The Nissan 350Z Preserved the 'Spirit' of the Corporation, Head of Design Affirms

The Nissan 350Z Preserved the ‘Spirit’ of the Corporation, Head of Design Affirms

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As the new century approached, Nissan was adrift. The 300ZX had been discontinued in 1997, and the GT-R had not yet gained global popularity, leading the company without an inspirational flagship. To be more specific, Nissan had “misplaced [its] essence,” according to the Senior Vice President of Design at the company, Alfonso Albaisa, in an interview with The Drive during the Japan Mobility Show. Albaisa attributes the 350Z with aiding his team in rediscovering it.

“During that period, we were in a difficult situation, and we were exploring our purpose. Why do we need to exist?” Albaisa remarked. “And it was quite surprising for us to realize that all we had to do was reflect on the past, and we would find instances of brilliance.

The narrative dates back to around 1999, at the early stages of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. “We had a Z program in place. The chairman stated, ‘Nissan is facing challenges. We need to create a Z,'” Albaisa shared.

2001 Nissan Z Concept. Nissan

Albaisa, who was then an associate design director at what is now Nissan Design America, collaborated with his team on two distinct Z concepts. One followed a vintage theme, reminiscent of the Datsun 240Z—which I strongly believe is one of the most impeccably designed coupes in history. The other took a more contemporary and progressive approach. This became the vehicle we now recognize as the 350Z, strongly favored by the top executives. “There were 12 leaders who voted in favor, including the boss, and the decision to pursue the modern concept was unanimous, with a vote of 12-to-0.”

The retro concept that Albaisa mentions refers to the 1999 Z Concept, unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit that same year, bearing close resemblance to a 240Z infused with Y2K elements. Despite its somewhat disproportionately large fender clearances, it possessed an appealing aesthetic, one that I would have been eager to witness Nissan bring to production.

1999 Nissan Z Concept. Nissan

However, those vintage desires eventually found favor. Eventually, in a sense. When it came time to resurrect the Z moniker once more, following the aging Nissan 370Z (essentially a refreshed version of the 350Z) aging to 13 years old, the Nissan executives made a different decision.

“The tables turned this time,” Albaisa remarked regarding the new Nissan Z’s design verdict. “We pursued a contemporary, even postmodern direction that looked forward, not backward. The current production Z represents a ‘best of’ examination, encompassing elements of not only the 240 but also the 300. This time, it was a unanimous decision of 12-to-0 in the other direction. Not the same group, but indeed the same company—time alters perspectives.”

2024 Nissan Z Nismo. Nissan

The fact that the latest Z model hasn’t matched the 350Z’s former sales success is somewhat disappointing, despite its sleek appearance. Albaisa was right—it’s essentially a compilation of Nissan’s Z design highlights over the years. However, its retro aesthetics haven’t translated into higher sales figures, suggesting that the new release may not have the same transformative effect on Nissan as the 350Z did in the 2000s. Perhaps a price reduction for the Nismo variant could make a difference. Just a thought.

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