The History of Iconic Nissan Z Series
Nissan has many iconic cars, but the one car that stands out to anyone looking for thrill and adventure is definitely the Nissan Z cars. This legendary sports car has thrilled car enthusiasts for more than 45 years, ever since 1969 when it first premiered as the Nissan Fairlady Z in Japan and as the Datsun 240Z in America. Since its inception, every generation of the Nissan Z has brought a whirlwind of refreshment, exhilaration and thrill, be it the original Datsun 240Z, the 80’s 300ZX or the most recent 2018 new Nissan cars.
History of the Nissan Z cars
The journey of Nissan Z started in 1969 with the Nissan Fairlady Z in Japan and Datsun 240Z in America. Its introduction was the result of Nissan’s quest of creating a halo car that would boost its brand name in the market. The US Datsun had a 2.4 liter inline-six engine and Hitachi carburetors that produced 151 hp. People loved this sporty exhilarating ride and as a result, 45,000 units were sold in the first year itself. Another version of the Nissan Z debuted in 1975 in the US and it was the first to make use of a Bosch fuel injection system.
Second Generation of Nissan Z cars
The Nissan 280ZX ushered new luxurious features such as climate control, leather seats, two toned paint, and gold alloy wheels. This model also went on the receive the Motor Trends Impact car of the year” accolade in 1979. In the second generation, Nissan gave an extra edge of luxury and aesthetics to its sports car, which people warmly welcomed.
Third Generation of Nissan Z cars
The third-generation model, 300ZX/Z31 1884, highlighted a complete revamp of the Z car and included a 3.0-liter V6 engine. The Datsun label was dropped and all Z cars were then sold under the Nissan label. This new model also featured a fresh design with a wedge-shaped body and pronounced pop up headlights. This model followed the same combination of luxury and sportiness embraced by its predecessor. Though, in 1987 the 300ZX was restyled, the Z remained largely unchained until the 1990s.
Fourth Generation Nissan Z cars
The fourth generation marked outstanding changed in the Z in terms of design, style, power and performance. The turbo version of the 1990 300ZX became an instant favorite among car aficionados and it also earned the title of “Impact Car of the Year” from Motor Trends. The fourth generation had plenty of speed, significantly more than previous models and it was also more comfortable and homely. But all this extra comfort made the car pricier than previous models, causing a reduction in sales. Eventually the Z was removed from the American market, however, its sale continues in Japan.
Fifth Generation of Nissan Z cars
The Nissan Z returned to America in 2003 as the 350Z. This two-seater sports car made a shining return with an aspirated six-cylinder engine, larger wheels and a tapered tail end. This Z had a perfect combination of luxury and power and succeeded in regaining its popularity among the people. The Nissan Z was once again the talk of the town with its redesign and revamp in features and it made way for the introduction of the 35th anniversary edition of the Z car in 2005.
Sixth Generation of Nissan Z cars
The sixth generation and the most recent Z car, the Nissan 370Z, got its name from having a 3.7-liter 6-cylinder engine which produces 270 lb-ft torque and 332 hp. The design cues from the traditional Z has been enhanced by contemporary designing to give the 370Z a distinctive appearance, much refined and aesthetic than its predecessors. The 370Z is big on speed and performance and also lite on the pocket. The 370Z is perhaps the best models in the history of the Z because it brought back and further augmented the quality which brought so much fame for the original Nissan Z, the quality of delivering outstanding performance at an affordable price.
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