Nissan, then known as Datsun, introduced the 240Z in 1969. Overnight, the Z gained instant credibility with driving enthusiasts as an agile, two-seat, rear-wheel drive sports car. Good looks helped, too. Since then, the Z metamorphosed from a Datsun into Nissan and became larger, heavier, and more powerful until its demise in 1996. Nissan resurrected the modern Z for the 2003 model year, returning the model to its roots but with its vaunted VQ-series V6 engine under the hood. The seventh-generation Nissan Z arrived for 2023, straying from the formula with a twin-turbo V6 but keeping the two-seat configuration and uncompromising athleticism that have always been part of the Z’s appeal.