Nissan's zippy Z-car zooms in

By DAVID LINKLATER

Retro styling is nothing new for Nissan. Though the Japanese carmaker's Z-car might seem to be on a mission to revive the spirit of the 1970s 240Z when it goes into production next year, the only thing that is backward-looking is the name.

The Z's muscular sheet metal and wheel-at-each-corner stance are undoubtedly from the 21st-century school of styling, but it wasn't always going to be that way. The 1999 Z Concept, Nissan's first effort at reviving the famous name, drew heavily on the styling of the 70s original.

An enthusiastic reception by both public and media for the Z Concept accelerated plans for a production version. But rather than pursuing the retro theme, the company went back to the drawing-board.

Contributions came from design studies in Japan and Europe, but the finished car is based on a proposal from Nissan Design America in California.

What you see here is pretty much what you will get when the Z goes on sale next year. Nissan has hinted that the car's styling is almost ready for production, with only a few exterior details - such as the oversized door handles and 20-inch wheels - to be toned down before the car is on the road.

"A long wheelbase and wide stance provide a great starting place," says chief designer Diane Allen. "Our first thought was to recreate the sensation of an open-wheeled Formula One car - all wheels and an intimate centre structure."

The car still pays homage to the 240Z, especially in its headlamp treatment, but brings elements from the chunky last-generation 300ZX into the mix.

"We had to find our own statement, which required a different way of putting the Z together," Allen says. "There is a high-tech mechanical crispness balancing the more fluid shapes and sections.

"The Z is not all positive and fat. It has a play between elements so that you should never get bored with it."

The mechanical makeup of the original 240Z dictated some must-haves for the Z's engineering team, including a front-mounted six-cylinder engine, rear-wheel-drive and two-seat hatchback body.

At the heart of the car is a 194kW 3.5-litre V6, which is believed to be a heavily reworked version of the VQ-series powerplant used in the Maxima sedan. It drives through a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic gearbox and can catapult the Z to 100 km/h in less than six seconds.

Squat, muscular looks belie the compact dimensions. The wheelbase is a mere 15mm shy of the Skyline GT-T, yet the Z is 280mm shorter overall. A roadster version is also planned

There are no rear seats. Instead, the production Z will feature a fold-flat cargo tray with a hard-wearing plastic or aluminium skin. Also integrated into the luggage area is a strut brace for the rear suspension to improve body rigidity.

The Z has been engineered with the American market in mind, but right-hand-drive versions will be built for Japan and some export markets.

It is likely that the Z will be sold in New Zealand in limited numbers, perhaps before the end of next year.

The Z will fit into Nissan New Zealand's high-performance range between the Skyline GT-T and GT-R, with a price of about $80,000.