My GT7 Log: Reiwa no Super GT fighters

The Super GT 2024 season will see a matchup like no other in the Reiwa era. It's a clash between the Toyota GR Supra, the Nissan Fairlady Z RZ34, and the Honda Civic Type R FL5. Here in GT7, I'm driving their road car equivalents predicting which car will win the 2024 season.

But first, let's get to know about these Reiwa-era JDM sports cars.

With the design borrows inspiration from the FT-1 Concept, the GR Supra shares most of the engines from the BMW Z4 G29 such as the 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo engine and the 3.0L BMW TwinPower Turbo engine for the range-topping RZ variant producing 340PS of power and 500Nm of torque. All of the engines are mated to an 8-speed Steptronic gearbox.

In the spring of 2020, the GR Supra's 3.0L BMW-derived TwinPower Turbo engine on the flagship RZ variant was boosted by 47PS, resulting in a 387PS power output. In addition, the updated GR Supra features a revised chassis consisting of lightweight aluminum braces, front and rear bump stops, and new damper tuning.

The Nissan Fairlady Z RZ34 features an eclectic mix of design cues inspired by past models as well as a cutting-edge interior featuring a GT-R-derived steering wheel, the signature triple pod cluster, and race-inspired gauges. Under the hood, the previous model's 3.7L VVEL engine was replaced by the VR30DDTT 3.0L V6 Twin Turbo engine derived from the Skyline 400R. It produces nearly 400HP of power and 475Nm of torque while mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 9-speed AT. It features optional launch control for the first time in a Z car and a mechanical LSD.

Apart from the performance it delivers, the RZ34 Fairlady Z features new monotube shocks, new front geometry, rear suspension tuning, and another first for the Z car, electric power steering. It even features increased rigidity and available sports brakes.

Based on the 11th generation Honda Civic hatchback, the FL5 Civic Type R eschews the obvious styling from its predecessor in favor of a more subtle approach while retaining the triple exhaust setup from the FK8. For the first time since the FD2, the FL5 Civic Type R is back to being a Japan-made hot hatchback.

It runs on the same K20C1 2.0L VTEC Turbo engine as the previous FK8 but it's been boosted to produce 330PS of power and 420Nm of torque while mated exclusively to a 6-speed MT.

From the improved suspension setup, electronically controlled dampers, improved braking performance, and new Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires built exclusively for this car, it smashed the Suzuka Circuit's FF lap record in 2:23.120 and recently, the Nurburgring Nordschleife's FF lap record in 7:44.881.

The FL5 Civic Type R became the 2022-2023 Japan Performance Car of the Year winner.

Taking the idea from both Best Motoring and Hot Version, I decided to compare these three Reiwa-era JDM sportscars around Tsukuba Circuit and engage the one-lap time attack rite of passage, predicting which of these three has the potential to win the 2024 Super GT season.

In their road car guises, the RZ34 is the most powerful of the three but the FL5 is the dark horse because although it's the least powerful, boasting 325hp power output, it's the lightest of the three, making this comparison truly one-sided. Anyway, no time for jibber-jabbers. It's time to find out which of the three has the potential to win the 2024 Super GT season. Roll the tape.

And here are the results...

GR Supra - 1m05.227s

Z RZ34 - 1m05.767s

Civic Type R FL5 - 1m05.706s

The FL5 Civic Type R truly is the dark horse of the three. It barely defeated the Nissan Fairlady Z RZ34 by a crust but it's razor-thin slower than the GR Supra. The result is too close to call.

Based on my experiment, my prediction for the 2024 Super GT season will be a close call with the GR Supra expected to win the 2024 season. I'm not sure which GR Supra Super GT car will be but it's everyone's game. The Civic Type R FL5 is proven to be the dark horse of the three and I expect its Super GT equivalent to deliver razor-thin results compared to the other two. Both the GR Supra and the Fairlady Z RZ34 nailed titles but with the arrival of the Super GT Civic, will it be the first to win a Super GT title for the Honda Civic?

Expect the 2024 Super GT season to be as close as the elections, if you catch my drift. With the GR Supra expected to dominate the 2024 season as well as the Honda Civic's wild-card performance, it's going to be the tightest season ever. Get your popcorn ready because it's going to be a long fight.

Nissan Fairlady Z RZ34 NISMO

Last year, the Nissan Fairlady Z RZ34 was launched and it's known to be the ultimate Fairlady Z ever made in the midst of its new normal. Although it's still a Heisei-era Z-car underneath, the improvements really made the RZ34 the Z car fit for the Reiwa era.

2024 Nissan Fairlady Z NISMO

2024 Nissan Fairlady Z NISMO interior

Those who demand more from the RZ34 got what they wanted; the most complete RZ34 ever made; the all-new Nissan Fairlady Z NISMO.

Starting at 9,200,400 Japanese Yen plus additional costs, the RZ34 Fairlady Z NISMO morphed the RZ34 you're familiar with into the ultimate road-legal track weapon that tries its very best to impersonate the racing machines that donned the RZ34 attire such as the Super GT racing machine and the Formula Drift one popularized by Chris Forsberg.

Although it looks and feels just like the RZ34 Fairlady Z, the NISMO version juiced the RZ34 with NISMO-exclusive aerodynamic upgrades and specially-made RAYS 19-inch forged aluminum wheels. Inside, the RECARO sports seats, Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel, a specially-made instrumental panel, and a drive mode selector truly differentiate the Z NISMO from the regular Z.

Get your popcorn ready because here comes the main course of the RZ34 Fairlady Z NISMO: the performance. The 3.0L V6 Twin Turbo engine that powers it got juiced with additional 20PS of power, making it 420PS. It's the most powerful Z-car ever made. Whilst the added power comes with a painful price; it's mated exclusively with a revised 9-speed automatic with paddle shifters, which is a total turn-off for speedo boys behind the wheel even when it's set to SPORT+. Fuel economy is around 9.2km/L based on WLTC Mode standards.

Complaining about the gearbox while praising the added power output, the driving pleasure never felt even more addictive thanks to its NISMO-tuned chassis, improved torsional rigidity of the body, and other improvements. Whether you're out on a track day or in a middle of a drifting pleasure, rest assured that the sport-tuned dynamics the RZ34 NISMO possesses will not be overlooked. In fact, you'll find plenty of reasons to enjoy it.

While the ultra-expensive pricetag and the automatic gearbox are a total turn-off, the added power and sport-tuned dynamics made the Fairlady Z NISMO RZ34 the complete version of what's known to be the ultimate Fairlady Z ever made in the midst of its new normal. With such performance and exclusivity, it's okay to express some burning jealousy when you see one because, truth be told, we just want one. That's Plan Z for you, Gen Z boys and girls.

Available Colors: NISMO Stealth Grey/Super Black 2-tone, Carmine Red/Super Black 2-tone, Brilliant Silver/Super Black 2-tone, Prism White/Super Black 2-tone, and Midnight Black.

Photo: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

My FH5 Log: "WE MAKE DRIFTS"

Aside from the junk cars and the AMG GT Black Series offered in the FH5 Upgrade Heroes update, there are two additional Formula Drift cars as well with one a new version of the familiar drift car driven by Chris Forsberg, and the other driven by one of the Donut Media boys for PROSPEC class.

First up is the #64 Forsberg Racing Nissan Z that I won as the overall prize in the Upgrade Heroes playlist. Used in the 2023 season of Formula Drift Pro Championship, it's based on the RZ34 Nissan Fairlady Z but with the 3.8L V6 Twin Turbo engine from the Nissan GT-R stuffed in it and juiced to produce a thousand horsepower.

Lastly, the #51 Donut Media Nissan 240SX drift car that I've obtained has mingled through the Donut Media Low Car story's Bumper 2 Bumper segment. It's a Nissan Silvia S14A jammed with an LQ9 engine, it's been driven by Donut Media's Adam Knapik for the PROSPEC class.

Normally, I would rather compare these two drift cars to see which one is the best but sadly, that would be pointless to compare drift cars because they're focused mostly on drifting rather than doing laps. Luckily, I had a brainwave...

First off, I decided to give the #64 Forsberg Racing Nissan Z a little exhibition drift in my own version of a certain classic track from a certain classic racing game I can't mention. Okay, it's my version of GT2's Motor Sports Land and if anyone's interested, I'll tell you the share code, it's 147 528 997.

Next up, I took the #51 Donut Media Nissan 240SX drift car on a little timewarp to Ancient Rome with a 10-lap drift track created by Forza player "l Wizzle l". Credit to the owner, as always.

As I said, if anyone's interested in this Ancient Rome drift track created by a certain Forza player, here's the share code: 175 263 128

These drift cars really know how to make a statement...

Enjoy your new rides!

My FH5 Log: "WE WON JUNK CARS AGAIN, WE DRIVE A LOT"

The collaboration between Forza Horizon 5 and Donut Media continues with the Upgrade Heroes series update where players gained full access to the Horizon Test Track feature, originally accessible only to the Donut Media Horizon Story last December 2022, as well as the recent swarm of, you guessed it, JUNK CARS! LOTS AND LOTS OF JUNK CARS!

The highlight of the recent barrage of JUNK CARS is the arrival of the Donut Media Nissan 350Z (Fairlady Z) cars as featured in the Donut Media Hi Low segment. In case you don't know, the Donut Media boys ran the Hi Low segment where they buy two identical used cars and then modify them with a specified budget. 

Nolan's Z33 costs $20,000 worth of cheap modifications while James' Z33 costs $50,000 worth of "really nice" modifications. Both of these modified cars were booted with new coilovers, wheels, tires, new car paint, and some turbochargers. In typical project car fashion, both cars break down, but hey, long story short.

Both of these Donut Media Z33 cars can be won just by clearing both Hi Car and Low Car Horizon Stories. You can even keep your very own Z33 Fairlady Z after the finale as well as other prize cars in store for both stories.

Rather than comparing these two Donut Media Z33s just to determine "does more expensive really mean more better", I decided to let these cars enjoy themselves at the Horizon Badlands against the competition, just to experience the "MO POWA BABEH" mantra both Donut-modified Z33s had. (cue guitar riff noise)

MO POWA BABEH! Guess these Donut Z33s didn't break down just like what James and Nolan experienced it during their little experiment.

The Donut-modified Nissan Z33 Fairlady Zs weren't the only junk cars in store in the Upgrade Heroes update. A trio of junk cars made a comeback in Forza Horizon 5 such as the Syclone, the Typhoon, and the SL65 AMG Black Series.

First up, the GMC Syclone that I won from the Storm Season Playlist. Based on the GMC Sonoma pickup truck, the Syclone has a turbocharged 4.3L V6 engine equipped with a Mitsubishi TD06-17C 8 cm² turbocharger and Garrett water/air intercooler. It develops 280HP of power and 475Nm of torque while mated with a 4-speed automatic. 0-60mph takes about 5.3 seconds and based on a Car & Driver test, it does a quarter-mile run in 14.1 seconds at 93 mph.

Next up is the GMC Typhoon that I won from the Dry Season Playlist. Based on the Jimmy SUV, the Typhoon features the same specs as its Sonoma-based Syclone pickup truck. It has a turbocharged 4.3L V6 engine equipped with a Mitsubishi TD06-17C 8 cm² turbocharger and Garrett water/air intercooler. It develops 280HP of power and 475Nm of torque while mated with a 4-speed automatic.

Lastly, the Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series that I won from the Hot Season Playlist. Using the R230 SL65 AMG as its basis, the Black Series is an upgraded version of the said model which comes with an improved version of a 6.0L V12 twin-turbo engine mated with an AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS five-speed automatic transmission. With the engine developing 661HP of power, it is the most powerful V12-powered AMG vehicle ever. 0-60mph in 3.7 seconds and top speed limited to 199mph. Aside from its raw power, the Black Series is 250kg lighter than the regular SL65 because of the use of light carbon fiber composite (CFRP) parts and replacing the foldable hardtop roof with a fixed roof.

Having gotten to know the recent swarm of junk cars, let's thrash them across the Horizon Badlands, and see if these clunkers got any chance of surviving these punishing courses...

Wow, these junk cars managed to survive. I guess immortality is their middle name.

As the Donut boys would say, "WE BUY JUNK CARS, WE PAY A LOT. DEPENDING ON THE YEAR THO". Judging by the recent swarm of junk cars looks like we're going to be sticking around with a potential next wave of junk cars until the final series update of FH5 before the transition to the 2023 Forza Motorsport game coming this October.

Could this day get any worse for me as the Horizon Mexico adventure is nearing its twilight? Ah, junk cars...

My FH5 Log: Gen Z

At long last, the car bearing the new Nissan logo has arrived in the world of Forza as the Japanese Automotive series update on Forza Horizon 5 welcomes the modern take on one of the most iconic Nissan sports cars ever made.

Everybody thought it may never come to the party but here it is, the RZ34 Fairlady Z has joined the battle!

Obtained from the Japanese Automotive series update Wet Season playlist, Forza fanatics have finally got the chance to drive the RZ34 in the streets of Horizon Mexico. It's about time they featured it and now that I've got it, it's time to have a deep dive into the new Z.

RZ34, what is it then? Despite its new looks, it's still a Z34 underneath, therefore it's still a Heisei-era car recalibrated for the Reiwa era, but because most of the stuff is new, they've labeled it as RZ34 and the R stands for Reiwa. Like the Z Proto, the RZ34 Nissan Fairlady Z features various design touches inspired by previous generations. 

Under the hood, the RZ34 runs on the same 3.0L V6 Twin Turbo engine as the Skyline V37 400R. It produces 405PS of power, and 475Nm of torque, and can be mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 9-speed AT. 

In addition to the new monotube shocks, new front geometry, increased rigidity, available sport brakes, mechanical LSD, and rear suspension tuning, the RZ34 features, for the first time, available launch control and electric power steering.

As expected, the electric power steering gave the RZ34 a driving feel compared to the old Z34. When you take it through the bends, it feels somewhat bulky to drive and your arms are feeling the tension when cornering. It packs so much grip while gunning for lap times but for having fun, it's all about getting hooked to the new Fairlady Z until you are fully satisfied and you'll find many ways to enjoy it. I'm glad I got hooked on this new Z.

Speaking of which, it's time to find out just how much progression the RZ34 gained and with that, it's ready to take on Horizon Mexico's hill climb against the 370Z NISMO, the most powerful naturally-aspirated Z ever made. It's old versus new as this clash will determine how much this Fairlady Z evolved from Z34 to RZ34. Roll the tape.

After their touge run, here are the results;

370Z NISMO (Z34) - 3m29.576s

Z (RZ34) - 3m28.091s

Only just! With 50HP more power than the old 370Z NISMO, the RZ34 Nissan Fairlady Z barely defeated the old one by nearly a second and a half. Guess it's barely an evolution for the new one because of its close result against its predecessor.

So, the RZ34 Nissan Fairlady Z really is the ultimate Fairlady Z ever made. Despite the electric power steering drama that caused some understeer at the bends, the added power from its turbocharged engine and Z-centric bits made the RZ34 the ultimate Fairlady Z ever made, and in the age of the new normal, it's ready to drive like there's no tomorrow because pretty soon, it won't be for this one. This new Z earned the right to bear the new Nissan badge.

Just wait 'till you drive it.

My GT7 Log: Z vs GR Supra

The Nissan Fairlady Z and the Toyota GR Supra, are two iconic Japanese sports cars revamped for the Reiwa era. The former is a heavily revised version of the Z34 predecessor while the latter is basically a BMW underneath.

Both of these JDM sports cars, well, one of them's a proper JDM sports car anyway (see Nissan), are the coolest cars to come out from the Reiwa era, and in the world of Gran Turismo 7, they're a blast to drive. Having enjoyed these two legends reborn to this era of the new normal, the question now is, which one is the best?

Before that, let's commence the pecking order to get to know about those reborn JDM legends of the Reiwa era.

Beginning with the GR Supra, everybody knows that this is the forefather of the Reiwa era JDM sportscars and the revival of one of the most iconic sportscars from Japan, although it's basically a BMW Z4 G29 underneath.

With the design borrows inspiration from the FT-1 Concept, the GR Supra shares most of the engines from the BMW Z4 such as the 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo engine and the 3.0L BMW TwinPower Turbo engine for the range-topping RZ variant producing 340PS of power and 500Nm of torque. All of the engines are mated to an 8-speed Steptronic gearbox.

In the spring of 2020, the GR Supra's 3.0L BMW-derived TwinPower Turbo engine on the flagship RZ variant was boosted by 47PS, resulting in a 387PS power output. In addition, the updated GR Supra features a revised chassis consisting of lightweight aluminum braces, front and rear bump stops, and new damper tuning.

What about the RZ34 Nissan Fairlady Z? Although the design matches the Z Proto concept, it's still a Z34 underneath, therefore it's still a Heisei-era car recalibrated for the Reiwa era. Still, because most of the stuff is new, they've labeled this Fairlady Z as the RZ34 and the R stands for Reiwa. 

With every nook and cranny from past models plastered to the RZ34, the engine that powers it is all about returning from its roots. It's a 3.0L V6 Twin Turbo engine lifted from the Skyline V37 400R. It produces 405PS of power, and 475Nm of torque, and can be mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 9-speed AT. In addition to the new monotube shocks, new front geometry, increased rigidity, available sport brakes, mechanical LSD, and rear suspension tuning, the RZ34 features, for the first time, available launch control and electric power steering.

With the pecking order done, it's time to find out which of these two is the best and with that, I went to Daytona to find the answer to this question. Using the Road Course for my little experiment, the Z and the GR Supra are flexing their samurai muscles as they hack and slash their way through Daytona's treacherous corners. Like a dragon, you say? Let's find out as I'm rolling the tape.

After a lap in Daytona with these high-blooded samurais, here are the results.

Nissan Z Performance '23 - 2m10.030s

Toyota GR Supra RZ '20 - 2m07.647s

It's a shocking result. The RZ34 Fairlady Z may have more power than the GR Supra but it's the weight that the GR Supra stands out. With its higher torque output, lightweight bodywork, and near-perfect weight distribution, it seems that the GR Supra trumped the Z by less than three seconds.

I may have to call this an upset but it's too obvious for this. It's like a samurai getting crushed by a German MMA fighter but whatever.

Even with the Nissan Fairlady Z's latest evolution, it turns out it's not enough to outlast a physical challenge against the Toyota GR Supra by a wide margin. Despite the outcome, these two samurais had enjoyed the time of their lives. 

Such rivalry deserves a lot of respect and as sports cars are becoming an endangered species, rest assured that these last samurais are going all-out to let their blades shine and slash their way like it's their last.

The Z and the Supra... As the times prepare to erase them both, they're ready to fight to the very end. That's Japanese grit for you.

Nissan Fairlady Z RZ34

For over five decades, the Nissan Fairlady Z became the second-best thing to come out since the iconic Skyline GT-R. From the Safari to Suzuka, its motorsport pedigree has become the hallmark of the Z lineage. In the midst of the new normal, Nissan didn't give up on the Z bloodline so they've launched the ultimate Z ever made, and the world's on fire with this new version.

2023 Nissan Fairlady Z

Priced at 5,241,500 Japanese Yen plus additional costs, the reborn Fairlady Z promises to be the ultimate Z car speedo boys are yearning for. Despite its new looks, there's something odd about this car. Why stick to the Z34 chassis code? The styling inspired by the Z Proto concept looks brand new to them but it's still a Z34 underneath, therefore it's still a Heisei-era car recalibrated for the Reiwa era. Still, because most of the stuff is new, they've labeled this Fairlady Z as the RZ34 and the R stands for Reiwa. It's a Z34 reworked for the Reiwa era.

2023 Nissan Fairlady Z

Like the Z Proto concept, the front design draws inspiration from the 240ZG, while the side view is inspired by the original S30 Fairlady Z, and the rear view design is inspired by the Z32. Although similarly sized compared to the previous Z34, the retro-inspired design is the stuff of legends.

2023 Nissan Fairlady Z interior

The interior is newly reworked and driver-focused so speedo boys can enjoy driving behind the wheel. From its triple pod cluster, race-inspired gauges, a GT-R-styled steering wheel, and new performance seats, the new interior gives drivers the feeling of driving a race car on the road and track, from the Tokyo highways to the corners of Suzuka Circuit.

2023 Nissan Fairlady Z

Because the Fairlady Z RZ34 is all about returning from its roots, it's now powered by a 3.0L V6 Twin Turbo engine lifted from the Skyline V37 400R. It produces 405PS of power, and 475Nm of torque, and can be mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 9-speed AT. In addition to the new monotube shocks, new front geometry, increased rigidity, available sport brakes, mechanical LSD, and rear suspension tuning, the RZ34 features, for the first time, available launch control and electric power steering. The latter can be somewhat upsetting for purists behind the wheel just like the time when the Porsche 911 991 comes with it. 

Despite being bulky to drive due to the electric power steering drama, it's still worth an enjoyable car to drive on the road and on the track. Whether you're beating the rush hour traffic or beating personal lap times, the Fairlady Z RZ34's improved dynamics are what made it the best Z car to drive full-stop. As for fuel economy, the RZ34 is good from 9.5 to 10.2km/L based on WLTC Mode standards.

Because being the Z car built for the new normal, the Fairlady Z RZ34 features Nissan Intelligent Mobility, which is a range of active safety systems consisting of Intelligent Cruise Control, Intelligent FCW, LDW, Hill Start Assist, BSW, RCTA, Hi-Beam Assist, Intelligent Emergency Brake, front and back sonar, and more. Although startling for speedo boys behind the wheel, who cares about them. Some speedo boys are toying around with autonomous tech nowadays.

The Fairlady Z RZ34 is still a Heisei-era Z-car underneath but the improvements really made the RZ34 the Z car fit for the Reiwa era. The European-built, BMW Z4-derived Toyota GR Supra should be worrying right now because its worst nightmare has come true in the form of the Nissan Fairlady Z RZ34.

It may be known as the ultimate Fairlady Z ever made, but it made a lot of bitter sacrifices to become a living thing such as losing its European fans because of the fact that Nissan will not sell the RZ34 to the Old Continent for numerous reasons. For speedo boys in America, Japan, and other countries permitted to sell it, will the RZ34 Fairlady Z be hit or a miss?  Only time will tell...

Available colors: Ikazuchi Yellow/Super Black 2-Tone, Seiran Blue/Super Black 2-Tone, Carmine Red/Super Black 2-Tone, Stealth Grey/Super Black 2-Tone, Brilliant Silver/Super Black 2-Tone, Prism White/Super Black 2-Tone, Burgundy, Dark Metal Grey, and Midnight Black.

Photo: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

My GT7 Log: Know Your Legends - The Fairlady Z S30

Let's get to know about the legendary cars that are hard to get in Gran Turismo 7's Legend Cars not only because of their extreme rarity that appears once in a blue moon but also their outrageous price tag that takes almost forever to save one. Today, let's get to know about the first-generation Nissan Fairlady Z, the beginning of the Z-car story.

Launched in 1969, the Nissan Fairlady Z signaled the beginning of the Z-car story and the 432 is the top tier course of the S30 Fairlady Z. It's powered by an S20 DOHC straight-6 engine lifted from the Prince R380 with 4 valves per cylinder, 3 twin-choke carburetors, and twin camshafts, hence the name, delivering 158HP of power and 130.1ft-lb of torque. Not only is the S30 Fairlady Z a real head-turner on the roads but also in safari races and international rally events such as the Monte Carlo Rally. Today, it remains one of the all-time greats, especially when it was featured in Wangan Midnight as the Devil Z, the monster machine Akio Asakura's brave enough to drive in the series.

The S30 Fairlady Z will lap through the Goodwood Motor Circuit but how fast will it go? Let's roll the tape.

It did it in 1:44.183. Quite an astonishing performance for this ancient JDM legend.

What other hard-to-get legendary cars should I drive next? Stay tuned for more.

My GT7 Log: Episode Z

The Nissan Fairlady Z has become the second best thing to come out since the iconic Skyline GT-R. Since 1969, the Fairlady Z has been forever known to rewrite the rules of sports cars and remains one of the most important forefathers of the JDM sportscar realm apart from the 2000GT from Toyota and the Cosmo from Mazda.

Aside from being one of the iconic sports cars in Nissan's history, it remains one of the unsung heroes of the seinen manga/anime genre when it became the star of the Wangan Midnight franchise as the Devil Z, the demon of the Wangan expressway that Akio Asakura is brave enough to drive this monster. From conquering the Tokyo highways to the world, speedo boys can't get enough of the Fairlady Z's lineage from the beginning up 'till now. As the world braced for the new normal, the question now is, does the Fairlady Z still has a chance to survive the new society we live in?

The answer is a bare yea and in response, Nissan has unleashed the new Fairlady Z to show the world that Z is back in the race.

From its 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show unveiling to its Japan premiere at the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon, the new Fairlady Z continues to rewrite the rules of sports cars in a big way.

As observers point out, the new Fairlady Z is not really an all-new model. In fact, it's basically a big minor change version of the Z34 Fairlady Z launched in December 2008, giving the RZ34 code, but most of the stuff in this model is completely new.

The Nissan Fairlady Z RZ34 features an eclectic mix of design cues inspired by past models as well as a cutting-edge interior featuring a GT-R-derived steering wheel, the signature triple pod cluster, and race-inspired gauges. Under the hood, the previous model's 3.7L VVEL engine was replaced by the VR30DDTT 3.0L V6 Twin Turbo engine derived from the Skyline 400R. It produces nearly 400HP of power and 475Nm of torque while mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 9-speed AT. It features optional launch control for the first time in a Z car and a mechanical LSD.

Apart from the performance it delivers, the RZ34 Fairlady Z features new monotube shocks, new front geometry, rear suspension tuning, and another first for the Z car, electric power steering. It even features increased rigidity and available sports brakes.

Although a shocker to many because of its electric power steering that made it feel bulky to drive, the RZ34 delivers the best of both worlds and it continues to live up to its lineage as the sports car that served as the GT-R's head honcho, the second-in-command, the right-hand man, whatever speedo boys see fit.

To find out just how good the new Fairlady Z is, I need to find a suitable sandbox to test it out. Sure, I would like to test it on the Nurburgring like most sports cars but because the RZ34 is not available Euro-wide due to tightening regulations, best to cross that out, sadly.

So, if I can't test the RZ34 to the Nurburgring, where to test it? Look up and you'll see the answer; Laguna Seca.

Being used by most car magazines to test new cars, Laguna Seca is the ideal place to give the RZ34 Fairlady Z the two minutes of fame it will never forget. Actually, I won't do this at exactly two minutes because I'm going less than two minutes and this is what I'll do with the RZ34 as it will go around Laguna Seca in less than two minutes. Ready? Roll the tape.

After a quick lap around Laguna Seca, the Nissan Fairlady Z RZ34 with the 9-speed automatic mated in it did it in 1:48.014. Exactly as planned.

In the midst of the new normal, the Fairlady Z continues to fight back in new and exciting ways to win the hearts of speedo boys. The RZ34 may be a big minor change from the Z34 Fairlady Z but it's primed and ready to tackle the challenges of the Reiwa era like a bonafide Reiwa era JDM sports car. It seems that bitter sacrifices have been made to make the RZ34 the best Fairlady Z ever made. Sure, it has lost its European fans due to Nissan's decision not to sell the RZ34 on the Old Continent but for speedo boys in America, Japan, and other countries permitted to sell it, will the RZ34 Fairlady Z be hit or a miss? 

Only time will tell but in the meantime, the only game to experience the thrill of the Nissan Fairlady Z RZ34 is on Gran Turismo 7. It's a shocker letting the RZ34 become a Gran Turismo-exclusive car. Boo.