NEW YORK – "We will build it." With these four words from Minoru Nakamura, president and CEO, Nissan North America, Inc., Nissan announced it will bring back production of an all-new version of the legendary Z-car for the North American market. The announcement was made at a press conference at the 1999 New York International Auto Show.
The new Nissan Z-car will be based on the Z Concept vehicle, first introduced at the 1999 North American International Auto Show in Detroit and displayed in Chicago and New York. The Z Concept, with its long hood, short deck and traditional Z-car styling cues, was designed at Nissan Design International, Inc., (NDI) in La Jolla, Calif.
"I'm honored to announce the production of the new Z," said Nakamura. "It marks the new spirit of Nissan while paying tribute to our past, especially to Yutaka Katayama, without whom the Z-car and Nissan would not have existed in the United States."
Yutaka Katayama, or "Mr. K" as he is known in the Nissan community, is the 89-year old "father" of the original Datsun 240Z, and was president of Nissan Motor Corporation U.S.A. from 1965 to 1975. He was responsible for the creation and import of the 1970 Datsun 240Z, which he unveiled in New York in October 1969.
"The Z Concept that has been making the auto show rounds only hints at what's to come," said Jerry Hirshberg, president, NDI. "We're going to make some changes to the car's styling before it goes into production, but it will be a 'Z' in every way."
The quick decision to bring the Z Concept into production – just four months after its public debut – was based largely on the overwhelming media, consumer and dealer response to the show car. Nissan was inundated by phone calls, letters and e-mails calling for the Z's return.
"Details regarding engine and platform for the new sports car, as well as availability, will be announced at a later date – but as my boss Mr. Nakamura has said, it must have 'Z DNA,'" said Michael Seergy, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America, Inc. "That means it must be, and will be, affordably priced. Though there's still a tremendous amount of work to be done before bringing the final production car to market, we're extremely excited about the future of the Z and Nissan in the United States."
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