Nissan Chief Desires a Z Convertible: ‘I Couldn’t Ask for Anything More’

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      Nissan's newly formed executive team, made up of enthusiasts, isn't joking when they say, “Nissan is back.” If fortune favors them, fans of this legendary automaker could receive everything they've longed for, and perhaps even more. One of those prospects? A convertible Z, once more.

      In Yokohama, Japan, Senior Vice President and Chief Planning Officer for Nissan North America, Ponz Pandikuthira, told The Drive exclusively in the latest episode of The Drivecast, “I would love to see a convertible version of the Z out there.” However, wanting and dreaming alone doesn't drive decisions. The comeback of the convertible Z is not guaranteed just yet.

      You can listen to the full discussion starting at the moment Pandikuthira brought up the potential return of the convertible Z below.

      While Pandikuthira may be an enthusiast, he remains practical. The SVP of Nissan North America stated, “It requires a lot more effort, obviously, due to the necessary adjustments for stiffness and aspects like that, but we previously had a convertible in the two last generations of Zs and they sold quite well. It was a significant part of the market.”

      What will it take to revive the Z convertible? “Let’s see how the company performs in the next two years. If we meet the targets we've set and things go well, that could be a possibility for the Z,” Pandikuthira explained.

      These targets involve product reductions, a renewed focus on products and resources, and a lineup of vehicles spelled out in an extensive turnaround strategy.

      However, Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa told The Drive, “Sports cars are at the heart of what we are as a company.” This came after he expressed his desire to reintroduce the Silvia, which led Richard Candler, head of Nissan’s global corporate product strategy, to tell The Drive, “We are seriously reconsidering our sports car lineup. We're all eager to create some exciting cars.”

      The enthusiasm is present. The ambition is evident. Now, Nissan must first sell some new Rogues, launch the Xterra, regain stability, and we might just see a new convertible Z before the next-generation model begins its development.

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