Latest news with #240Z
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
2025 Nissan Z Brings Back My Beloved Bayside Blue
The new Nissan Z is a sharp-looking car, with visual homages to the 240Z and 300ZX that feel targeted at Me Specifically, but it's always felt like it's missing something in the design department. As it turns out, the car was only missing a color — a color that Nissan has finally added to the lineup for 2025. Bayside Blue is back, and its addition makes the Nissan Z a car that I would actually want to own. Bayside Blue is one of those distinctive car colors that's far more recognizable than you might expect. Sure, it may seem like just one of many blues, but this one adorned the vaunted R34 Skyline GT-R, one of the coolest vehicles to grace the roads of this Earth. A bayside blue GT-R is a more interesting sight than any supercar, and a Bayside Blue Z inherits some of that appeal. Not all of it, to be sure, but enough. Read more: 2024 Acura TLX Type S Is A Different Kind Of AWD Sport Sedan The Bayside Blue on the Z looks a bit darker than the R34's variant, though it's also possible the change is just from the photography. Clearly, we need to get one of each next to each other to compare. If you happen to have both on hand, and live in Brooklyn, let me know. I definitely just want to compare the colors, not to hoon the absolute life out of an R34 GT-R. That's not what I'm looking to do at all. You can trust me. Bayside blue isn't live on Nissan's configurator yet, so it's not yet clear how much the color will cost to add to your car. Colors for the current Z range from $895 to $1,695, and the existing two-tone Seiran Blue TriCoat finish sits in the middle at $1,295. Maybe the simplification to one single color, rather than the blacked-out roof of the Seiran Blue, will make Bayside cheaper. Almost certainly not, due to Bayside's heritage, but we can dream. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Beautiful One-Owner 1972 Datsun 240Z Rescued And Restored
Read the full story on Backfire News For many, the Datsun 240Z was a first love, or at least one that has slipped away. To see one almost perfectly preserved in a US Army veteran's personal garage is enough to take your breath away. It's even enough to make Dennis Collins, a famed hunter of rare rides, take a step back and has shared his experience of not only seeing this special classic Nissan sports car for the first time, but how it came out after his restoration team aimed to correct even the smallest of issues. Not that there are many of those, thanks to meticulous care paid to the special ride for decades. The first and only owner of this 240Z tells Dennis he was in the US Army and stationed in Africa, in Ethiopia to be exact, when he bought the car. The Army had the Datsun shipped to him so he could drive it while in Africa, then shipped it back to the States when his deployment was over. Originally, the guy was supposed to get a red car with tan interior. We've seen plenty of 240Zs with that color scheme and they always look nice. But this lime paint (Nissan calls it Yellow along with Code 919, if that isn't confusing. That's why some people call is Tennis Ball or Highlighter instead.) isn't nearly as common and it's actually pretty cool to see, especially in such excellent condition. Speaking of that, with just 38,000 miles on the Datsun, there isn't much wrong with it. Sure, it hasn't run since the early 90s, but the Fairlady Z isn't a mess. To get it out of the garage where it's sitting, the guys just have to install the rear struts and put the wheels back on. All the original documents for the car are present and in excellent condition. Plus, the man kept his license plate from Ethiopia, which is part of the Z's story. After two and a half years of work, Collins shows the breathtaking results. The 240Z has been restored to its original glory and you should watch the video to see it in detail. Images via Dennis Collins/YouTube
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Driving a Vintage Datsun 240Z Is All About Process
Process can feel like it envelops our lives. The hurdles that stand between you and your gratification are an increasing annoyance in the modern world. Everything should be at our fingertips, right? Yet, when it comes to older cars, process can be a huge part of the appeal. Firing up this pristine 1973 Datsun 240Z, part of Nissan's Heritage collection in Nashville, Tennessee, required the sort of process regular users would come to relish. After slinking into the leveled-out, black leather seat, I was instructed to pull the center-console-mounted choke back about halfway, using my index and middle fingers to roll the tensioned plastic paddle into place. A precautionary clutch depression and neutral check came next—there was no electrical interlock to stop me starting the car in gear—and then I turned the key. The 2.4-liter inline-six started on the first crank, with the 240Z's expert custodian telling me to let it idle high until the dash-mounted temperature gauge hit the "t" in "temp." Getting moving in a 1973 Datsun 240Z is easy, so long as you follow these simple steps. First, wipe your brain of the rev-hanging, ultralight-feeling manual-transmission cars that have been built more recently. The tall, narrowly gated shift pattern on the 240Z engages gears that require a decent amount of effort on the wooden knob. The shift action isn't rewarding in terms of slickness or snickiness, but nailing the timing between the long throw, the falling engine revolutions, and the lengthy clutch travel feels hugely rewarding when it results in a smooth shift. Parts of the experience feel old and obviously different, but much felt delightfully fresh: This lovingly preserved Datsun wears its 52 years lightly. Driving past the business parks and millionaire ranches outside Franklin, Tennessee, brought an immediate reminder of the manual labor required to drive cars of this era. Maneuvering the 240Z isn't difficult, despite the absence of power assistance for the steering and braking systems. A few mph make all the difference in steering weight, and contemporary highway speeds create a steering response that feels downright twitchy, every surface imperfection faithfully reported by the dainty wooden steering wheel. Despite the lack of a booster, brake-pedal response felt more eager than most modern powered systems. The weight of the pedal took a little getting used to—a much firmer push is necessary to get the calipers clamping—but once the brakes wake up, they bite strongly enough. But because stopping distances are often defined by the vehicles around you, and almost all of the cars around me as I drove the Z had ABS and modern tires, I kept a cautious distance. The Datsun's heart is the key to its timeless merit. Making 151 hp and 146 lb-ft of torque from 2.4 liters of displacement was deeply impressive for the time when so many rivals used big, dumb powerplants, and the inline-six is still sonorous and smooth. It sounds great too, with an intake rasp in the cabin that adds character without becoming too loud. There is muscle at both ends of the rev range, with ample torque down low and when pushed toward the 7000-rpm redline. Working against a curb weight of just 2350 pounds, performance is brisk: The 240Z is definitely fast enough to require extra planning on modern roads. Wheeling the 240Z through the stunning scenery, I was thinking about every move well ahead of the need to make it—and not because I was driving particularly fast. The Z's skinny tires and a slightly damp surface promote an excess of caution in what is a literal museum piece, as does the fact that only a lap belt is keeping me in place. While controls are light, it is hard to maintain confidence and drive the Datsun quickly. There is an underlying unpredictability to its responses. And yet, I fell in love. Meeting heroes can be daunting, the risk of expectation meeting indifference. But the Datsun 240Z didn't have to try to impress me, being kind and friendly from the jump and allowing me to learn how it liked to be driven in real time. Save for some initial human guidance on getting it started, I took my adventure in the Z alone, stopping only to admire it (and take pictures) in its adopted Southern habitat. I'll admit that I initially hesitated to shut off the engine every time I paused, fearing its start-up procedure would be crotchety and temperamental as older cars often are. But I shouldn't have doubted the Datsun: It came right back to life each time. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
2024 Nissan Z NISMO Review: The wild child of affordable performance
From the legendary 240Z to the iconic 350Z's tuner culture, the Z has always danced to its beat, a driver's delight, pure and simple. Decades later, the 2024 Z NISMO continues this very legacy of an unapologetically driver-focused ethos. Its heart, a 420-hp twin-turbo V6, pumps adrenaline through a track-honed chassis for a NISMO-like experience. The track-ready attitude is clear inside, too, where snug Recaro seats, red contrast stitching, and a rich Alcantara suede finish create a cockpit whose sole purpose is driving focus. The NISMO treatment eventually goes deeper outside, where exclusive 19-inch forged alloys and a dramatic rear spoiler make a bold entrance. And starting at $65,000, it's a car we find hard to resist having in our garage. View the 19 images of this gallery on the original article The Z NISMO gathers its strength from a tuned 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 that's rated at 420 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque — a 20-hp and 34 lb-ft gain over the non-NISMO Z. The 9-speed auto also sees revision with faster shifts and a new Sport+ mode for maximum track-attack settings. However, even though the paddle shifters make rev matching easier, the absence of a six-speed stick shift is felt, especially now with all the track-ready upgrades. All 420 horsepower is sent to the rear wheels strictly, propelling the car from 0 to 60 mph in around 4.0 seconds. Still, that's slower than similar cars like the BMW Z4 (3.9 seconds) and the GR Supra 3.0 (3.9 seconds). But the Z, at its core, is far more than just outright speed. NISMO engineers have done an excellent job tuning the suspension with unique dampers, springs, and stabilizer bars for the razor-sharp handling it so deserves. Additionally, stiffer bushings, enhanced steering rack, and revised aerodynamics (including the massive wing at the back) ensure the Z stays planted and poised throughout. The grip equation, meanwhile, is handled by a set of wider, bespoke Dunlop SP Sport Max GT600 tires mounted on lightweight forged aluminum alloys, ensuring confidence at every turn (or hairpin).Behind the wheel, the NISMO Z is a driver's delight. Of course, it adopts a driver-centric theme, merging race-inspired aesthetics with modern conveniences, though not without compromises. We begin with the hard-to-miss Recaro seats, trimmed in a mix of leather and Alcantara. These seats offer exceptional bolstering and support, though they are not the best for longer journeys. Meanwhile, the steering wheel feels purposeful and weighted to the liking. The 'boy racer' aesthetics go further, with red contrast stitching, NISMO-branded accents, and a red-etched tachometer graphic giving the cabin a motorsport-y vibe. And let's not forget the starter button, finished in anodized red, that adds a small but meaningful touch to the cabin. Nissan's cabin reveals glaring shortcomings in material quality that undermine its premium aspirations, though. While touchpoints like the steering wheel and armrests are suitably soft, the overwhelming reliance on hard, hollow plastics across lower dash panels, door trim, and console components feels unacceptably cheap for a vehicle commanding a $65,000 price tag. These cost-cutting choices clash starkly with rivals in its class, such as the Toyota Supra, which delivers a far more cohesive, tactile, rich interior at a price point. Nissan's 9-inch touchscreen, though equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, lags woefully behind modern standards. The interface is clunky and visually dated, with sluggish input responses and a counterintuitive menu layout that frustrates more than it assists. Compared to BMW's iDrive or Hyundai's snappy, user-friendly setup, the system feels like a relic—an afterthought in an era where seamless connectivity and crisp graphics are the the Z NISMO immediately makes its presence known with a track-focused aesthetic that's hard to ignore. Dominating up front is the signature 'G-Nose' front fascia, a throwback to the Fairlady 240ZG's design cue. Complete with bold NISMO badging and an aggressive front splitter trimmed in red, the front end sets the tone for the car. Thankfully, the side profile retains the classic Z silhouette but spices things up with NISMO-specific upgrades. These, of course, include the gloss black 19-inch forged aluminum wheels clad in wider, even grippier Dunlop SP Sport MAXX GT600 tires and the sleek, low-slung roofline. The 2024 Nissan Z NISMO is a thrilling reminder that raw, unfiltered driving joy still exists in an increasingly sanitized automotive world. Its turbocharged roar, razor-sharp transmission, and track-ready suspension deliver exhilarating dynamics that make it laughably easy to break the rear loose and chase tail-happy slides. Yes, the cabin cuts corners, and the infotainment frustrates, but these flaws fade when you're carving a canyon road or hammering down a straightaway. In an era of numb EVs and overwrought tech, the Z NISMO's unapologetic focus on driver engagement feels rebellious, even heroic. While rivals like the Supra GR or Z4 offer polish and prestige, none match the Nissan's analog thrills or retro-flavored swagger. For purists who prioritize pulse-quickening fun over pampering, the Z NISMO remains a rare, glorious holdout. Love reading Autoblog? Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get exclusive articles, insider insights, and the latest updates delivered right to your inbox. Click here to sign up now!
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
What happened to Nissan? And what happens next if a Honda merger is truly dead?
Japanese automaker Nissan (NSANY) finds itself at a crossroads. Nissan was poised to participate in a megamerger with rival Honda (HMC), and it was a huge development when the talks were revealed late last year. This was not just some run-of-the-mill consolidation — this would have been like General Motors (GM) and Ford (F) joining forces into one behemoth. Both brands enjoy their own cultures and reputations, and this may have led to the deal's unraveling, per some reports. Honda, in the more enviable position, looked at Nissan as a troubled partner that needed more cost cuts, which apparently did not happen at the speed that Honda desired. Honda then reportedly wanted to make Nissan a subsidiary, which Nissan wasn't going to allow. Nissan, after all, has a history with such relationships. It felt like a subsidiary with its alliance partner Renault ( and the company still feels disrespected in some fashion to this day. Both Honda and Nissan say their boards are meeting soon and an announcement will be made shortly. While Nissan potentially scrambles for a new dance partner, the question remains how Nissan arrived at the position it finds itself in now. The company behind enthusiast cars like the mighty GT-R, 240Z sports car, and trusty Pathfinder SUV was once in the driver's seat in the US and in its home market of Japan. However, in the late 1990s, the company found itself in dire financial straits and entered into an alliance with French automaker Renault. Renault held the superior position for some time, eventually leading to resentment from Nissan's Japan-based leadership. "Nissan's drive for independence prevented it from fully integrating with Renault [and] from merging with FCA (Fiat Chrysler)," Sam Fiorani, manufacturing expert at AutoForecast Solutions, said to Yahoo Finance. By 2023, Renault eventually sold down its ownership so that Renault held a 15% voting stake in Nissan and Nissan held a 15% voting stake in Renault. After a renaissance during former CEO Carlos Ghosn's tenure when the company became profitable, Nissan again struggled with sales due to an aging product lineup and rising costs. Nissan never really fully recovered. For example, the company reported that global revenues fell 5% in its most recent quarter from July to September and it had a net loss of $62 million versus a profit a year ago. Operating margins dropped below 0.2%. The company also cut its revenue projection for the 2025 fiscal year by 10%, with the company saying that it is 'facing a severe situation' and that it is 'taking urgent measures to turn around its performance and create a leaner, more resilient business capable of swiftly adapting to changes in the market.' Nissan said it would cut its global capacity by 20% and reduce its global workforce by 9,000. Aging products were an issue for Nissan. 'I think sometimes they tend to let their vehicles get a little bit older and put them on longer life cycles than much of the market,' S&P auto analyst Stephanie Brinley told Yahoo Finance. In addition, the Nissan team didn't step on the accelerator pedal when it came to electric vehicles. 'It's not so much that Nissan is in a bad position for not having more EVs; it's just they had a lead, and they were early,' Brinley said. 'They were early in that segment and then sort of pulled back a little bit, and took a different path, and ended up really letting competitors sort of get out ahead of them.' Though that EV growth story slowed across the industry, Nissan could have had a leadership position behind Tesla (TSLA). Now Ford and GM occupy that space in the US. China woes have also been a concern for Nissan. Moody's noted that Nissan's China sales in 2023 were roughly half of its 2019 volume when China accounted for 1 in 3 of Nissan's global sales. Once a source of growth, those sales tumbled as the industry as a whole felt pressure from growing Chinese domestic automakers like BYD. Combined with pressure in the US, an aging product portfolio, heavy debt, and a shrinkage in China brought Nissan to where it is today. A massive tie-up with Honda, though audacious, was seen as a strong move for Nissan. Nissan would be receiving a lifeline from Honda with potential access to capital and shared development costs. Honda would gain more manufacturing capacity and benefit from cost sharing as well. 'The best opportunity there would be for being able to share development costs of new technology, whether that's battery technology or software,' Brinley said. 'They could've shared either the research and development cost of that or the deployment cost of that, and then you can get the scale on those systems which are expensive to develop really quickly.' The two combined would take advantage of their strengths and address their weaknesses too. 'Each of the manufacturers could harness the other's strengths providing Honda with body-on-frame vehicles that are popular and wildly profitable in North America while Nissan could harness Honda's hybrid expertise to help in the current transition to EVs, when both bring technologies together to create profitable electric vehicles when the market is fully ready,' Fiorani said. And scale is key. A potential merger between Nissan and Honda would have created the world's third-largest automaker, right behind Toyota (TM) and Volkswagen (VWAGY), leapfrogging Korea's Hyundai-Kia group in total unit sales. If the proposed deal with Honda unravels, what happens next is uncertain. 'I'm not quite sure who [steps in],' Brinley said. 'It's got to be the right person to step in.' Like Honda, Brinley surmises it will be a partner that needs the scale that Nissan's 40+ assembly plants could provide. 'Finding a company large enough to make Nissan stable limits the group of eligible mates quickly. Finding one with an automotive focus cuts that list down to very few,' AutoForecast Solutions' Fiorani said. 'Finding one who would be willing to take a $10 billion bet on an automaker with two or three failed marriages eliminates just about everyone.' Speaking of failed marriages, some have advocated that Nissan and Renault should pursue a full merger, not the alliance they currently have in place. Joining forces on development costs, manufacturing expansions, and their global footprints (Renault in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East; Nissan in the US, Japan, and Asia) could provide the right mix to survive in an industry where scale matters. Another possible plan emerged recently: There have been rumors of a Foxconn tie-up, as the tech device contract manufacturer for goods like the Apple (AAPL) iPhone needs a dance partner to build its upcoming EV products. Foxconn has a joint venture with Taiwan automaker Yulon Motor, called Foxtron, which showed off an EV concert at CES earlier this year. A former Nissan exec is also running Foxconn's EV venture. 'Instead of merging with another car manufacturer, exploring partnerships with businesses across shared mobility, autonomous driving, and electrification may offer more substantial paths forward,' Edmunds head of insights Jessica Caldwell said to Yahoo Finance. With the deal potentially back on the table, a merger with Nissan would provide the company some much-needed credibility in the space. Nissan is reportedly amenable to a deal. 'If Nissan isn't willing to give up control to another company and doesn't want to become a division of a China-based automaker, Nissan needs to find a visionary leader. The last time that happened for them, he was forced out of the country in a storage case,' Fiorani added, alluding to the strange saga of former Nissan and Renault CEO, Carlos Ghosn. A Ghosn comeback is definitely not happening — the notorious leader is exiled in his native Lebanon. But this much is clear: Nissan needs to take any deal it can get. Pras Subramanian is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on Twitter and on Instagram.
