November 2006
PAGE 27
...It's bright Sun Yellow and sports prominent golden brake calipers (calipers are now the NEW Wheels as far as external bling goes.How fashion evolves...).
It appears to have more pronounced bulges over the wheel openings and has a few minor body adjustments--like a full-width grille that stretches right around the face to where the indented side markers on the current Z reside,and headlight pods that have been ovaled--but it's still the same ole Z,still priced less than $30,000 for an entry level.
There's going to be a somewhat strippo "Base" Roadster as well,starting at around Thirty.No powered Mystery Hole door or aluminum pedals,apparently,in the decontented Roadsters.

According to the article,the "more aggresive front end" and a sleeker profile" still echo the essence of our car,but now it really lives up to it's "350" moniker,having that much horsepower now eminating from a 3.8 litre,rethought VQ motor.
That would be nice.

Details from the digitally remastered illustration of what they THINK the car will look like:
...the '08 will lose the oval Z badge on the front flank,replaced by a small set of strakes along the upper fenderline,like Aston or Range Rover.Whether they have a function or not (like exhausting engine heat) was not noted.Maybe they are like portholes on a Buick,only zoomier.
...the signature sideways door pulls have gone horizontal in the illustration;they become regular handles,with little indents in the doorskin,like Porsche.
...It also looks like there will be thin,horizontal turn signal indicators embedded into the outside mirrors,and pop-up headlight sprayers,like Benz...

Suspensions will be slightly retuned,producing a "more European flavor",with" better overall ride and handling qualities",meaning that it won't have any cupping problems,I think.
Hmm.Porsche door pulls,Aston strakes,Benz headlamp spray jets,European handling...where are they going with this???

Z is about to go head-to-head with Honda and Toyota (and others)in the "affordible" 2-seat sportscar universe.Other articles in the November "R&T" tell how Honda will introduce a new S2000 in '08,a 250-HP six(still front-drive,unfortunately),and how Toyota is diving into the Z's private pool with a new Supra,each landing right on the Z's price point.Mazda's getting better,too,and will probably have a 300-HP sportscar of it's own,and Hyundai is ready to launch a pumped-up,rear-drive Tiburon.


Haven't actually seen the magazine yet (got this posting from the 350z forum). New Z sounds interesting. It was between that and the 8 for me and I ended up with the RX-8. But once again, we see Mazda and 300 HP sports car in the same sentence. I'll believe it when I see it. I'm sure it won't be the 8. Perhaps the Kabura?

 

Ahhh... what? Haven't seen this edition yet, but somehow I don't think R&T said the current S2000 is FWD.

 

250-hp six, i think he meant 250hp Mazda 6 =D
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Paxil Settlements

 

This thread is worthless without pics.

 

Looking at page 27 shows you are not missing much.

There are two reports on that page. First report by Sam Mitani , on the 350Z, does not use the word Mazda. Second report by SM, on the S2000, does not use front wheel drive or fwd anywhere.

I think almost all the details were added by "the 350z forum" poster and not in R&T unless they got a different edition than I did.