The 2023 Nissan Z is one of the most hotly anticipated Nissan entries in recent memory. Replacing the long-running and aging 370Z, the rebooted Z will bring the moniker back to its roots while also renewing its focus on sporty driving. When we last heard about the Z, the company appeared to confirm that the car would begin arriving in dealerships in late spring. However, COVID-19 and the ensuing part shortages have played their hand again, and Nissan revealed that it will be pushing the timetable back on the car’s official launch.
Parts Shortage A Long-Running Spectre
The announcement came in the form of a small footnote in a press release that Nissan released for the Japanese market with the company revealing that the June timetable has changed. This was later confirmed when Car & Driver reached out to Nissan North America to clarify the situation with a rep giving the same answer that was revealed in Japan.
Parts shortages have stalled other new vehicle launches since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and it’s likely that a recent wave of lockdowns in China is are having additional effects on an already tight supply of components. As for the Z, this shift in the timetable could see it move from a launch in June, to the end of summer in September.
The wait will certainly be worth it in our eyes though, with the Z benefitting from a new 400 hp V6 which can be mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or an optional automatic. The Z will also be a formidable rival to the Toyota Supra and will go head to head with it in sales. In addition to its ambitions in the segment, the Z will also show Nissan’s vision for the future and how it intends to solidify its place in the automotive market after recent corporate struggles.
Value Focused Pricing Will Still Be Key Z Selling Point
While the revised timetable is an unfortunate development, it appears that the pricing side of the Z will be unaffected which will be good news for potential Z buyers. Nissan has stated in the past that the Z will have a base price firmly in the $40,000 range. That’s $2,000 more than a four-cylinder equipped Supra, but the Nissan will make up for it by offering the V6 across the entire Z range which could give the stylish Nissan an advantage, especially in terms of fun for the dollar that you get by having the V6 the exclusive engine in the family.
We look forward to checking out the Z for a future review and especially finding out if some of the upgrades to the performance hardware and the interior make this Z a true sleeper hit.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.