The new Fairlady Z, Japan's pride and joy in the world of sports cars, had its world premiere in August 2021, with deliveries beginning in June 2022. Motor journalist Fumio Ogawa reports on its performance after getting a chance to drive it.

Fans have been waiting. The new Fairlady Z has finally hit the road. Announced in the US in August 2021, the new Z, for which fans eagerly awaited delivery in Japan in January 2022, began deliveries in June 2022.

I was able to test drive it in July 2022 at Nissan Motor Corporation's test course in Hokkaido. It has a long straightaway, and by the time you reach the first corner after starting, you can reach the speed limiter of 180 km/h.

Nissan Motor Corporation's public relations department likely intended for me to fully enjoy the new Z's performance. However, it was raining quite heavily when I visited, and the maximum speed was limited to 120 km/h.

However, within that range, I could discern several things. First, its acceleration performance. Second, its stability on wet surfaces. And third, the appeal of the new Z's styling, which is one of its major characteristics.

This is the seventh generation of the Z, which has undergone six model changes. The first-generation 'S30' from 1968 and the fourth-generation 'Z32' from 1989 are said to be particularly popular.

'It's no exaggeration to say that the new model was designed for fans of these two cars,' said Shinichiro Irie, who was in charge of the design at Nissan Motor Corporation.

Many design elements were incorporated from the S30 and Z32. The most important is the silhouette. The new Z features a long hood, a compact cabin, and a fastback rear, creating a beautiful profile.

Compared to the rather stocky fifth and sixth generations, it's hard to believe it shares a platform and houses a larger engine. It's a masterful design. While the convention for sports car design, driven by aerodynamics, is a wedge shape with a raised rear, the Z deliberately slopes down at the rear.

Nevertheless, it is said to be sufficiently aerodynamic, with high-speed driving performance being well-secured, especially in grades equipped with a small rear spoiler.