A new video posted by the Nissan Z Forum shows the upcoming Nissan Z revving outside the Tokyo Auto Salon.
The engine sounds… well, it sounds like a twin-turbo V6. Although I wouldn’t call this the loveliest engine note I’ve ever heard, that can easily be forgiven if the engine delivers a good driving experience, as it is no doubt capable of.
Tuners should be capable of making it sound a little better as, in previous footage of a test car published in November (which you can see at the bottom of the page), the exhaust note was deeper and more burbly. Maybe that’s partially a result of it launching, rather than bouncing against the soft limiter while parked, as is likely happening here.
Read Also: New Nissan Z Arrives In Japan As The Fairlady Z With Proto Spec Launch Edition
As this was shot in Japan, this is technically a Fairlady Z, whose 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 makes 400 hp (405 PS/298 kW) and 350 lb-ft (475 Nm) of torque. As has been previously noted, that’s a respectable amount more than the 3.0-liter straight-six in the Toyota Supra, which makes 382 hp (489 PS/285 kW) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque in U.S. trim.
Despite that, Nissan says that the Z will start with an MSRP of around $40,000 in the U.S., less than the 2.0-liter Supra, which makes just 255 hp (259 PS/190 kW).
Although we don’t yet know what the car will be like to drive, its promise of a manual transmission option and its front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout are a good start. With that, there’s a lot of potential for performance and Nissan seems to understand that.
“With each generation, we raise the bar, pushing the limits of Z and continuing to tap into the human instinct for that next thrilling journey,” chief product specialist of the new Z, Hiroshi Tamura, said in a statement at the car’s launch. “More than just powerful and agile, the all-new Z is designed to be one with the driver, for the car to be a ‘dance partner’ for their on-road adventures.”
Nissan has promised that the 2023 Z will be available at U.S. dealers nationwide this spring.