2023 Nissan Z Launch Delayed Until Summer 2022

[FBD]

The Z is not supposed to be exotic. Just a fun, fast enough, good looking GT from the factory that is reliable at a decent price.

No I agree. I guess I just meant special. It should feel special and the 370 and this one just feel fun and fast. As opposed to the 300ZX which felt special. Or even (and I'll hear the laughs) an older Porsche Boxster with real steering. The Z still doesn't rev as fast or with as much urgency as even the old boxsters. But I take your point. And again, we haven't driven this thing yet.

 

[Donalex]

Or there will be another key chip plant fire, which seems to be "a thing" the past few years. Add more covid related restrictions, conflicts etc ... this situation could linger.

It's odd, the way not just one but multiple major industries, are still hampered by this chip situation, and possibly still years into the future. You'd think a key constraint like this, would have had better contingencies and mitigation. Not "oh well, maybe this thing will clear up after 3 or so years".

A reminder that these chips which seem to be in short supply are so-called "legacy chips". They are not the kind or generation of chips found in your cellphone or TV. No sane manufacturer would introduce newly-developed chips into a product which can kill or maime someone because the operator is eating a donut and reading a book going 90 mph in a school zone.

Industry long ago embraced "just in time" production, which by it's very nature is not immune to supply disruptions. Until now, some held-back stock, production tweeks, and multiple chip manufacturers have been used to mitigate relatively minor disruptions.

A raging worldwide pandemic, which affects second and third world countries where these chips are made, is not a "relatively minor disruption".

So, you have a clash of pent-up purchasing consumers in wealthy countries versus the collapse of production in these other countries.

No surprise, and no fast and easy fix.

 

[fliplover]

A reminder that these chips which seem to be in short supply are so-called "legacy chips". They are not the kind or generation of chips found in your cellphone or TV. No sane manufacturer would introduce newly-developed chips into a product which can kill or maime someone because the operator is eating a donut and reading a book going 90 mph in a school zone.

Industry long ago embraced "just in time" production, which by it's very nature is not immune to supply disruptions. Until now, some held-back stock, production tweeks, and multiple chip manufacturers have been used to mitigate relatively minor disruptions.

A raging worldwide pandemic, which affects second and third world countries where these chips are made, is not a "relatively minor disruption".

So, you have a clash of pent-up purchasing consumers in wealthy countries versus the collapse of production in these other countries.

No surprise, and no fast and easy fix.

I understand what you are saying, but from my knowledge of the situation, most of the pandemic related run on chips has been driven by the work from home/stay at home crowd needing new computers, wanting new gaming systems, etc. for their homes. This doesn't even include everyone who want to be a crypto miner nowadays. These systems all use the latest, fastest chips, not legacy chips.

Did all the legacy chip manufacturers pivot production to more modern devices? I agree there's been a run on new cars, but should cause shortages to the extent we are seeing if the legacy manufacturers still have the same capacity as before.

 

[JoeTX]

I understand what you are saying, but from my knowledge of the situation, most of the pandemic related run on chips has been driven by the work from home/stay at home crowd needing new computers, wanting new gaming systems, etc. for their homes. This doesn't even include everyone who want to be a crypto miner nowadays. These systems all use the latest, fastest chips, not legacy chips.

Did all the legacy chip manufacturers pivot production to more modern devices? I agree there's been a run on new cars, but should cause shortages to the extent we are seeing if the legacy manufacturers still have the same capacity as before.

TSLA built the Gigafactory in 168 working days. Chip manufacturers don't want to build more factories because they are making more money this way. they don't care about the average consumer, they care about their shareholders and showing they are making profits.

 

[Donalex]

It's for certain that some materials are universal among transistor chips and the increased buying of PC's, etc may have caused shortages across the board, but I believe that production worker shortages caused the most damage as they are highly skilled.

Once car buying stopped, factories stopped, too. Plus, it takes weeks to make chips from raw materials to finished product.

 

[Denver the Last Dinosaur]

The factories in China have also been shutdown during their latest round of Covid lockdowns. They are apparently starting to reopen, but there will be a backlog of orders to do before normal manufacturing levels resume. As well as that there are the ongoing shipping delays of raw material to the chip factories and of the finished products to customers.

 

[Donalex]

Here's a good primer:
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/features/automotive-cars-computer-chip-shortage-2022/

 

[LZ23]

No I agree. I guess I just meant special. It should feel special and the 370 and this one just feel fun and fast. As opposed to the 300ZX which felt special. Or even (and I'll hear the laughs) an older Porsche Boxster with real steering. The Z still doesn't rev as fast or with as much urgency as even the old boxsters. But I take your point. And again, we haven't driven this thing yet.

Just got back from seeing the Z at my local dealer and the car looks way better in person.I think the interior is considerably nicer than the 350Z and better than the 370Z.I have the gun metallic on pre order and after seeing the red interior wished it was available.The red is not solid red it has black within the leather grain and looks good.The quality of the paint is very good.I am glad I didn't get one with the black roof.The black on the hatch is not painted it is a wrap and you can feel a definite edge between the painted surface and the wrap. It woudn't suprise me if the roof might also be a wrap.The nissan rep that brought the car wasn't sure about the roof.Of course no mention of pricing or availability.

 

[West Aussie]

Can it really be a wrap though? I mean they have to offer three year paint protection in Aus, and in our sun I’m nit sure a wrap would last that long …if the paint work is not smick under it ….they are gonna be in a world of paid warranty wise

 

[therumblewagon]

Probably worth remembering all models are, as far as we know/have seen, pre-production models. Therefore, not everything should be taken at face value.

 

[DevonK]

I'd be very surprised if the roof itself is a wrap, too many potential issues. And I can't think of any two-tone production car that has used a wrap - there has to be a reason this isn't SOP.

 

[LZ23]

I'd be very surprised if the roof itself is a wrap, too many potential issues. And I can't think of any two-tone production car that has used a wrap - there has to be a reason this isn't SOP.

It was definitely a wrap, the Z was red and on the hatch at the bottom area where the black meets the red paint you could see the red paint under the black right along the edge and also along the side of the hatch edge. At least six other guys noticed the same thing ,the Nissan rep kept quiet while being questioned about this.

 

[DevonK]

It was definitely a wrap, the Z was red and on the hatch at the bottom area where the black meets the red paint you could see the red paint under the black right along the edge and also along the side of the hatch edge. At least six other guys noticed the same thing ,the Nissan rep kept quiet while being questioned about this.

I'm not doubting that is what you saw, I just wonder if this is pre-pro only.

 

[LZ23]

I'm not doubting that is what you saw, I just wonder if this is pre-pro only.

I hope it's pre pro but by the way the Nissan rep acted I don't think so. It may not be a problem if you can garage the car,but if you can't it could be an issue over time.

 

[DevonK]

I hope it's pre pro but by the way the Nissan rep acted I don't think so. It may not be a problem if you can garage the car,but if you can't it could be an issue over time.

Well if you're right I'm doubly glad I opted for the Gun Metallic when I reserved.