So, has anyone noticed the similar look of the Infinity G35 Coupe and the 350z ?! Let's also not forget the similar look of the Audi TT model which came out a few years ago.

Are car manufacturers losing their creative spirit? Do they need to copy each other just to get something interesting on the market? Or, do they all perform the same studies and come up with identical designs? It really makes you wonder.

The original design they had for the new Z back in 2000 was what they should have stuck with.

Round Headlights. Gold fish mouth. Dipped bonnet. very 240.

If this was in USA I would say that upper management got involved and decided to "improve":stupid: the design from what is shown

The original design they had for the new Z back in 2000 was what they should have stuck with.

Round Headlights. Gold fish mouth. Dipped bonnet. very 240.

:

I think the new Z should have looked more like this.

http://www.classiczcars.com/photopost/data/500/1511drawing02.jpg

That's cool.

Perhaps Nissan should have asked Count Goertz once more for consultancy like they did some years before they started to work on the 240 Z. He must have been a good teacher for new and successful design ideas and the Datsun teammates were very good pupils as we all can see daily when enjoying our classic Zs.

Okay,

So I'm a fruit! I like the new Z. Whenever my wife decides to part with her Integra she wants a 350Z. Personally I don't want one, I'd rather wait for the right 240, and in the meantime I drive trucks.

On the Beetle... Way back in the day, all the way in 50's when they brought the beetle to the states, remember the first beetles were built in 1937 as '38 model years, the flower vase was a stock option...that is not a new beetle marketing scheme, it's been there for quite some time. I also the the beetle is horrible and would take a '65 any day before the new one. It's suppose to be a rear engine aircooled flat 4, not a front/front I4.

The replacement for the skyline is not the G35, but a whole new car. Check the pics.

BTW Nissannews.com is the official site for...nissan news. Go figure!

Nate

From the Front this time...

Hey Guys, I recently saw a special on TV about the Nissan design team. Guess what? I chubby woman is responsible for the design of the 350Z......go figure!!! Man, am I going to take some heat about the chubby woman statement!!! I'm sorry, but I'm a seires one Z car kind of guy and I don't see any resemblence between the original Z cars and a 350Z. Sure, the 350Z is a great performer and looks pretty slick in race trim but it's not a real Z car; wouldn't you agree? Nissan might have been better off if they had just named it something else like....."350TT" (as in, Audi TT), or maybe....."350SB" (as in, Sport Bug), or how about..."350HIRA-Z" (as in, Hope I Resemble A Z).

Come on you Auzzie guys, I'm dying to hear your take on this post!

I want to throw in my 2 cents and say I hate the "retro" look. The PT Cruiser was cute and made me smile when I first saw it, but the Thunderbird, Beetle, and Mini are butt ugly. New design must flourish and respond to new criteria. There is no reason for the Beetle to look like it does other than to remind us of what was a good idea for completely different reasons back then. The Mini is NOT small and it is slow. The Thunderbird is pudgy. Don't even start me on the Miata! The BMW Z8 is just enough to be Ok, but I rather like the subtle styling cues such as the kidney grill or fender vents of the 300 SL Mercedes. This is the new millenium with sequential paddle shifting, traction control, and aerodynamics. I would hate to see Nissan replicate the look of the classic Datsun.

Well, I own a PT Cruiser (the family car) and it was really a whole new catgory of vehicle that happens to have a retro look. In that regard it's closer to the 240Z. While it's a small car you can load a washing machine into it with the seats removed. I even brought a 24 foot extension ladder home in it after Home Depot sold me the ladder but wouldn't let me rent a delivery truck for any item over 12 feet long.

I agree on the others. To me they're not innovative. By the way, the Thunderbird, at $40,000 and with poor sales, has been cancelled (again).

Yea, the PT is Ok. It's credited as the first of the retros. It really doesn't mimic anything. It's just retro all on its own. I like the Toad look of the TT and 350Z perhaps as a GT-on-steroids look with the big wheels and low profile tires filling up the bulging wheel wells as fat tires and fender flares did.

If you look at any automotive era of the past you will see that all manufacturers copy each other! The Z was a copy of Ferrari and Jag cars. Just be glad Nissan didn't try to decide to copy one of Pontiac's crazy ideas! I agree that I am not fond of the recent trends! But with the bar being so high on efficiency and performance most of the car builders seem to be spending a lot of time in the wind tunnels. I to hope there are some fresh design ideas around the corner! And hopefully it includes some chrome!!!

I personally would take the G35 over the Z, TT, or just about any other performance coupe. Well, okay maybe not over the Ferrari 550 Maranello!!!

Have fun!

Originally posted by MikeW

By the way, the Thunderbird, at $40,000 and with poor sales, has been cancelled (again).

Good to hear this. I don't read any of the "standard" car mags (only SportZ and RACER get my money) and I was beginning to think I might be the only one to think the new T-Bird was BUTT UGLY. I cannot imagine how they ever decided to mass (mess?) produce that thing. Somebody lied in the focus groups!

Forrest Gump must be alive and well, living in Dearborn, MI

I too like the look of the PT, but I've heard from some owners that fit and finish is not good. What is your take on that MikeW?