2023 NissanZ Proto Spec For Sale

The 2023 Nissan Z proves sports cars are here to stay. With its twin-turbo V6 and optional manual gearbox, the Z is engineered to entertain. The 2023 Nissan Z has a starting price of $39,990.

The 2023 Nissan Z arrives after years of speculation and worries the seventh generation of the iconic “Z Car” might never happen. Luckily for driving enthusiasts, Nissan decided there are still car shoppers who want the driving thrills provided by a 2-passenger sports car.

Powered by a 400-horsepower 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6, the Z comes with a 6-speed manual or 9-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. All power goes to the rear wheels, and there’s no option to add all-wheel drive.

The 2023 Z comes in two main trims: Sport and Performance. Each comes with the same 400-hp engine and the choice of either of the two gearboxes.

Upgrading to the Performance trim adds a mechanical limited-slip differential, 19-inch Rays lightweight aluminum wheels, Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires, a rear spoiler and chin spoiler, larger brakes (14.0 and 13.8-inch vented discs front/rear), floating 4-piston front/2-piston rear aluminum brake calipers, and a performance-tuned dual exhaust system.

In comparison, the Z in Sport grade makes do with only 18-inch dark-painted aluminum alloys, Yokohama ADVAN sport high-performance tires, and vented disc brakes measuring 12.6 and 12.1-inches front/rear. It also does without the upgraded exhaust system and exterior spoilers.

At launch, there’s a limited-edition model called the Proto Spec. Named in honor of the concept vehicle that led to the production version Z, only 240 examples (as in the original 1969 240Z) are allotted to the U.S.

Features unique to this trim include 19-inch bronze-colored RAYS alloy wheels, yellow brake calipers, leather seats with yellow accents, suede and cloth door trim with yellow stitching, and an exclusive gear lever knob (though only with the manual gearbox).

Speaking of the Z Proto concept car, the new Z draws on styling from the original, first-gen 240Z launched in 1969, along with the fourth-gen model sold here from 1990 to 1996. While it looks remarkably similar to the Z Proto concept, Nissan designers wisely toned down that car’s gaping rectangular grille in the production model.