Can The Next Gen Nissan 370Z Still Be Considered Macho With Only A Four Cylinder?

The next Nissan Z-car will be lighter and smaller than the current 370Z, as Nissan seeks to make its flagship coupe more efficient and better to drive.

Nissan design boss Shiro Nakamura has been reported as saying the next-generation Z-car will have to be leaner in order to appeal to a wider range of buyers.

The new model is expected to drop its 3.7-litre V6 engine in favour of a powerful turbocharged four-cylinder.

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ThierryHenry14 - 8/7/2012 12:36:02 PM

+6 Boost

personally, I think if you are trying to make a car macho in this sports coupe/roadster category, you are losing vision of the target market. If they want a macho car, then there are many other cars. This segment are all about nimble, light, agile cars that are every bit as capable on the roads as on the tracks...

Make it light and agile and it will sell!!

LexSucks - 8/7/2012 1:00:30 PM

+3 Boost

The 3.7l N/A V6 is pretty much at it's ropes-end power wise. A turbo 4 will easily be able to put out better numbers all around. Smart move. I'd consider the Z if they went that route. And only a fool measures a car being macho by the amount of cylinders it has.

pennfootball - 8/7/2012 2:17:45 PM

+5 Boost

The number of cylinders has nothing to do with power output when you are getting into forced induction. The car needs to lose 500-600 pounds and get it's 2 front teeth removed for peope to take it seriously. Plus the smaller engine will make better packaging to give people more room in the cabin.

irishmike - 8/7/2012 4:45:41 PM

+4 Boost

Right, and less weight on the nose, all good

Designer1 - 8/8/2012 12:23:36 AM

+2 Boost

Well, the 4 cylinder engine will need to have more power and better fuel economy. It's an engineering challenge. It sucks big time that because of the gas prices that even V6s are becomes something of the past. Damn the oil companies as they're destroying this entire world to only benefit their own pockets.

MorePower - 8/8/2012 1:28:31 AM

+3 Boost

As long as a new turbo four has a linear power curve, as well as maintains or betters, lets go with betters,the current cars driveability, then go for it.

If Nissan goes turbo four, I hope they also go with a dual turbo or twin-charge setup.

91z4me - 8/8/2012 1:17:17 PM

+3 Boost

Was the Z ever considered macho? I always pictured that as the Dodge Charger/Ram/Challenger territory.

MorePower - 8/9/2012 10:52:27 PM

+1 Boost

@ 91z4me

Dodge Charger/Ram/Challenger is usually in the "over-compensating" territory, along with most Lamborghinis.

DieselRules - 8/10/2012 2:28:43 AM

0 Boost

The lighter 4-cyl, with some work, should perform better, just like VW 2.0t vs VR6.
A worked on 2.5-litre with turbo could pull 500 HP for a brief period of time, long enough to shut down that pesky kid in the Civic with an Integra engine.
People get 800 HP out of Audi 2.7-L V6's .... forced induction is a wonderful thing!

DieselRules - 8/11/2012 12:55:26 AM

+1 Boost

VWs 4cyl is iron and tough! With no internal mods, my 2.0t still needs traction control in 4th gear! And with re-programmed ECU, full aftermarket suspension and exhaust, I still have factory bumper-to-bumper warranty, because they're bullet-proof. Are the Japanese honouring warranty on modified cars yet? Or do you still get snubbed by the dealer once you go non-stock?