If you want to drive the new Nissan Z-car, you'll have to wait a bit longer since it's not yet available.
But you can get a very similar car right now — from the same company that makes both.
What It Is
The Infiniti Q60 is a two-door, four-seat luxury-sport coupe that's very similar in looks and layout to the last-generation Nissan 370-Z, which Nissan stopped selling after the 2020 model year.
A new one is coming — but not just yet.
In the meanwhile, there's this Q, which is also a more practical car than the two-seater Z-car, with a roomier trunk in addition to room for two more people.
Like the old Z, it comes standard with a powerful V6. Unlike the old Z, it is available with a much more powerful V6.
And all-wheel drive, too.
The Z has always been rear-drive only.
Prices for this Z — whoops, Q — start at $41,750 for the Pure trim, which is rear-wheel drive and comes with a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 and seven-speed automatic; adding the optional AWD bumps the price to $43,750.
A Red Sport with the optional, and more powerful, version of the 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 and AWD stickers for $58,200.
What's New
The Q is old-school; the current model dates back to 2017 and hasn't changed much since then. But this is a good thing — if you prefer a more analog experience.
This car does not have a digital dashboard or a huge tablet-style flatscreen poking out of its dashboard.
What's Good
A more practical Z-car made by the company that also makes the actual Z-car.
Standard V6 versus the becoming-usual turbo'd 2.0 four.
More backseat legroom than you might have imagined.
What's Not So Good
No option to shift for yourself.
Backseat headroom is tight.
Not much new to see here.
Under The Hood
The Q is one of the few new cars of any type that still comes standard with a V6 rather than a turbocharged four.
But its standard 3.0-liter V6 has a turbo, too.
The engine produces 300 horsepower and 295 foot-pounds of torque at 1,500 RPM. The latter figure is courtesy of the turbo, which boosts low-end torque significantly as well as increases horsepower.
If the standard 300-horsepower V6 is not enough to get your motor running, you can upgrade to the 400-horsepower version of the 3.0-liter V6 in Red Sport trims.
Interestingly, the soon-to-be-here 2023 Z-car will, apparently, come standard with the same (or very similar) 3.0 twin turbo that's currently optional in the Q.
On The Road
The Q is a more relaxed car than the Z, which is a function of its easier-going turbocharged engine — and automatic-only transmission.
There is less need to spin the Q's torque-rich (and torque-soon) engine to get a healthy dose of acceleration. More torque, which is what gives you the feeling of acceleration, is on tap immediately than is (well, was) available in the Z, no matter how much you revved it.
Of course, that was the point of the Z.
People who buy sports cars like spinning the engine — and shifting gears themselves.
The Q is a luxury-sport coupe, which is a more genteel take on the same basic idea.
At The Curb
The current Q and the previous-generation Z look a lot alike, which is as you'd expect given they were designed by people working for the same company and share parts in common.
But the Q is actually a much larger car than the Z.
Its footprint encompasses 184.4 inches, bumper to bumper versus 167.5 for the last-generation Z-car, a difference in overall length of almost 17 inches — which of course is why there are more inches within the Q than the Z. And not just in the back seats.
The Q's trunk (8.7 cubic feet) is also larger than the Z-car's (6.9 cubic feet), and unlike the two-seater Z, you can use the Q's other seats for things that don't fit in the trunk.
Legroom in this coupe is generous — 32.4 inches, which is comparable to what you'd find in the back seats of many compact sedans and crossovers with four doors.
However, headspace is a lot less back there (34.5 inches vs. 37.9 up front), which means sitting hunched over, if you're much over about 5 feet, 5 inches or so.
But you can sit back there.
The Rest
In addition to the stronger version of the 3.0 V6, Red Sport Qs are endowed with an upgraded wheel/tire package, brakes and an adaptive suspension that can be driver-tailored for a sportier — or more luxurious — feel. Secondary paddle shifters are also included to allow finger-touch manual control over up and downshifts.
The Lux trim is more ... luxurious. It comes with a heated steering wheel and seats, a sunroof and a 13-speaker Bose stereo upgrade.
The Bottom Line
The next Z-car isn't here yet — but that doesn't mean you have to wait for it.
Eric's latest book, "Doomed: Good Cars Gone Wrong!" will be available soon. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
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