(By Tom Lohnes) – After nearly a decade and a half of waiting, Nissan has finally released an all-new, production spec Z car, and it sure does look awesome.

Following a video tracking the Z car’s past starting with the classic 240Z and going up to today’s 370Z, the new car, simply called the “Z” makes its debut appearance in a gorgeous blue color with the retro looks of the prototype model released last year still very much intact.

Powering this new sports car is the VR30DDTT V6 out of the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 that makes 400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of twist going to the rear wheels through an honest-to-goodness 6-speed manual or a quick-shifting 9-speed auto sourced from Mercedes-Benz. Either transmission you choose, you are getting a great powertrain.

In terms of overall looks, the new Z is essentially the prototype version with a few refinements such as a smaller front grille and a little spoiler on the back that make it truly look the part of a sports car.  It appears that a very bright yellow color is available if you really want to show off your Z’s lines. The front-end is very obviously based off of the old 240/260/280Z, with the back giving off Z32 300ZX vibes. Some other cool touches like the retro-styled Z badge on the C-pillar and rear end hark back to days of old.

Inside, the Z is just about as modern as you can get. Using a 12.3-inch driver’s display plus an 8-or-9-inch center screen, the Z is up-to-date without being too tacky. You still have some Z staples inside, like the 3 analog gauges on top of the dashboard, one of which is a boost gauge. The interior is also able to be finished in some cool colors, with the debut car sporting some blue accents.

Going on sale in the spring of 2022, the new Z will be a 2023 model-year car. Pricing has not been released yet, but Nissan executives say it will be “around $40,000.”

So, that’s the new Z. Carrying on the legacy of a true sports car. while still being modern, a car like this is hard to come by. Great job Nissan, I predict a success.