The Feedback on Nissan Z Proto

How does the Nissan Z Proto look?

Initial thought

It looks good. I can see hints of the predecessors while making it present. It’s going in the right direction.

Tell me more

This would be the 6th generation of the original 1969 Datsun 240Z (S30). To me the original was the best visually designed. I’m glad they used the original as the primary inspiration for the new Z.

Why was the original 1969 Datsun 240Z (S30) the best designed?

• The proportions are near perfection and that’s what makes a car look beautiful.
• Starting from the front, the long hood gives it that 60s sexy sophisticated look. The slight dip in the front gives it a sharp cut into-the-wind look, while blending smoothly into the round headlights. The headlights is resemblance of the 50’s race cars. The cabin optimally situated from the center to the rear, just above the rear wheels. Ending with the uncompromising smooth slope from the roof to the back.
• The line from the front wheel fender along the entire side through the door handle above the rear fender and ending at the rear is most important line of the car. That crisp line dissects between the masculine bottom with the elegant feminine curvatures of the top. The line also helps to soften the car from the substantial grounding line between the front and rear wheels. The door handle is elegantly infused into the line that it almost disappears.
• The shoulder line has just the right amount of hump to give it a powerful stance while displaying the soft elegant curvatures.
• The greenhouse is a beautiful shape that follows the contours of the roof line and ends with mimicking the bottom rear of the car. The insignia next to the rear of the window looks like an invisible end point that gives a sharp finish to the greenhouse without the need of the window mimicking the sharp infusion of the shoulder and roof lines. The chrome trim gives a nice substantial appearance to the greenhouse, while lightening it with the extra trim on just the top portion.

What about the Nissan Z Proto?

• The proportions are slightly off which gives it a not-quit-right taste to the eyes.
• The cabin takes up an enormous amount of space relative to the car, albeit minimized visually by the use of the black colored roof. Notice the body-colored hood below the black roof at the bottom of the a-pillar. The addition of the thick chrome trim only at the top of the greenhouse further enhances the illusion of looking smaller. The chrome trim is a nice transitional design between the black roof and the body towards the back. The insignia next to the rear of the window was a good homage attempt to the original 1969 Datsun 240Z, but feels visually out of place.
• There’s no distinguishable singular line that goes from the front to the back as the original. There’s vanishing lines going from the door handle to the front above the front wheel fender at an incline towards the hood. Then the line going towards the rear blending into the shoulder line. The multiple lines at the bottom contradicts from the simplicity design language. The deep cut line at the bottom of the door seems to be confused between being distinguished or subtle. I don’t think it works as well as it was intended from the original. There’s an awkward pinch-like design below the door where it blends with the black bottom trim. The front fender also has the similar pinch-like design, rather then smooth finishes.
• There’s a struggle between sharp and smooth lines. The original 1969 Datsun 240Z had clear distinction between the two. In the rear, the body color of the Z Proto has a sharp 45° angle, yet the carbon black rear fender is resemblance of the smooth round back of the 240Z.

Final thoughts

The Nissan Z Proto is an illusion of design.

While trying to pay homage to the original 1969 Datsun 240Z, the design struggles and uses numerous amount of illusions to hide behind rather than design with confidence. The design comes across as a mixer of experiments that seem to invoke feedback rather than define them. I look forward to the production final version.