The Arizona Z Car Club's Concept Of A New Z Car

Contributed by Andy James & Preston Pratt

"The Arizona Z Car Club's New Z Car design team headed by Preston Pratt, President, met several times during the summer and fall of 1997. The team produced some nice conceptual ideas that were brought to life by the design team's artist, Andy James. The team strongly considered that the concept of the new Z Car should include as its premise that traditional styling combined with a six (6) cylinder engine of between 2.4 and 2.8 liters is an essential part of a successful Z Car marketing strategy. What is presented here are elements of that traditional styling blended with modern lines that create an instant hard top and roadster classic."

ABOVE: " The front and rear styling illustrates sweeping and flowing fenders exhibiting both traditional and modern lines that announce immediately to the onlooker that this is a Z-Car."


ABOVE:
"Since it was rumored in several car magazines that Nissan wished it had come out with a convertible mirroring the success of Mazda, we gave our concept Z car a Miata favor. The convertible concept drawings although more caricature in nature, demonstrates that convertible means fun. My, does it look happy to be a convertible!"


ABOVE
We also thought that the interior should immediately provide basic "creature comforts" that one should expect like adequate leg and head room, comfortable seating, and a stylish interior that is immediately recognizable as a Z Car. The traditional gauges, mid center in the dash, just somehow seemed necessary. The interior invites you to get in and drive.


ABOVE:
"The interior of a Z Car should be a pleasant place to be in while driving or just relaxing. What we considered important was to create an environment that provided functionality and did not replicate some of the mistakes of the past, such as, arm rests that easily broke, door handles that were difficult to reach and door panels that provided little utility for simple storage, as was the case with the first generation cars."