EV successor to the Z and they give you something like a electric silvia or something first. just fun speculation based on how things are trending thats all

That's cool. Thanks for the detailed explanation of this. Yes, you are correct that gas-powered engines would be out by mid-2030, if not earlier than that.

 

[takemorepills]

That's cool. Thanks for the detailed explanation of this. Yes, you are correct that gas-powered engines would be out by mid-2030, if not earlier than that.

Incorrect.

 

[MCN1SMO]

That's cool. Thanks for the detailed explanation of this. Yes, you are correct that gas-powered engines would be out by mid-2030, if not earlier than that.

just to clarify its more of a phase out not a cut off and of course lower income demographic cars and work trucks utility ect will be a while after that. but yeah main line manufacture offerings look to be trending toward mostly electric mid 2030's on

 

[takemorepills]

just to clarify its more of a phase out not a cut off and of course lower income demographic cars and work trucks utility ect will be a while after that. but yeah main line manufacture offerings look to be trending toward mostly electric mid 2030's on

That's correct, and I'll add that the pandemic issues will likely require that date to be pushed even further. Most places in the USA that made these timelines didn't make them law, but they are directives that can be pushed out, if needed.

BEV are still ridiculously expensive, and extremely difficult to even find one. Waiting lists and parts shortages for BEV is much worse than ICE vehicles. And not likely to get any better anytime soon.

Also, think about how close 2030 is.

 

[Vivek Nayyar]

That's correct, and I'll add that the pandemic issues will likely require that date to be pushed even further. Most places in the USA that made these timelines didn't make them law, but they are directives that can be pushed out, if needed.

BEV are still ridiculously expensive, and extremely difficult to even find one. Waiting lists and parts shortages for BEV is much worse than ICE vehicles. And not likely to get any better anytime soon.

Also, think about how close 2030 is.

Thanks for the detailed explanation. I didn't think of it that way. It's really helpful! Thanks!

 

[G37]

The Z has too small a volume to significantly impact Nissan’s CAFE. Hopefully that alone will allow it to remain ICE-powered and thus accommodate a manual transmission. Even hybridized, the Z could still offer a stick so I’m all for it though I don’t see how engineering a hybrid Z could be justified by the beancounters unless the power train were shared with another model. Maxima? An Infiniti? Who knows.