TOKYO — This might be the age of the electric, but Nissan just redesigned its iconic Z car with a boost of gasoline-powered horsepower.
With a high-output 3.0-liter V6 powerplant, the new Z is a 400-hp, twin-turbo, retro-styled piece of eye candy, gaining 68 hp and a 30 percent increase in torque. It is also quicker off the line, eking a 15 percent improvement in the car's 0 to 60 mph time.
It's the first time the Z has packed 400 or more hp.
Retro-styled on the outside, high-tech on the inside, the redesign is partly homage to the car's origins and partly a signal for Nissan's new direction.
With its global sales focused mainly on the U.S. and Japan, the Z is expected to be more of a brand builder than volume player.