Update: Nissan Confirms New Z and 370Z Share Same Chassis Code (Z34)

[riverrun]

Nissan Exec Confirms the New Z and 370Z Share the Same Chassis Code
This ain't no Z35, even if Nissan surely made huge improvements to the new Z's aging Z34 underpinnings.
Nick Yekikian
Aug 18, 2021

When the Nissan Z Proto made its debut, we couldn't help but notice a considerable amount of similarities between it and the outgoing 370Z. The cut lines, shut lines, and even air vents of these two cars matched up just a little too well, leading us to believe the Z Proto wasn't truly sitting on redesigned underpinnings. This ruffled more than a few feathers, but it turns out our hunch was right. We're not here to gloat, but an "I told you so" wouldn't be completely out of order.

Before the silk was pulled off of the 2023 Z, we asked a Nissan executive if the new twin-turbocharged sports coupe's chassis carries the Z35 chassis code. We were simply told "no." You read that right: by Nissan's own internal standards, the changes made to the latest Z are not significant enough to warrant a new chassis designation. The 2023 Z chassis is not internally known as the Z35, and it instead maintains the Z34 chassis code of the 370Z.

So that pretty much settles that. Yes, there will be significant changes to the new Z to make sure it is substantially different from the 370Z that came before it. The bodywork is obviously new, and so much of the interior has changed (and hopefully been improved) that the carryover chassis might not matter to the majority of consumers.

That said, much of the 2023 Z's body in white (all the bits you can't see) mirrors that of the 370Z's. We only hope Nissan's chassis gurus and engineers were able to extract all that they could from the Z34 chassis old bones to give the new Z a behind-the-wheel experience befitting of its engine's grunt.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/2023-nissan-z-chassis-code-z34/

 

[DevonK]

Direct quote from the release presser:

"Introducing the 2023 Nissan Z. Developed by a passionate team of designers and​

engineers, the all-new Z represents an approachable sports car for the modern age –"​

Good work, Nissan. It really enhances your credibility when you make statements like this.

 

[DevonK]

Discussed already:
https://www.nissanzclub.com/forum/t...ief-explains-what’s-underneath.107/#post-9206

 

[280driver]

I read something last night that said the new Z has different suspension attachment points, camber and, of course, shock tuning. Its not the exact same as the 370.

 

[vb22]

Are there any pics of the underside yet?

 

[Treefitty]

Not sure if anyone has picked up on this yet but just saw on Nissan USA that they said the chassis is 10% stiffer, exedy clutch, and they added new synchros for 1 and 2 gear to handle the power. Hopefully it will help to smooth out shifts as well. I’m sure we’ll learn more as the journalists get more info. This makes me more optimistic that Nissan at least took a wholistic approach tweaking the shortcomings of the predecessor like Toyota did with 86 and didn’t just drop in the q60 engine, reskinned it and called it a day. With that in mind it’s interesting they didn’t upgrade the brakes considering they have been a known weak point...I’m gonna take the glass half full view and hope that tested showed they were more than adequate to not fade and it means that the car didn’t increase dramatically in weight since they can still use the last gen brakes. Look at the M2 comp and how BMW had to give it the f10 M5 brakes because it gained so much weight over the og m2.

 

[Houston.RZ34]

Not sure if anyone has picked up on this yet but just saw on Nissan USA that they said the chassis is 10% stiffer, exedy clutch, and they added new synchros for 1 and 2 gear to handle the power. Hopefully it will help to smooth out shifts as well. I’m sure we’ll learn more as the journalists get more info. This makes me more optimistic that Nissan at least took a wholistic approach tweaking the shortcomings of the predecessor like Toyota did with 86 and didn’t just drop in the q60 engine, reskinned it and called it a day. With that in mind it’s interesting they didn’t upgrade the brakes considering they have been a known weak point...I’m gonna take the glass half full view and hope that tested showed they were more than adequate to not fade and it means that the car didn’t increase dramatically in weight since they can still use the last gen brakes. Look at the M2 comp and how BMW had to give it the f10 M5 brakes because it gained so much weight over the og m2.

It weighs about as much as the Z33 did.

 

[trackratZ]

I read something last night that said the new Z has different suspension attachment points, camber and, of course, shock tuning. Its not the exact same as the 370.

Really want to know more about this! That would be great. Source?

 

[jdm-rhd]

overall it doesn't sound like a bad thing. now if only toyota would have done the same and used the a80, but they went with the j29...which, you guessed it, is german...

 

[Z34_2.0]

https://www.motorauthority.com/news...born-as-an-under-the-table-skunkworks-project

Not all-new, but newish

The new Z is a heavily revised 370Z with updated suspension geometry, a new powertrain, an enhanced structure, and completely new styling. Much of the car’s engineering carries over, but Nissan’s changes make it "different, big different," Tamura said with a grand sweeping gesture.

Tamura told MA back in 2019 that the next Z would be "shaped by customers," and that's exactly what happened. Z car clubs and Z societies wanted more power, and Nissan responded with a 400-hp twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6.

The engine came from the Nissan/Infiniti parts bin, but the 7-speed automatic was no longer a great match, according to Tamura. Tamura said nine gears would improve response with close ratio changes to deliver better balance and a flatter torque curve.

The engine comes from the Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400, but it has a recirculation valve to lower the back pressure on the intake manifold between shifts or when letting off the accelerator. This little change was made to provide better throttle response. The reason the Q60 doesn't have it? Because response is more important in a sports car than in a grand tourer, Tamura noted.

Getting heavier, feeling lighter

Between the two turbos, two intercoolers, a larger radiator, and the new transmission, the new powertrain alone added about 200 lb to the Z, according to Tamura. But the new Z was tuned to deliver a lightweight feeling. Nissan hasn't released the production car's weight yet, but it will be more than the outgoing 370Z’s 3,457-lb curb weight with the manual transmission.

From the beginning, Tamura's challenge to the team was to make a heavier car feel lighter. The answer was to perform some alignment tuning. The Z team also benchmarked the reborn Toyota Supra for performance.

The team changed how the suspension moves to handle the new torque curve. Nissan engineers changed the damper mounting points, modified the bump stop touch points, dialed in more front caster, increased the spring rates, softened the dampers 20%, and used wider front tires. The changes increase the accuracy of the suspension geometry, and Tamura said they also improve cornering performance and reduce understeer.

The switch to electric power steering allowed the team to dial in quicker responses thanks to a stiffer rack. "Everything was sharpened," Tamura said.

Nissan started with the structure from the 370Z, but reinforced it to handle more twist from the extra power. The front crash structure, part of the front firewall, the rear subframe, and most of the rear hatch are either new or reinforced, and front underbody bracing was added. The changes increased torsional stiffness by 10.9% and improved the rigidity of the rear hatch by 23.9%.

Nissan didn’t put the Z on a carbon-fiber diet or give it other exotic materials to save weight like the GT-R. “This is about keeping things within a certain price point, and yet keeping the balance of price and performance,” Tamura said.

It's all about the beauty

Performance was important, but Tamura acknowledged "all of the content starts from styling, beauty, great styling design."

The team had to chase a slippery coefficient of drag, which means the styling had to work with the aerodynamics. However, Tamura didn’t want a rear spoiler because he thinks it's a "negative for beauty." But it's needed for performance, which is why the Performance model has a rear lip spoiler to reduce lift at speed.

Historically, the Z’s weakness has been brake cooling, or a lack thereof. Despite the increase in horsepower, Nissan didn’t improve brake cooling—again to keep the cost under control.

What about NISMO, a convertible, and AWD?

The Z "always needs to improve for the customer," Tamura said. If customers demand something, and the projections justify the sales volume, "I will do that," Tamura noted.

But the current market doesn’t justify a convertible, according to Tamura. With the new car’s extra horsepower, the body construction would need further reinforcements, which would add even more weight.

The Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400 can be optioned with all-wheel drive, but the Z won’t get this option. It adds all-weather control, but "an all-wheel-drive system is more GT than sports car," Tamura said. The standard Yokohama ADVAN Sport tires, or Performance model’s Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires, used on the Z can handle around 150-200 hp per tire, according to Tamura. With just 400 hp, all-wheel drive isn't necessary.

As for whether a NISMO model will return, Tamura simply smiled and noted it needed to be justified. "If strong customer demand, why not," he said.

It may not have been a smooth road to get here, but Tamura’s campaign within Nissan was clearly successful and now enthusiasts have a Z that otherwise might not exist.

 

[trackratZ]

Good to know, according to the interview with @Stevewithaz at 15:30 Dan said 'they've redone the suspension front and back' I'm assuming better than was on the 370Z, will see..

 

[FPenvy]

i'm actually happy it's a 370 underneath. i've owned mine for over 10 years and the driving experience has been awesome.

however, as some stated above, the "all-new Z" statement Nissan has made is a bit of fuckery.

you did a body and engine upgrade. the chassis is the Z34, the interior is identical aside from the gauge/infotainment upgrades.

 

[280driver]

https://www.motorauthority.com/news...born-as-an-under-the-table-skunkworks-project

Very good. Some details on how much the chassis is really changed from the 370. Pretty significant. Engine is also slightly different than the version in the Q60.

 

[NissanFreak2021]

https://www.motorauthority.com/news...born-as-an-under-the-table-skunkworks-project

Really good. Some details on how much the chassis is really changed from the 370. Pretty significan.

Nice find. I knew the Z was close to being killed off which is why I'm so glad they found a way to give us a new Z.

 

[DevonK]

Do the comments about deficient brake cooling not being addressed apply only to the base model brakes, or to the performance ones as well? And if the latter, how quickly do they overheat on track on the 370Z (IIRC the brakes are being carried over)?