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Return of the Japanese Sports Car?

© Zach French

For much of the past two decades, Japanese sports cars were the dominating force in the low-buck performance sector of the automotive market. This phenomenon began in October of 1969, with the introduction of the Datsun 240Z to the US, and ended in the mid-‘90s with the all-but-complete disappearance of Japanese sports car from our shores. However, much happened during those 20-plus years to facilitate the rise and fall of the Japanese sports car, most of which is beyond the scope of this article. Nonetheless, Nissan is trying to make a comeback into the US market with a new Z, the first since the last one quietly vanished in 1996. But is Nissan going about this return the right way, or will they succumb to the same fate that destroyed their sports cars a few years back?

The reason that Japanese sports cars became popular was actually a fairly simple one: they handled well, cost almost nothing, didn’t suck down gas, looked good and were reliable. Moreover, they were fun. This last factor played well with the American market at the time, as we needed some fun injected into the bland vehicles rolling out of Detroit during the ‘70s and ‘80s. The wonderfully awesome and storied muscle cars of the ‘60s were long gone, having been strangled to death by rising gas prices, emissions standards and insurance premiums. Japanese sports cars were just about the only choice for a driver looking for a cheap, reliable, and seriously fun to drive ride. So why did Japanese sports cars all but disappear from the US market? The answer lies in the major Japanese automakers Mazda, Toyota, Mitsubishi, as well as Nissan, trying to constantly out-do each other. By the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, Japanese sports cars were loaded with electronic gizmos, covered in ridiculous wings and spoilers, and slapped with very high price tags. Thus, the Japanese sports car died a quiet and lonely death, as American interest in them quickly faded.

However, Nissan is trying to bring back the sports car to the US market with an all-new Z-car for ’03. While this may sound like a step in the right direction, the latest rendition of the next Z fails to impress. Its styling is an ugly mix of an Audi TT and a designer’s over-interest in sharp, wedge-like lines. However, it is what’s under the hood that counts, right? The engine for the next Z will be an enlarged naturally aspirated version of the current Maxima’s V6. This power plant pails in comparison with the awesome, twin-turbocharged 300 horsepower V6 in the last generation Z. Things are not looking good for Nissan’s next Z-car. But wait! Why design a new Z when Nissan has the perfect sports car for the American market all ready in production in Japan!

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