Nissan North America is going through a nostalgia phase. After launching two R35 special editions featuring Midnight Purple and Bayside Blue paint finishes, the Japanese automaker cranked it up to eleven with the rather pricey Z Heritage Edition.
How pricey? Think $59,135 plus $1,140 for the destination charge, which is over sixty grand for a retro-tastic sports car based on a trim level that currently retails at $52,970 with either transmission. Said trim level is the Z Performance, which slots above the Z Sport. As for the priciest grade available in the US for the 2024 model year, that would be the punchier Z NISMO at $65,750.
Celebrating 55 years of Z cars, the Z Heritage Edition harks back to the S30-series Datsun 240Z that arrived in the United States for the 1970 model year. Back then, it was $3,526 from the outset, meaning $30,175 adjusted for inflation. By comparison, the Sport grade is listed at $42,790.
The easiest way of telling the Heritage Edition apart from other Zs? That would be what Nissan calls New Sight Orange. Model-specific goodies further include a Datsun-esque nose with rectangular grille openings, a black decal for the hood, bodyside decals, Heritage Edition decals around the quarter-window emblems, plus four fender extensions.
Inspired to a degree by the Fairlady Z432R, whose moniker stands for a quarter of valves per cylinder, three carbs, and two cams, the Z Heritage Edition is equipped with red-painted brake calipers for that extra visual pizzazz. Otherwise, it's pretty similar to the Z Performance we mentioned just earlier.
Photo: Nissan
Having started with the Z Performance, it should come as no surprise that a mechanical limited-slip differential and Bose premium audio come standard. The braking system includes 14-inch rotors and four-piston calipers from Akebono for the front wheels, while the interior's highlights are leather-appointed seats with faux suede inserts.
Bearing chassis code RZ34 as opposed to Z34 for the 370Z, the Z builds on its predecessor in many respects. The biggest chances are the switch to a twin-turbocharged engine and the adoption of 240Z-inspired styling cues. Not exactly the commercial success the 370Z was, the Z sold 1,771 units in the US last year and 671 units in the first quarter of the current year. By comparison, the 370Z moved 7,391 in 2015.
Part of the reason is – of course – the starting price. Over forty grand before taxes and optional extras is hardly affordable for many sports car enthusiasts, but looking at the bigger picture, that's not all. Interest rates remain high, and we also have to remember that everyone appears to be mad about crossovers and trucks in this day and age. So much so that Ford Europe could follow in the footsteps of the American division by discontinuing all cars in the lineup in favor of SUVs, vans, and trucks.
The Mustang and Focus are Ford's only cars for European markets, but come 2025, the Focus will be discontinued with no successor in sight. Ford Europe did a similar thing to the Fiesta, whose indirect replacement is the Fiesta-based Puma. Compared to FoMoCo's pony car, the Japanese automaker doesn't sell the Z or the GT-R in the EU or the United Kingdom.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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