That doesn’t make it a bad sports car, just one that’s becoming harder to sell. But have no fear because Nissan is currently at work on a replacement. We’ve learned previously that the next-gen Z-car will likely be a bit smaller and definitely lighter than it is currently, but the question now is whether or not the V6 will return.
Speaking with Australian publication CarAdvice at the Nismo Festival in Japan, Nissan corporate vice president Roel de Vries hinted that several different engines are being considered. Reading between the lines, this very likely means the V6 is dead. “Can you sell a V6 in Europe? No. Does that mean the next Z will have a V6 (for Europe)? No, of course we are not going to do that,” de Vries stated. However, he added that "there’s still an audience that wants a six-cylinder engine, so why should we give it up? That’s all part of ongoing studies." However, the arrival of the Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ twins somewhat changed things, proving that a two-seat/RWD coupe can work with a naturally-aspirated four-cylinder.
One possible outcome is that a four banger will be offered as the base engine while a V6 would be a pricier option, for the US at least. Nissan wants to keep the Z-car affordable and a less powerful but still fun to drive entry-level option could be the smartest move.
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