Nissan Safari Rally Z Tribute: all-terrain cross-coupe in rally style

An unusual version of the Nissan Z coupe will be presented tomorrow as part of the SEMA tuning show in Las Vegas, it is dedicated to past rally victories Datsun 240Z, which is considered the historical ancestor of the modern Nissan Z.

For the SEMA exhibition, automakers traditionally prepare many non-binding one-time projects, formally this includes the Nissan Safari Rally Z Tribute, the construction of which the Japanese company commissioned the American tuning studio Tommy Pike Customs. But if the public's reaction to this car turns out to be good enough, then Nissan may give the go-ahead to prepare a small-scale version — in this case, the Nissan Safari Rally Z Tribute will become a budget alternative to the expensive Porsche 911 Dakar and Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato.

1/5 2/5 3/5 4/5 5/5

The Nissan Safari Rally Z Tribute has been designed very carefully — this is not just a show-stopper hung with trinkets, but a sports car comprehensively modified for dynamic driving on gravel. The 3.0-liter V6 biturbo petrol engine, standard for the Nissan Z, received a new control program, a more efficient cooling system, a decorative carbon fiber cover, and new Nismo intake and exhaust manifolds. The declared power is over 400 hp, the gearbox is a 6-speed manual with reinforced clutch, the drive wheels are rear.

1/5 2/5 3/5 4/5 5/5

The suspension is, in fact, completely new, designed for increased loads: adjustable arms from Nismo and KW Safari shock absorbers are installed, ground clearance is increased by 51 mm, the brakes have been upgraded by Tommy Pike Customs. 17-inch Nismo Safari wheels in a classic style are shod with “toothy” Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 tires.

1/4 2/4 3/4 4/4

The body paint is inspired by the Datsun 240Z that won the East African Safari Rally in 1971. The front end features six additional LED lights from the Nismo Off Road range. The bottom is protected by steel plates. The interior now features a semi-cage cage, Recaro Pole Position buckets with four-point harnesses and a vintage chart unit with a clock, stopwatch, map mount and backlight.

1/2 2/2

Recall that the current Nissan Z ( in Japan — Nissan Fairlady Z) debuted in August 2021, and last summer it acquired the top-end road version Nismo. A cross-version in the range will definitely not be superfluous, so we are waiting and hoping.