Nissan's CEO Expresses Desire for a Z Convertible: ‘I Wouldn't Want Anything Else’

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      Nissan's new executive team, comprised of passionate enthusiasts, meant it when they told The Drive, “Nissan is back.” If everything works out, fans of the legendary brand could receive everything they've wished for, and perhaps even more. One of those possibilities? A convertible Z, once again.

      In Yokohama, Japan, Ponz Pandikuthira, Senior Vice President and Chief Planning Officer for Nissan North America, exclusively shared with The Drive during the latest episode of The Drivecast, “I would love to see a convertible version of the Z out there.” However, hopes and aspirations alone don’t fully drive decisions. The revival of the droptop Z is not guaranteed yet.

      You can listen to the full conversation starting from the moment Pandikuthira discussed the convertible Z’s potential revival below.

      While Pandikuthira is an enthusiast, he remains realistic. The SVP of Nissan North America noted, “It definitely requires a lot more work, because there are various factors concerning stiffness and so on, but we have offered a convertible in the two previous generations of Zs that sold quite well. They comprised a significant portion of sales.”

      What will it take to bring the Z convertible back? “Let’s see how successful the company is in the next two years. If we achieve the targets we have set and things are going well, it could be something we explore for the Z,” stated Pandikuthira.

      These targets involve product reductions, a realignment of products and resources, and vehicle families outlined in a major turnaround strategy.

      However, Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa told The Drive, “The sports cars are at the heart of what we are as a company.” This was said after Espinosa expressed interest in reviving the Silvia. Richard Candler, who oversees Nissan’s global corporate product strategy, then informed The Drive, “We are seriously revisiting the sports car lineup. We all want to create some exciting cars.”

      The enthusiasm is evident. The intent is clear. Now, Nissan just needs to achieve strong sales with new Rogues, reintroduce the Xterra, stabilize its position, and we might see a new convertible Z emerge before the next-generation model enters development.

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