I'm in the "this should have been electric" camp. It's not so much about what the spirit of a car should be so much as just that... this will be a 2023 model, launching into a market where it could probably be smoked by someone picking up their kids from school in a Model 3.
That and I'm not one to get hung up on tradition. A badge means something, but it's not everything... the Z is whatever makes it a fun car to drive, and in this decade that should mean making it electric.
Z is "supposed" to be sports car.
Nissan is also in a bit of a pickle when it comes to $$$
For a Z to make sense, it can't just be another 2+ ton electric car. Then it no longer fits into the Z's category or price point.
It also means that the existing FM platform won't be suitable and they would need to come up with a completely new platform, and then have other model share the sane platform for cost saving.
If they go light on the battery then it has no range.
If they want to call it a sports car, then it should be able to handle track work, meaning multiple sessions and not just a you tube video of 2 laps on you tube.
Tough with the lighter smaller battery pack used for weight savings and toss in cooling and other crap....
I don't see Nissan having the resources for an electric Z when they have no other suitable platform.
They have the Leaf...which is a short distance communter special that has a gimped battery and they have the Ariya SUV coming soon.
It makes more sense to do a mild design refresh on the FM platform while there is still money to be made on gas engines and they get their footing with a better EV platform