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Z Proto critiques...

6390 Views 13 Replies 9 Participants Last post by Ace_SRZ, Sep 17, 2020

twin_turboz32

Discussion Starter · Sep 16, 2020

Now that the Z Proto has been officially unveiled and we've all had the chance to see it, what aspects of the car do you feel need some work and maybe could stand to be changed/revised?

I am, overall, satisfied with the car we were shown. However, I do have some gripes, mostly regarding the exterior styling of the car.

I'll start:

1) The front end needs to be ENTIRELY re-done. WOW......! What a mess. That massive rectangular opening looks just AWFUL. It needs to go, NOW!! Also, I hate that the nose of the car and the bottom edge of the front bumper taper to a point. WHY?? The rear and side profile of the car are very gracefully styled with gorgeous curves. Why not continue this theme with the front end of the car? Why throw it all off by adding these ugly points, sharp creases, and hard lines to the front end of the car. It's almost as if 2 different design teams worked on the car; 1 team for the front ahead of the doors and another team styling from the front edge of the doors back.

2) The Y-shaped crease on the hood forming a hood bulge. Is it necessary? Generally not a fan of sharp creases in the body work. Once again, the car has very nice clean curves to it. Why interrupt
them by adding these ugly creases ??? A hood bulge (if necessary) with softer lines and a more conventional shape (NOT Y-shaped) would be more suitable. Or just a smooth hood with no bulge at all for the cleanest look.

3) The taillights. l love the z32 inspired tails but they look out of scale and disproportionately small for the rear end. I feel as though the lights themselves ought to be longer in length and the black frame surrounding the lights should be taller and occupy the entirety of that outline on the rear. Hopefully they get the proportions and shape sorted out for the production model.

4) The black roof. For some reason, Nissan designers are OBSESSED with the 'floating roof' look and with blacking-out the roofs of many of the models in their line-up. I wish they would just STOP already. A body colored roof looks much more mature and would suit the new Z far better than the 2-tone look...

5) The chrome 'katana' strip along the top edge of the side window. I dont like this chrome strip at all and I'd rather it wasn't there.

6) The center console. I was hoping it would be redone but it just carries over from the 370z.

7) The interior door handles. Carry-overs

8) Most of the interior. Carry-over

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Timmo500

· #2 · Sep 16, 2020

Well, one thing i did notice...
It seems to have 3 boost gauges? lol
2 in the middle and one in the instrument cluster...

My guess they havnt quite decided on what type of gauges to offer in the middle yet.

Also, I would have like an analogue cluster, or at least tacho. Just would have been a nice touch.

Other than that, yes, i can see Nissan have carried over a lot of parts from 370z etc. Which im not bothered with too much considering their financial situation.

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glassfan

· #3 · Sep 16, 2020

The three gauges at the top center of the dash are: turbo boost (psi), turbo speed (rpm), and battery voltage. I think the turbo speed gauge is really cool. The turbos on the VR30DDTT can spin up to an insane 240,000 rpm (I have no idea how something can spin that fast), and Nissan has a sensor that monitors the rpm of the turbos.

I love the car as-is. I wouldn't change a thing! I even like the rectangular grill. Stark and modern. They did an incredible job considering it is just a 370Z refresh at heart and their budget was around $240 million. A completely new chassis is over a billion dollars. It's a miracle that Nissan is going to make this car at all. I can't wait to get one to join my 370Z. This will be the last ICE Z that Nissan will make. The next Z will be electric.

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280driver

· #4 · Sep 16, 2020

I love everything but the too square grill. Like the blacked out roof as it makes the car look thinner.

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S30R32

· #5 · Sep 16, 2020 (Edited)

Definitely some design elements and proportions of the 240Z are there, although modernized, but the execution/blending with that Z32 rear end is all wrong. The light strip is too narrow. I do like the katana treatment, something different and distinctive. The whole car needs more aggressive treatment, e.g. wider fender bulges, angled grille, upswept trailing end. Interior is Ok, nothing revolutionary, but functional, mostly 370Z carryover.

Hopefully once seen in person under a different color I may consider, but performance remains to be proven too. For now, not rushing for any deposit.

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Ze plane Ze plane

· #6 · Sep 16, 2020

I love it all. It's got enough soft curves to be sexy and smooth, but also enough hard lines to remind me of old cars, the manufacturing techniques that were available, and design influences from the 240 and 300. I also hate how so many modern vehicles push the "soft lines" concept so far that they've almost all become bubble cars in blandly similar forms.

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Rusty

· #7 · Sep 16, 2020

The katana blade threw me off at first but it's grown on me and I really like it. I think it suits this color combo. The grille should be a bit less square but it's not a deal breaker by any means.

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Ace_SRZ

· #8 · Sep 16, 2020

I am with you on number 2. I think they need to do a little more work here to have the hood flow with the body. This idea works really well on the S30 so I can see what they are driving at but they need to put some more time into it for it to mesh here.

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S30R32

· #9 · Sep 16, 2020

But what a comparison on design! Understated vs overdone.

Let's Dig Into The Design Of The New Nissan Z Proto

Nissan finally pulled out of its torpor and did something exciting that didn’t involve smuggling a disgraced CEO in a suitcase: they finally showed a new Z car. If Nissan still has an iconic car in its stable, it has to be the Z, which has been around in various forms since 1969. The new Z Proto...

jalopnik.com

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Ze plane Ze plane

· #10 · Sep 16, 2020

S30R32 said:
But what a comparison on design! Understated vs overdone.

Let's Dig Into The Design Of The New Nissan Z Proto

Nissan finally pulled out of its torpor and did something exciting that didn’t involve smuggling a disgraced CEO in a suitcase: they finally showed a new Z car. If Nissan still has an iconic car in its stable, it has to be the Z, which has been around in various forms since 1969. The new Z Proto...

jalopnik.com

View attachment 556

Yeah. That Supra looks like an Alfa Romeo wanna-be.

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Jdmuscle

· #11 · Sep 17, 2020

1) really love almost everything about the car. I can see one in my future.
2) thanks for the subtle look and not the gaudy fake vent galore Supra (yuck)
3) manual.. yes. Where do I sign
4) over time we will get used to the square front grill and she will be an absolute stunner.

Im hoping Toyota realizes their mistake in out sourcing everything for their halo car and not offering what the market wants vs. what their dumb thoughts on market wants are. I mean.. who asked for fake vents, no one would've wanted an all BMW dna Supra.. tf were they thinking. Within a year of being in the market the car only sells cause of heavy discounts. You can nearly get 10k off the msrp.

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S30R32

· #12 · Sep 17, 2020

Having owned and tracked an E46 M3, Supra's potential with that straight six is great, though. It's a powerhouse of a motor. But again, the execution Toyota did to basically use all-BMW DNA was the wrong direction, heritage is lost. By the time our Z comes out I'm hoping minor redesigns can still be made, i.e. GRILLE!!. Just look at the Cybertruck, it's going thru some revisions too.

Also wondering how the final reveals will be for the Track and NISMO models, could be much more aggressive with some added aero. Please don't overdo it on the NISMO

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Jdmuscle

· #13 · Sep 17, 2020

Agreed. Although Toyota dragged the ‘supra’ name in mud, that car is a good sports car with a lot of performance potential.

S30R32 said:
Having owned and tracked an E46 M3, Supra's potential with that straight six is great, though. It's a powerhouse of a motor. But again, the execution Toyota did to basically use all-BMW DNA was the wrong direction, heritage is lost. By the time our Z comes out I'm hoping minor redesigns can still be made, i.e. GRILLE!!. Just look at the Cybertruck, it's going thru some revisions too.

Also wondering how the final reveals will be for the Track and NISMO models, could be much more aggressive with some added aero. Please don't overdo it on the NISMO

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Ace_SRZ

· #14 · Sep 17, 2020

S30R32 said:
Having owned and tracked an E46 M3, Supra's potential with that straight six is great, though. It's a powerhouse of a motor. But again, the execution Toyota did to basically use all-BMW DNA was the wrong direction, heritage is lost. By the time our Z comes out I'm hoping minor redesigns can still be made, i.e. GRILLE!!. Just look at the Cybertruck, it's going thru some revisions too.

Also wondering how the final reveals will be for the Track and NISMO models, could be much more aggressive with some added aero. Please don't overdo it on the NISMO

Agree on not overdoing it on the Track and Nismo. ( As I plan to go for the Nismo) My two cents is the Nismo should increase, power, reduce weight, track ready wheels, better cooling all around, increased handling, use more carbon (unseen), spec clutch and brakes, reduce weight in the interior, improved venting in the bumpers, and some paint options. But leave the overall look and style as is.

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