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Nissan celebrates 50-year legacy of the Z sports car with 5 limited-edition models
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Nissan celebrates 50-year legacy of the Z sports car with 5 limited-edition models

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August 22,2022
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7 min read

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nissan

‘Z,’ it’s not just any letter, it’s something which has casted a spell on the drivers when it was added as a suffix besides a name that belonged to the Nissan dynasty. These were the models which made Nissan enter the wishlists of those for whom driving didn’t just mean commuting, but a passion, a sacred religion which they practised with complete devotion in their hearts and concentration in their heads. Meant to provide an unbridled experience that would last till eternity, those aggressive hunkered coupes which deservingly flanked the letter around the derriere that was transferred as the heirloom to the spiritual successors, the brand or rather, this revolution completes 5 decades of providing accessible performance, revolutionary technology and zest to spirited automotive fanatics for whom the only mantra that kept them going was ‘Innovation That Excites.’

To pay homage to the pedigree meticulously created by the unfaltering generations of the Z family, Nissan brought together 5 limited edition models of all the generations of the sports car and went down the memory lane reminiscing each with their characteristics, quirks and how they stood true to the roots of Nissan’s engineering finesse.

 

  • 1980 Datsun 280ZX-10th Anniversary Edition

 

The Datsun 280ZX (wasn’t even christened Nissan nor had its emblem) was the car which defined the word riveting. It warped a solid foundation for the rise of the family’s era. Acknowledging the car’s legacy and performance, a 10th anniversary edition was rolled out which was controlled to just 3,000 units that drove off the assembly line. Parting ways with the standard 280ZX were posh and gaudy materials such as leatherette upholstery, an upgraded stereo system, shimmering golden hue on the Z cachet engraved on the hood, options of rims that could be enveloped in gold or black, unique decals that outshined the car’s masculine pretensions and even a blur effect for the roof through tinting. 

The 280ZX is the most recognised car to usher from Datsun’s stables and has found its habitat with some classic car collectors and museums where this piece of grave historical importance stands in all its glory and grace to reveal the legacy and fortune it stirred for Nissan and the enthusiasts who found exactly what they implored for. The massive 2.8-litre turbo-petrol engine upon getting cranked up released all the pent-up 197 hp and 290 Nm from the motor.

280zx datsun

 

 

  • 1984 Nissan 300ZX Turbo -50th Anniversary Edition

 

Receiving the baton from the 280ZX, the 300ZX did manage to give some of the much more expensive sports cars a run for their money and respect. Also referred to as Fairlady Z in some markets, the car plonked in a 3.0-litre twin-turbo engine that unleashed 300-hp and pretty feisty for its time, 384 Nm of torque. Only the rear wheels had to contend with the shove of torque and power. Under tyre-burning acceleration, the car lunged forward from nought to 100 Km/h in a brisk 5.6 seconds. 

Where the car is so spectacular, this limited edition had to come as a corollary. 

The model has been blessed with goodies such as audio controls on steering wheel, digital display for certain information and even adaptive suspension-something which other automakers are raving about nowadays but Nissan pulled that off way back in 1984!

The 300ZX turbo was dispersed in several markets as the avid motoring folks were amazed by its futuristic Japanese design and silhouette.

300z nissan

 

  • 2005 Nissan 350Z 35th Anniversary Edition

Being quiescent in terms of development on the next sequel for the Z brand, Nissan shook the audience in 2003 when it took the covers off this weapon in its arsenal. Branded as the 350Z, the car dawned a new era of sophisticated electronics, style that was no longer understated and acceleration that knew no bounds. This resuscitation of the brand was unlike anything else with qualities such as a new platform and a spanking 3.5-litre V6 engine which diligently served in an extensive range of mainstream models from Nissan transcending several body styles. In 2005, came the 35th Anniversary model which gifted the car with a host of performance and other updates. Horsepower figures were bumped up to 300 from the erstwhile 287 and a brand-new 6-speed manual gearbox was commissioned to regulate the power and acceleration. To bid a great requiem to the 350Z, this edition featured embellishments such as 18-inch alloy wheels, a unique front spoiler, Brembo® brake callipers, exclusive lettering and upgraded sonic abilities for melodious sound on the inside inherited from a Bose® 6-speaker sound system.

350

  • 2010 Nissan 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition

Fast-forward to 2009 and the revered brutal sports machine received significant revisions. In terms of mechanicals, the engine capacity was upsized from 3.5-litres to 3.7-litres. There was no replacement for displacement. The following year saw the advent of the 40th Anniversary model with 1,000 units made. It received a 6-speed manual transmission along with cosmetic facelifts and other mechanical nannies such as front and rear spoilers, brakes which provided a more reassuring bite and stopping power, 19-inch metal rims with red colour covering, steering wheel with ‘50th Anniversary’ insignia on it instead of the basic company logo and regal alcantara that did justice to the sporty character of the car and even seats with ‘50th Anniversary’ embossed onto them. The 3.7-litre engine made the car scale to new heights with oomph of 328 hp and 366 Nm for the standard trim and 350 hp and 374 Nm of twisting force for the Nismo iteration. Power could also be transmitted via the 7-speed automatic gearbox to cross the 100 Km/h bulwark from a zilch in 5.1 seconds.

370z nissan    

 

  • 2020 Nissan 370Z 50th Anniversary Edition

 

As an epilogue to posthumously recognise the solid contributions made by its forebears, the 50th Anniversary Edition was also parked with the lineage which served as a souvenir to the #46 BRE (Brock Racing Enterprises) Datsun 240Z that emerged victorious at the multitude of SCCA National Championships, the 50th Anniversary Edition radiating two signature pinstripes on the midriff section and wrapped boot, bonnet, wing mirrors and A-pillars with dual-tone variegated contrast theme of red for the white car and black for the silver car. 50th Anniversary plaque on the front fenders and 19” alloy wheels with red ornate, Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel and bespoke 50th Anniversary seatbelts are other hallmarks. 

nissan 370z

The ancestors of the 400Z, which has been designated to take the story forward and keep the Z flag soaring high has a lot riding on its shoulders as it is not just any other sports car, but one that has to do justice to a grandiose legacy curated by the legends that came and redefined excellence. The 400Z has to not just appeal to the finicky enthusiasts of today, but also to those 1.8-million proud owners who have seen the world and navigated by it like a few others managed to do. However, the 400Z should be able to accomplish this bone-smothering task with its 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine that emits 400 hp and 475 Nm of torque, enough to leave one besotted in its aural grandeur after a day’s drive. It comes coupled with either a 6-speed manual ratchet or a 9-speed automatic transmission and is all set to ravage the streets of Africa, India, Middle East, Europe and Oceania nations later in this year.

400z

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