Welcome to The Morning Dump, bite-sized stories corralled into a single article for your morning perusal. If your morning coffee’s working a little too well, pull up a throne and have a gander at the best of the rest of yesterday.
We Finally Know How Much The 2023 Nissan Z Costs
Finally, the numbers that everyone has been waiting for. No, I’m not talking about used car prices dropping, I’m talking about pricing for the 2023 Nissan Z. Nissan has issued a press release detailing pricing and honestly, it looks pretty good. Regardless of whether you spec a manual or automatic gearbox, the 2023 Nissan Z Sport rings up at $41,015 including a $1,025 delivery and destination charge, while the Performance trim costs $51,015 including delivery and destination. If you’re one of the lucky few with an order for a Proto Spec car, this special edition costs $54,015. Now, the armchair critics and Supra fanboys might not be a fan of this pricing, but the Z is priced alright in the context of the segment. The Performance trim may be $10,000 more than the Sport, but it certainly includes a lot of stuff. An aftermarket clutch-type LSD is expensive when done properly, so it’s a welcome addition to the Performance trim. The same goes for a set of huge 19-inch forged wheels and a big brake kit. Re-tuned suspension is also included, along with no-lift shift, a defeatable automatic rev-matching system, a pair of sport seats, and some fripperies like leather, Bose audio and navigation. More importantly, the Z Performance is $1,900 cheaper than the $52,915 2022 Toyota GR Supra 3.0 while offering equipment on par with the $56,065 GR Supra 3.0 Premium. So what else is out there in this $50,000 to $65,000 coupe segment that isn’t a 1LT C8 Corvette? Let’s say you live somewhere with abominable winter weather and want the sure grip of all-wheel-drive. No worries, the GR Supra’s more practical cousin is coming to the rescue. The new BMW M240i starts at $49,545 including a $995 freight charge, pretty much a bargain. Granted, you don’t get much stuff for that $49,545 base price, but you do get a limited-slip rear differential and big brakes so what else could you ask for? Okay, maybe you could ask to exchange all-wheel-drive for two more cylinders. The 2022 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS 1LE packs a seriously incredible chassis and V8 shove for $50,730 including a $1,195 freight charge. On the top end of the scale, you could pinch your pennies and pay $64,850 including a $1,450 freight charge for a base Porsche 718 Cayman with absolutely zero options. It’ll be much, much slower than any of the cars listed, but it also only weighs 3,040 pounds and is mid-engined. A GR Supra 3.0 Premium weighs 3,400 pounds and a Z Performance weighs 3,536 pounds, which means the 718 Cayman pulls a $26.28 premium per pound saved over the Z, or $24.40 per pound saved over the Supra. I can’t be mad at that. Still, the new Nissan Z looks to be a bit of a bargain. While it may not be hitting showrooms this spring, expect the new Z to bring Nissan fans a lot of joy when it arrives this summer. [Editor’s note: We’ll of course give you The Autopian’s take on the Z when the sports coupe hits press fleets. There was a press event for the car a month or two ago, so until we’re able to have a go, definitely check out the Z reviews floating around the internet (specifically Kristen Lee’s, because she’s great). -DT]
The 2023 Chevrolet Bolt Enters Its Hot Topic Phase
You know, I’ve never looked at a Chevrolet Bolt EUV and wished it looked like a pair of Etnies Metal Mulisha skate shoes, but Chevrolet might still be sipping Rockstar energy drinks because here we are. GM’s cute large electric hatchback has gone all dark and angry and Warped Tour-y with the new 2023 Redline Edition. So does the Bolt EUV Redline Edition come with a copy of Attack Attack!’s debut album? Does it add snakebite piercings or a disdain for its stepdad? Not really. Instead, the Redline edition is a visual package consisting of grayscale paint, black wheels with red accents, black and red emblems, red accents on the mirror caps, and black leather with red stitching. Nothing too crazy, but just enough to be on-trend with the highly-desired appearance of not having unlocked a car in a video game yet. Honestly, it’s a very strange treatment for an entry-level electric vehicle but it was only a matter of time before the Redline Edition treatment came for the Bolt EUV. Honestly, it might be the shot in the arm that the Bolt EUV needs. With several months off the market due to a massive battery recall, the Bolt EUV’s image is a bit shaken. Cheap pricing, good availability and a fresh appearance package can only help rebuild the Bolt EUV’s formerly strong sales figures. If you’re the type of person who’s unbelievably stoked for My Chemical Romance’s new single, you may be wondering what this Bolt EUV will cost. Well, we don’t know yet. Chevrolet hasn’t divulged pricing. Someday will come suddenly, so expect pricing to be announced sometime later this year. We wouldn’t be surprised if the 2023 Bolt EUV will stick close to the 2022 model’s $34,495 base price which includes a $995 freight charge.
Renault’s Russian Asset Write-Off Gets Weirder
With Renault handing over control of its Russian facilities to the power-crazed state, I wondered what the hell Russia would do with an extra modern car factory. Well, according to Reuters, it looks like Russia’s planning on reviving the Moskvich. What the hell? Look, if you told me last Christmas that the invasion of Ukraine would resurrect the Moskvitch nameplate, I wouldn’t have believed you. Yet, that’s exactly what Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin claims will happen now that Renault’s Russian plant has been taken by the state. Honestly, it seems doomed to me. Autostat head Sergei Tselikov claims it would cost $1 billion over two years to develop a new Moskvich and I just don’t see that timeline and budget being sustainable when the Russian Ruble’s less valuable than Roblox’s in-game currency. Then there’s the whole situation around the possible Moskvitch revival. Look, I’m generally all for weird new cars hitting the market, but the circumstances here are a little out of the ordinary. It’s one thing to build the Tata Nano in response to a burgeoning car market in a developing country, it’s another to use unprovoked invasion of a sovereign territory to jump start a Moskvich revival. Without Renault pulling out of Russia, the country wouldn’t have had a conveniently spare plant to build a new car in. A car partially paid for in civilian blood? Thanks but no thanks. Maybe this explains why I’m not a huge fan of the Beetle.
Hyundai And Kia Recall 32 Cars For Steering Problems
It goes without saying that your steering column should stay connected to your steering rack, but for owners of 32 Hyundai and Kia products, this important connection might not hold together. Yeah, this is a pretty weird recall, not only due to its small scope but also due to its nature. Let’s take a look at exactly what’s going on here. According to recall documents, Kia has recalled Rio subcompact cars produced between Sept. 8, 2021 and Feb. 21, 2022 and 24 Forte compact cars built between May 28, 2021 and March 8, 2022 for improperly-torqued lower steering column u-joint bolts. On the Hyundai side of things, the numbers are even smaller with only two Hyundai Accent sedans built between June 22, 2021 and Feb. 22, 2022 reportedly affected. Going by the recall chronology, Kia first discovered this issue on March 24 during an assembly plant test drive of a 2022 Rio where the affected car made a noise from the steering column. Now, there haven’t been any crashes, warranty work or complaints, but a good steering column that doesn’t fly off of the steering rack while you’re driving is a good thing, so Hyundai and Kia are voluntarily recalling the affected models. Imagine plunking down your hard-earned cash on a new car only to find out that someone forgot to tighten the steering column u-joint bolt. I’d be mortified. Then again, owners are likely more terrified than mortified. The availability of a fix isn’t expected until July so hold tight (hopefully) until then.
The Flush
Whelp, time to drop the lid on this edition of The Morning Dump. While a $10,000 trim walk-up on the new Nissan Z seems steep, pricing for the Performance trim isn’t bad and that $10,000 walk-up is largely similar to the trim level gap between the old 370Z Base and its loaded Sport Touring counterpart. Honestly, I’m really excited for the new Nissan Z. Any new performance car with a manual gearbox is cause for celebration but as a former six-speed G35 owner, this feels a bit personal. It’s Ridley Scott’s famous banned 300ZX commercial, college memories, and a decades-long history of fun rear-wheel-drive Nissans all rolled into one. Needless to say, I can’t wait to try it. Which begs the question, what new car are you most excited for? From the Volkswagen ID.Buzz to the next BMW M2, there really is something for everyone coming over the next few years.
Lead photo credit: Nissan
I’m actually geeked about the new Dodge electric cars to come out the Belvedere Assembly plant for 2024. We’ve all seen the teaser video, but I’m excited to see the actual car revealed at Roadkill Nights later this year.
While I hesitate to call you “Classy Tracy” for obvious reasons, this is a very classy move, DT!
I. Just. Can’t.
“Quail” eggs? Faberge’ or GTFO. Servants have been savagely beaten and sacked without references for suggesting less.
Avocado toast? You must have misunderstood “Alligator heart” as”Alligator pear”. It’s a common mistake as “Alligator pear” is another name for avocado. No avocados here, only the still beating hearts from critically endangered Chinese alligators. That’s how you know they’re fresh. Delicious with or without toast.
And gold leaf? That’s for homeless shelter soup lines or dog food. Only the finest 99.999999999999999%+ rhodium leaf will do.
You know what? Sure, why not. Go nuts. World is a fuck.
I would normally be excited for a new Accord, but no coupe and no manual transmission option relegated it to “just another car” since 2018 for me. Yeah, it’ll be many times better than Altima and Sonata, but sales will continue to fall for all. We’re in another malaise, folks. With few exceptions.
The new Z needs T-tops and a rear wiper like the old 300ZX. Also, it’s already better than the BMW “Supra” because it’s actually a Nissan. It’s funny because Nissan does a lot of shit with Mercedes now
You may want to double-check you contemporaneous knowledge of exchange rates. The Russian Rouble more than recovered from the initial-war-shock exchange rate spike. It was trading at around 75:$1 pre-invasion and it returned to about that level in mid-April and is even lower this week – trading in the 60s. The currency is doing just fine – there’s a lot of other problems they’re going to run into over the next 2 years but the value of the currency isn’t one of them.
Now that I think of it…I’d love to see an article about all of those other reasons and also how Garage 54 would solve them.
I’m conflicted. I know it’s inevitable, but I hate the bloat. 3600 lbs on the base model is porky for a 2-seater. It’s expensive – even the base is in the 40k range. The gas mileage is terrible for a brand new car in 2022 that’s going to be getting in the hands of people who actually care about fuel costs, especially in the secondhand market.
But, I’m really excited about the styling, the interior upgrades, the insanely flat and low power curve, the endless potential for aftermarket improvements, and also the familiarity of the platform which I’m sure will be a similar driving and wrenching experience to a modded up Z33/Z34.
I’m just not sure that it’s that much of an upgrade overall for me. It sounds like from Kristen’s review that a properly modded 350 or 370 with an aftermarket blower or snail would basically be this car… for far cheaper.
But the looks… drool
Early news says the Z will be the best they’ve built in at least 20 years. That’s a long, long time to survive while making such bad decisions.
Z. Another case where the simpler the better (‘cept I’d want the LSD on a base model….). Over the last 5 or so years values of used 370z’s have really jumped. Even the 350’s. Betting there is some demand.
(When I got a Kia Soul as a rental, my first impression was “that’s the ugliest car I’ve ever seen”. Now I own one. It’s still ugly, but everything else is pretty good. And since I don’t spend much time looking at the outside, that’s fine.)
