Honestly, a 450Z is a good way for Nissan to hedge their bets in case the GTR doesn't work out in the states.
Remember the reason the Z went away the first time - Americans saw a big pricetag on a hi-tech, turbocharged Japanese car and thought "Sheesh, for that kind of money I can get a Corvette".
REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT THE C4 CORVETTE WAS AN INFERIOR CAR TO THE Z32 300ZX TURBO.
Every time a high-dollar sports car comes to the states, it has to fight with the hometeam Corvette, and because Chevy has done so well giving the Corvette a mystique of "Every Man's Dream Car" in the American population, the Vette has an unfair advantage.
The GTR is going to have a lot of dedicated sheetmetal, a dedicated engine and drivetrain, and dedicated electronics. That's a lot of stuff that adds to exclusivity, but also to price.
The early to mid-90's were a big lesson to the Japanese about the power of a car being things like a "status symbol" and "icon". Corvette rode that horse and a flexi-flyer chassis to outlast the 300ZX, RX7, 3000GT VR4, and Toyota Supra long enough for engineers at GM to give the car world class engineering.
The company that fell hardest while learning this lesson was Honda with the NSX, which never gained the status necessary for rich guys to just want one.
See, here's how Vette sales work. Guys A and B both learn from an early age through the media and society that Corvettes are cars that rich men buy. When Guy A comes into money, he buys Corvette, so Guy B will see how rich he is without needing to know how much Guy A spent. He knows "He's made it. He bought a Vette."
The ability to sell like that, without needing real advertising, or to actually have to outdo the competition, is Corvette's biggest marketplace strength. It's something they've grown over half a century, and it's the hurdle the GTR, like the NSX, 3000GT VR4, Supra, and 300ZX, may not be able to clear.
Especially wearing a Nissan badge, as the American public is still generally not comfortable with expensive Japanese cars wearing the same badge as inexpensive Japanese cars.
If the GTR goes NSX on Nissan, then a V8 Z car, since the Z has a huge marketplace in the states and is an icon all its own (remember, Mr. K, BRE, and Datsun MADE the Z car an internationally respected sports car), would be a good way to encroach on Vette sales while not spending a lot, whilst the factory recoups the losses on the GTR project.
Meow! (='.'=)
