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If you`re a Nissan Z car fan, wait till next year.

The sporty Nissan Z car has been on the scene for 17 years and in that time has undergone several name changes-240, 260, 280 and 300-to coincide with larger 2.6-, 2.8- and 3-liter engines.

The Z has gotten older, not better. The 1988 model 300ZX reflects the philosophy at Nissan the last few years: Don`t mess with success even if success has passed you by.

Though the competition has brought out some sprightly new Z car rivals or freshened up the ones they had, Nissan has rested on its laurels.

Styling needs a major overhaul. The headlights tell the story. Most sports or sporty models have gone with concealed lamps. The look is clean and aerodynamic. The Z car has partially hidden lamps, as if Nissan couldn`t make up its mind to cover them and join the styling in-crowd or leave them exposed and be a design maverick.

The 300ZX turbo we test drove has plenty of power from its boosted 3- liter V-6. But the 300ZX also seems cumbersome in the wheel and heavy in corners and turns. Like the prize fighter trying to make a comeback, the 300ZX finds the paunch getting in the way of an effective punch.

The car we drove had a 5-speed manual transmission. Automatic is an option.

Without the turbo boost the V-6 develops 165 horsepower, same as the 3.8- liter V-6 from General Motors. With the turbo boost, it`s a more than respectable 205 horsepower.

But that`s 205 horses asked to put 3,300 pounds in motion. And that means the suspension has to keep that weight in tow in turns and corners or when passing and merging. Though built on only a 91.3-inch wheelbase and 173.7 inches long, parking can be an effort in the bulky Z.

There`s a three-way adjustable setting for shocks. You need only turn a dial on the console to move from soft for cruising to firm for playing. We found soft to be the best, all around. Firm was a bit too stiff at any speed, in any situation.

But, as we said, wait till next year-April 1, 1989, to be exact-when Nissan brings out its newly styled, lighter and more limber replacement for the Z.

Sources claim the new Z engine will have more power than the 3-liter without a turbo, though a turbo will be added later.

At the Tokyo Auto Show last fall Nissan displayed its ARC-X concept car with a 24-valve 3-liter V-6 under the hood, a candidate for the new Z car. Nissan also has a 4-liter, 32-valve V-8 under development, but that engine is slated for the new Infiniti luxury line coming out in 1989 as a 1990 model.

The ARC-X, which later was displayed at the Chicago Auto Show, also featured four-wheel drive and antilock brakes. It looks like the new Z will have antilock brakes, at least.

Reportedly the guiding principal behind the new Z was “more power but less weight“ with the emphasis on “perform, not ponder.“

With a few hundred pounds shed and a new sports suspension added to complement the peppier engine, it is hoped that the Z will go back to being a sports car.

Nissan has to react with more powerful engines because arch-rival Toyota is preparing a 24-valve 2.5-liter V-6 and a 32-valve 3.8-liter V-8 for its Lexus luxury car lineup in 1989 for the 1990 model year.

The 300ZX starts at $21,199 and moves up to $23,699 with turbo and 5- speed transmission, $24,414 with automatic. Power steering-brakes-windows- door locks, air conditioning, tilt wheel, cruise control and AM-FM stereo with cassette are standard.