2006 240Z >>?????

[hls30.com]

Take the Zcar. First came S30, S130, Z31....Now we have the Z33. People argue that it is not retro enough, but even if it were, would Z33 owners look at it as an S30? For the most part, probably not. When you make a retro design like the Mustang, what does that say about all of the other Mustangs after the first generation? There were no intentions to have cues from other mustangs, so if I were a proud owner of a 5.0mustang, I would feel pretty left out. Is Ford saying that all the other body designs were screw ups?

-Ben

Ben, It says this.

The S30 started it,the S130 looked sort of like an S30, and then Nissan goofed-they went too far from the S30 design(just like the later mustangs), and it took this long to recognize the folly of their ways! Lineage always starts with the first version.

Ford is saying we had to start somewhere(Not to imply that that some of the later Mustang bodystyles weren't screw-ups!The Mustang 2 comes to mind...)

In looking at your post, what if they changed the "next" body style to fit the next previous model-that is to say, an s30esq version, followed by a 300Zesq version right on down the line. Everybody with an opinion of what a Z is gets represented!

Will

PS, I don't see the similarity in the roofline-the profile does not share any 6 inches!

[=Resurected280=]

Those poor Charger fans, all their years of waiting and they end up with a mislabeled Roadrunner......

[CoastGuardZ]

My take....

There is no doubting where the S130 came from... It has enough visual elements and surely carries over some parts of the S30, including the Datsun name. Then Nissan sheds the badge and replaces it with their Nissan badge instead, and the I6 for a V6 and the whole car changes. Evolution I guess. One thing we can say proudly, the Z never got as screwed up as the mustang did... come on Mustang II !!! That's just horrible. The Z always stayed a force to be reckoned with.

I for one am a fan of the Fox body (ie: 5.0L) mustangs. Who knows maybe the 2020 mustang will resemble a '91 5.0L (doubt it!). But the Charger... somebody needs to get fired! Crap, the 80's turbo 4cyl did more justice to the Charger name.

Let's not forget this... Nissan originally set out to make an S30-ish car. In fact it was originally going to be powered by a 2.4L (4cyl).

As far as new cars looking like old cars, I do not think that someone driving a 1956 Thunderbird who sees someone driving a 2002 Thunderbird feels cheated. That's just my take.

BTW, what does everyone think of the new Nissan Sport (concept)? ...the second picture...

[auxilary]

someone actually had a great concept with exactly what a sportscar should have... as you can guess, it didn't get far and got axed... the car in question?

2500lbs, srt-4 powerplant (2.4 liter turbo) turned 90*, 6 speed transmission, independent rear suspension. no power options except for brakes/steering/ac. rated at 250hp.

[CoastGuardZ]

Not too shabby. It seems like the good ideas get canned and some crappy ones always make it by, a la Aztek.

Can't say I would've bought one, but I would have respected the Razor as a good sports car ... heck, I give the SRT-4 respect and it's Neon no matter how you cut it!

Nate

[240ZX]

What ever happened to SEXY looking cars....you know, like the early Z cars with nice flowing lines. Some times I get the feeling, with focus on cost savings now days, that the design studios can only afford to hire designers with little or no taste (well, maybe the designers do have talent, but the people who make the final decisions do not...and I'll bet their favorite animal is the toad ), or they scower kindergarder classes for ideas! Why is it that most all new car designs (visually anyway) look just like the other guys, or worse. OK, I guess I'll have to exclude the new vette. Do you think Nissan could build a car to compete with the new vettes and at a similar price? I would think so!

[hls30.com]

I agree with you Tom(can you believe it?).

Most automotive designers today want to make something totally different than what has been, what they have absolutely forgotten is that UGLY has been around a long time.

Will

[dogma420]

That Razor looks like a cross between the 350z and the Audi TT...kinda like a 'big brother' Audi TT.

[jackboxxx]

Ya know... I agree that Nissan should do a more economical, low-budget GT in the spirit of the original Z's... but I am going to be really, REALLY pissed if they pull a Ford and simply copy and modernize the look and style of the original Z's.

One of the reasons I take so much pride in my car is because there's nothing else on the road that looks like it... and if all of a sudden, there are a ton of cars out there that look like it... well... I dunno about you... but I'm going to feel really ripped off...

I don't know about all of you (okay... well maybe I do), but I love the 350Z... not as a Z-car, just as a car. I agree that it severely violates the spirit under which the Z-car was originally unveiled, but as a whole, I think it is a very well designed car, and, in fact, one of the things I've really admire about the new Z is that the designers, when they made it, intentionally decided not to revert to a "retro Z" look, in favor of keeping it modern.

In a nutshell... yes... a cheaper Z would be a great idea for Nissan... but I think that recreating the looks of the 240/260/280Z would be a grave mistake.

My $0.02

Agreed, I work on new cars for a living, and I like the 350z for itself...its a nicely done vehicle. but a year ago when the wife gave me a choice of a 350z

or buying a 240z again....you know what i did...240Z !

[hls30.com]

To me the Razor looks like a 350z (or AudiTT)convertable with a '56 corvette windshield and hardtop on it.

WIll

[ron]

I think Pontiac had it right with the concept coupe Solstice. Would have made a nice modern "Z".

[Virto]

I think Pontiac had it right with the concept coupe Solstice. Would have made a nice modern "Z".

I'm gonna agree with you on that. I like the looks of it, Pontiac or otherwise.