All hail the Nissan "Zuke" - new Z-car to be a crossover

[samoht]

Nope, it's not the first of April.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/ne...r-be-crossover


(pic from autocar)

"The Japanese brand has been weighing up a variety of options on where to take the famous Z brand as the current 370Z is phased out by 2017. It has considered a higher-powered sports car and a cheaper, more basic four-cylinder model - as previewed by the iDx compact coupé concepts that were revealed at the Tokyo motor show in 2013.

However, sources indicate that Nissan has settled on a more radical solution: making the next Z car a small sports crossover."

"The Juke is expected to evolve for its next incarnation, which will bring a switch to the same CMF B platform as the new Z crossover ... Its engine line-up will be able to include the full range of 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engines."

So basically just like the Juke, but different. Doh!

[Rare White Ape]

So uhhhh why not a six cylinder turbo hybrid wedged into a 2-seat RWD coupe?

Duh. Old mate wouldn't have even cooled down yet and Nissan is already looking to rape the Z badge.

He would not approve.

[novicius]

So there will be a new Z-crossover AND a next gen Juke?

#deathoftheZ

[Kchrpm]

I refuse to believe this

[KillerB]

Part of me is hoping FCA merges with Mazda. Marchionne is crazy enough to fund final development of the 16X.

[SkylineObsession]

That's it, i'm moving to Mars.

[samoht]

So there will be a new Z-crossover AND a next gen Juke?

#deathoftheZ

Yeah, there will be a Juke Mk2 on the new version of the shared Renault Clio platform, and then a new Z as well on the same platform - I guess it'll be a kind of Juke coupe, perhaps without the rear doors.

#deathoftheZ indeed, the number of manufacturers are prepared to invest in bespoke platforms for sports cars is dwindling by the year (and yes, I know the Z33/34 are on a Skyline exec saloon platform, but at least it's a RWD one). Hard to replace the FD when there are so few options for a new sports car.

[The359]

So now the Crossover Z can continue to fight the Crossover Evo?

[Mirage]

Man nissan just keeps piling on the reasons for me to not buy another vehicle built by them. Too bad their idea of building excitement is using red cars in the commercials that do CGI stunts, instead of actually BUILDING excitement.

[Yw-slayer]

Don't replace the FD unless you have to.