2023 Nissan Z confirmed for Australia

No, you’re not looking at a concept. Nissan has made good on the promise of its Z Proto concept, and dragged it almost unchanged into production.

Say hello to the 2023 Nissan Z, and get ready for some good news.

The first part? Just like the rumour mill suggested, it’s powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine with 298kW of power and 475Nm of torque. It’s rear-wheel drive, and there’s a manual option.

The second part? It’s locked and loaded for Australia.

“We are excited to see the new Nissan Z unveiled today,” a Nissan Australia spokesperson said.

“This iconic nameplate has been loved by generations of Australians, and we look forward to its arrival in Australia next year.”

Before we go any further, here are the technical highlights:

Power comes from a VR30DDTT 3.0-litre twin-turbo engine
Peak power is 298kW
Peak torque is 475Nm
There’s a choice of six-speed manual or nine-speed auto transmissions

And here’s how it measures up, with comparisons to the 370Z in brackets:

Length: 4378mm (+113mm)
Width: 1844mm (-1mm)
Height: 1316mm (+1mm)
Wheelbase: 2550mm (identical)

Clearly, the new Z and the 370Z share plenty in common.

Under the skin, the new Z rides on a double wishbone front and independent multi-link rear suspension, and there’s electric power steering.

Two distinct models will be offered in the USA.

The first is the Sport, with a more comfort-oriented suspension, no limited-slip differential, and 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Yokohama tyres. The brakes are 320mm front/307mm rear units with two-piston calipers all around.

The Performance gets a mechanical limited-slip differential, auto rev-matching for the manual transmission, bigger 355mm front/350mm rear brakes with four-piston front calipers, and 19-inch forged alloy wheels wrapped in Bridgestone rubber.

Outside, both models look almost identical to the Z Proto concept revealed in 2020.

The front end has a strong 240Z influence, while the rear borrows heavily from the 300ZX with its upright profile and horizontal tail lights.

The detailing in the grille has changed, there’s a subtle lip spoiler on the boot lid, and the badging is different – but it’s seriously rare a car hits showrooms looking so true to the concept preceding it.

Inside, the production Z again follows the Proto closely. The base Sport model has an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a six-speaker sound system.

Moving up to the Performance gets you a 9.0-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation and an eight-speaker Bose sound system.

Both systems have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth audio, and satellite radio in the USA. Range-topping models also get a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Regardless of which model you select, the new Z gets a fully digital instrument cluster and a trio of analogue gauges atop the dashboard. The latter is a classic Z design cue.

There are some similarities to the 370Z inside, including the design of the transmission tunnel and the detailing in the doors, but the new Z looks significantly more modern.

Along with the Sport and Performance trims, the USA will be offered a Proto Spec at launch. Named after the concept Z revealed in 2020, it gets you bright yellow brake calipers and interior detailing, bronze alloy wheels, and unique touch points.

Regardless of which model you opt for, the Z comes standard with autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and rear cross-traffic alert.