Twin-Engined Nissan 350Z Is a First, Becomes the Widest for a Reason

Right now in the Nissan world, it looks like the 2023 Z (RZ34) is getting the aftermarket attention it deserves. You can choose between various extreme widebody kits and Japan has already turned the sports car into an SUV (sort of). Of course, some prefer to build on the early version of the FM platform serving the current coupe, namely that found under the 350Z (Z33) introduced back in 2008. So I guess this twin-engined 350Z built by MLZ Garage, which is now AWD, was inevitable.

Builds sporting two engines were never a major trend, mainly due to their sheer complexityโ€”just thinking of the gearboxes situation might give you a nightmare, let alone implementing such a solution. And social media’s current this-trend-is-so-yesterday attitude certainly doesn’t help.

Of course, those are all reasons for the twin-engined 350Z built by the enthusiasts known on social media as MLZ Garage to stand out. Not that the JDM delight would need any. For one, once the project is completed, this will probably become the widest 350Z in the world.

Wanna talk uber-wide 350Zs? Here’s the reigning champion

For the record, that (unofficial) title is currently held by a Z33 from Dubai, which I discovered thanks to digital artist and body kit designer Khyzyl Saleem (aka the_kyza). The one-off widebody fitted to the Nissan was designed and built by an aficionado named Faiz (aka rocketminionz), who was inspired by RWB Porsches.

And, before we move on to the details of the dual-engine 350Z that brought us here, you can check out the UAE-located Z working to hold its own against a Lamborghini Aventador in the Instagram post below.

When function follows form, as it sometimes happens with cars from the #stanced community, expect opinions to be divided. However, while the twin-engined Z does seem like it would barely fit in a single lane, its creators argue that the reasons for that are not purely aesthetic.

The machine has long lost its factory naturally-aspirated 3.7L V6. In its place, we find a Honda K24 turbocharged 2.4L four-cylinderโ€”as the description of the project implies, a second engine of the sort can now be found behind the seats. And here’s a K24-powered Ferrari for you.

If we look behind those monstrous overfenders and factory sheet metal spanning from the hood to a little behind the B-pillar area, we find tubular structures keeping the thing together.

Why MLZ Garage’s twin-engined 350Z has those monstrous overfenders

Now, to swallow that second K24, the rear subframe had to be widened. And since the builders didn’t want to go through the trouble of redesigning the suspension (it’s certainly worth it for the world’s first off-road Viper), they fitted the factory components further apart, hence the extra width.

And since keeping the front end at factory width would’ve led to a comical lookโ€”I know, it’s not exactly a restrained machineโ€”this had to follow the same route.

Last month, MLZ Garage got the twin-engined 350Z powder coated, as you can see in the last two images of the gallery below. However, there are still a lot of details to sort out. So while the wiring and much of the interior have already been covered and those K-Series powerplants are in, we still have to know the transmission situation, among others.

You don’t put two K24s in a Nissan 350Z without going (well) over 1,000 hp. And with the kind of AWD launches this thing should be able to pull, we expect it to become nothing short of a drag racing sensation. Who knows? Perhaps the project may even be ready in time for SEMA 2023 (October 31-November 3).

In the meantime, you can check out some other forms this 350Z has enjoyed over the yearsโ€”off-roading monster includedโ€”in the Instagram clip below.

The twin-engined 350Z runs and drives at SEMA 2023

With SEMA 2023 now in full force, MLZ Garage’s twin-engined Nissan 350Z is showcasing its two Honda K-series turbo-fours at the Las Vegas event, being engaged in the 2023 Battle of the Builders (fingers crossed!).

Each engine makes at least 500 hpโ€”as promissed, the total sits at over 1,000 hpโ€”and there are two drivelines and, of course, two ECUs. As for the two six-speed manual transmissions of the Z, these are operated by the same shifter. However, with the two ECUs, the dashboard gets dual instrument clusters.

The full tube-chassis, twin-engined Nissan 350Z was bought for $800 at an auction that took place three years ago and now it runs and drives. In fact, you’ll see the builder explaining the project in the Insta clip below, one-off widebody fenders, air suspension and all.

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