My FH5 Log: Gen Z

At long last, the car bearing the new Nissan logo has arrived in the world of Forza as the Japanese Automotive series update on Forza Horizon 5 welcomes the modern take on one of the most iconic Nissan sports cars ever made.

Everybody thought it may never come to the party but here it is, the RZ34 Fairlady Z has joined the battle!

Obtained from the Japanese Automotive series update Wet Season playlist, Forza fanatics have finally got the chance to drive the RZ34 in the streets of Horizon Mexico. It's about time they featured it and now that I've got it, it's time to have a deep dive into the new Z.

RZ34, what is it then? Despite its new looks, it's still a Z34 underneath, therefore it's still a Heisei-era car recalibrated for the Reiwa era, but because most of the stuff is new, they've labeled it as RZ34 and the R stands for Reiwa. Like the Z Proto, the RZ34 Nissan Fairlady Z features various design touches inspired by previous generations. 

Under the hood, the RZ34 runs on the same 3.0L V6 Twin Turbo engine as the Skyline V37 400R. It produces 405PS of power, and 475Nm of torque, and can be mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 9-speed AT. 

In addition to the new monotube shocks, new front geometry, increased rigidity, available sport brakes, mechanical LSD, and rear suspension tuning, the RZ34 features, for the first time, available launch control and electric power steering.

As expected, the electric power steering gave the RZ34 a driving feel compared to the old Z34. When you take it through the bends, it feels somewhat bulky to drive and your arms are feeling the tension when cornering. It packs so much grip while gunning for lap times but for having fun, it's all about getting hooked to the new Fairlady Z until you are fully satisfied and you'll find many ways to enjoy it. I'm glad I got hooked on this new Z.

Speaking of which, it's time to find out just how much progression the RZ34 gained and with that, it's ready to take on Horizon Mexico's hill climb against the 370Z NISMO, the most powerful naturally-aspirated Z ever made. It's old versus new as this clash will determine how much this Fairlady Z evolved from Z34 to RZ34. Roll the tape.

After their touge run, here are the results;

370Z NISMO (Z34) - 3m29.576s

Z (RZ34) - 3m28.091s

Only just! With 50HP more power than the old 370Z NISMO, the RZ34 Nissan Fairlady Z barely defeated the old one by nearly a second and a half. Guess it's barely an evolution for the new one because of its close result against its predecessor.

So, the RZ34 Nissan Fairlady Z really is the ultimate Fairlady Z ever made. Despite the electric power steering drama that caused some understeer at the bends, the added power from its turbocharged engine and Z-centric bits made the RZ34 the ultimate Fairlady Z ever made, and in the age of the new normal, it's ready to drive like there's no tomorrow because pretty soon, it won't be for this one. This new Z earned the right to bear the new Nissan badge.

Just wait 'till you drive it.