Nissan previews next-gen Z sports car with this prototype

It’s official. A new Z is on the way! 

And the Z Proto - unveiled today by Nissan virtually - is a thinly-veiled preview of what’s headed our way in the not-so-distant future. 

With 50 years of heritage and legions of fans globally, the Z is not just an important model in Nissan’s glorious history but also has a key role to play in the brand’s NEXT transformation plan announced earlier this year. Yes, the next-generation Z – rumored to be called the 400Z - could just be the image catalyst the Japanese brand desperately needs right now!

In this day and age when unnecessary creases and cuts are becoming a norm, the Z prototype is clean and simple. Refreshingly so, if I may add! 

A part of that could be due to the fact the new Z pays homage to the Z cars of the past, old and new. The silhouette is where the influence is most obvious – the way in which the A-pillars rise and the roof starts tapering down immediately afterwards until it reaches the low-slung rear end. Likewise, the teardrop-shaped headlights are an ode to the original 240Z while the horizontal taillight bars set into a full-width black panel are a modern interpretation of the ones found on the 300ZX. Adding further oomph are carbon-fiber accents on the front lip, side skirts and rear valance, dual exhaust tips and striking 19-inch wheels. The large, rectangular grille up front - reminiscent of the current 370Z - is the only design element that doesn't look convincing enough.

The interiors follow the same ‘retro homage’ theme with modern niceties like a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and the obvious touchscreen infotainment system. A trio of auxiliary gauges on the dash – a Z trait – remain, angled towards the driver. Bright yellow accents are found throughout the cabin, matching the lovely pearlescent yellow shade the car comes painted with. 

Packing a punch under the hood is a twin turbo V6 engine paired with a 6-speed manual transmission that channels the power to the rear wheels. While no other specifications have been released, Nissan did drop a hint in its press release with the statement “Each new generation had a more powerful engine”. That ties up nicely to the 400Z rumors floating around!

Whatever that is, the mere fact that an all-new Z is on the way is good news. From the looks of it, the new Z is everything we enthusiasts wanted. The wait begins!

Nissan Ariya debuts with a new brand logo and identity

Nissan has been in the news for all the wrong reasons of late. This is not one of them. The Japanese car-maker took the wraps off it’s all-new, full-electric Ariya crossover and - along with it - a new brand identity. At first glance, there’s hardly anything to dislike. Has Nissan then hit the nail on its head? Let’s delve a bit and find out what’s good and what’s not so good about the Ariya. 

Good: Ariya oozes appeal inside and out

When Nissan brought in the Ariya Concept at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show, it came across  the Ariya was shown in concept form at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show, it came across as a sleek-looking crossover that looked contemporary without trying too hard. It's a good thing then the production model is literally unchanged from the concept. 

Up front, a dramatic-looking glossy black panel - called the 'Shield' - takes center stage, housing Nissan's illuminated new logo and a textured panel underneath. Thin headlights underlined by LED running lights that extend downwards into the grille can't be missed either. The curvy profile is characterized by a prominent shoulder line that runs end-to-end and wraps around the rear where a full-width panel houses dark-tinted taillights. The sloping coupe-like roof-line, rather large integrated spoiler and those sharply-raked C-pillars lend the Ariya a strong sense of dynamism.

If you thought that was impressive, the interiors elevate things further by a few notches. As is the norm these days, minimalism is the theme here with Nissan's designers doing away with most of the buttons and switches. Two 12.3-inch touchscreens for instruments and navigation are placed on top with a full-width trim housing air-conditioning vents below. The party trick here are the climate control functions that are housed in the wooden panel in the form of capacitive haptic switches. The stand-alone floor console between the front seats and the seamless integration of the dashboard with the door panels are the other highlights. 

Good: Nissan's EV head-start is a plus

When stand-alone Electric Vehicles from most rivals are still in their first generations, Nissan's Leaf is already in the second half of it's second generation. Launched way back in 2010, the Japanese brand's head-start in EVs gave its engineers a decade worth of experience to dig into. Its only fair to assume all that has been put to good use while working on the Ariya.

Two battery packs are available - a 63-kWh unit and a 87 kWh unit. Both of them can be had as two-wheel-drive or  four-wheel-drive models. The former will have a solitary motor powering the front wheels and producing 215 horsepower and 300 Nm of torque. The latter will have two motors using Nissan's e-4ORCE system to channel 389 horsepower and a massive 600 Nm of torque to all four wheels. With all that torque available from the get go and twin motors providing the required balance, the four-wheel-drive Ariya should be quick and quite a hoot to drive. 

The battery pack is placed quite low between the wheels for better Center of Gravity and is liquid-cooled unlike in the Leaf. Range for individual models hasn't been declared yet.

Not so good: Nissan has just hit the 'Reset' button

Thanks to a combination of internal politics, questionable decisions on certain models in the portfolio, lethargy in some markets and unwarranted expansion in others, the last few years have not been kind to Nissan. The folks at the helm took cognizance and hit the reset button with the so-called NEXT strategy that focuses on rationalization and prioritizing core markets and models. Announced along with it was a plan to launch 12 new models in 18 months. How's this not good, you wonder? That's because Nissan shouldn't have gotten to this stage in the first place and an EV like Ariya needs all the backing it could possibly get to make a difference against rivals of Tesla's calibre.

That said, it appears the recovery is on a fast track. In the last three months, an all-new Rogue (X-Trail in some markets) broke cover in the USA, Kicks got a refresh with an electrified powertrain in Japan and Thailand and here in India, Nissan unveiled the Magnite Concept that previews a compact SUV slated for launch in 2021. That brings us to the Ariya and the new brand identity that debuted alongside it. Did you notice the sleek and simplified Nissan logo etched proudly on the hood? Bodes well for the future of the brand, you think?

Good: Ariya is a tech tour-de-force

EV credentials aside, the Ariya comes loaded with a whole load of tech. For starters, the Ariya is capable of receiving over-the-air updates, the first Nissan ever to do so. The Japanese brand's advanced ProPILOT 2.0 driver assistance system is also part of the kit, offering hands-free driving capability under certain conditions with the help of twelve ultrasonic sonar sensors, seven cameras and five millimeter-wave radars. 

In addition, the Ariya is equipped with a full active safety net including ProPILOT Remote Park, Around View Monitor, Driver Monitoring System, Forward Collision Warning, Intelligent Emergency Braking and Rear Automatic Emergency Braking amongst others.

To summarize, Nissan couldn't have launched a better model for its ride back to the top of the game than this. The Ariya looks stylish, sports an in-demand 'crossover' body-style, has a fabulous cabin and gets top-notch tech and safety kit to go against credible rivals like the Tesla Model Y and Ford's upcoming Mustang Mach-E. Watch this space, things are really heating up!

Nissan GT-R roars into India

Few cars evoke emotions and induce smiles the way Nissan's flagship sports car, the GT-R, does. That Nissan has decided to bring such a legendary car to India is reason enough for celebrations. 

Imported as a Completely Built Unit (CBU) to be sold exclusively at Nissan's sole High Performance Centre in Noida, the GT-R will set you back by ₹1.99 Crore. And that's just the ex-showroom figure, mind you!

Launched here is the latest 2017 version of the car that just made its debut at the 2016 New York International Motor Show. This facelift has brought with it a sharper fascia dominated by the characteristic V-motion grille and a larger air dam. The multi LED headlights feature complex and distinctive detailing and the sculpted hood is now more aggressive, thanks to pronounced lines and the two air intake nostrils. The waist line gains prominence as you move towards the rear giving the GT-R a 'crouching-and-ready-to-pounce' stance. On the road, the GT-R's rear is what most onlookers would get to see most often and that's where the iconic four ring taillights and the functional diffuser with quad exhausts make an impact. Skirts all around, chin spoiler at the front and boot spoiler at the rear aid aerodynamics and look chic.

The GT-R launched in India is the European spec Premium Edition. That brings along leather appointments on the center console, door panels, shift lever and the dashboard with some bright shades on offer too. The 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system is a customizable unit capable of displaying a plethora of information that include real-time performance data like turbo boost, coolant temperature, oil temperature and even acceleration and cornering G-forces experienced. Those spirited night drives couldn't get any better!

Standard kit include Acoustic windscreen, Active Noise Cancellation, 11-speaker BOSE audio system, Automatic headlamps, six airbags, Vehicle Dynamic Control, Traction Control System, Anti-lock Braking System, Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System.

Powering the GT-R is a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine that churns out 562 horsepower and 637 Nm of torque. Mated to it is a 6-speed Dual Clutch Automatic Transmission and standard All Wheel Drive system. With a claimed top speed of 315 km/h and a 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time of under 3 seconds, this Nissan can rival the likes of Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porsches. 

In India, Nissan offers the GT-R in seven exterior colour options (Katsura Orange, Vibrant Red, Pearl Black, Storm White, Daytona Blue, Gun Metallic and Ultimate Silver) and four interior trim shades (Red, Tan, Ivory and Black). Booking amount is said to be ₹25 Lakhs and the car would be made to order, so be prepared for a wait. 

With supercar-rivaling performance and rewarding chassis dynamics that earned the car legions of fans worldwide, the GT-R is what dreams are made of. Add to that Japanese reliability and it gets potentially lethal if you can cough up the asking price. Remember, the Ferraris and Lamborghinis cost twice as much!

2016 Paris - Nissan says 'Bonjour' with the flashy new Micra

Perfectly utilizing the glamorous floor space of the 2016 Paris Motor Show, Nissan made quite a style statement by unveiling its fifth-generation Micra. Squarely targeted at the popular and highly-demanding B-segment in Europe, the new Micra is all set to continue the nameplate's 30-year legacy in the continent when it goes on sale early next year.

When Nissan unveiled the Sway Concept at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, few expected the car to make it to production unchanged. Nissan, being who they are, did just that with the new Micra. That was an exaggeration, of course, but you get the point.

Ditching its swoopy lines and feminine image for good, the new Micra looks sharp and flashy. Nissan's signature V-motion grille takes the center stage up front flanked by large headlights with boomerang-shaped detailing inside. But the profile is where the real drama is. Prominent character lines that originate from the edges of the grille flow through the fenders, change course midway through the front doors to form a V-shaped crease before running the full length of the car. Other interesting design touches include the floating roof - another Nissan signature, C-pillar mounted rear door handles and sharp boomerang-shaped taillights.

While opinions on the new Micra's styling have been polarizing so far, we don't remember the last time a B-segment hatchback's design was debated as much. That's good news, Nissan has got the new Micra rolling!

In total contrast to the exterior styling, the new Micra's cabin is subtle and lacks flair. Occupying prime position inside is the multi-function flat-bottom steering wheel, the wing-shaped dashboard and the 7-inch full-colour display that incorporates the infotainment and navigation systems. Entertainment duties are taken care of by the new 6-speaker 'Bose' personal sound system.

The new Micra is loaded with advanced safety kit including segment-first Lane Departure Prevention, Intelligent Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection, Intelligent Around View Monitor, Traffic Sign Recognition, High Beam Assist and Blind Spot Warning apart from ABS and airbags that we know. Impressively, Nissan is planning to have these features as standard across the range.

Powertrain options at launch include a 0.9-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder petrol engine and a 1.5-liter diesel engine, both developing 90 horsepower. A 1.0-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine will join the lineup later as the base engine option.

While the current Micra is produced in Renault-Nissan's alliance plant in Chennai and exported worldwide, Nissan is reportedly moving the production back to Europe for the next-generation model. That puts a huge question mark on the new Micra's launch prospects for India though the funky hatchback would be a fabulous addition to Nissan's aging lineup here. Will Nissan spring us a surprise? Let's wait and watch.