Nissan teased next-generation Z sports car, expected to debut in 2021

KUALA LUMPUR: At one point in time, Nissan had a strong squad of sports cars, including GT-R, Silvia, the 300ZX and Zed cars such as the 240Z, 350Z, and the 370Z. Among these iconic nameplates, 370Z and the R35 GT-R are still on sale; however, these are now more than a decade old and losing their popularity. That’s why Nissan thought about the successor for the 370Z and has been developing the model secretly. The automaker launched the teaser of the upcoming sports car, which is likely to get the 400Z moniker.

In the teaser video, released on Nissan’s YouTube account, we get a good look at the sports car’s profile, body lines, and fascia. The sloping roofline, squared-off rear end, and window shape remind us of the legendary 240Z and remark the glorious days of fast and exciting Nissans. 

However, the fascia has a unique design with half-circle DRLs and a wide grille opening. The new "Z" symbol sits behind the small rear side window and below a chrome strip that runs from the starting edge of the front window. The rear end is said to be inspired by the 300ZX, though it does not appear in the video. 

Under the hood, the upcoming Nissan sports car is likely to get a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine capable of generating 400 PS of maximum power and 475 Nm of torque. The engine is expected to be mated with a 7-speed automatic and a 6-speed manual gearbox. Infiniti Q60 houses the same engine. But some other sources fuel the rumor that Nissan’s skunkworks department, Nismo might be working on a special version churning out a whooping 480 PS of power.

Nissan 400Z will lock the horns against some equally good cars like BMW M2 Competition, Toyota Supra, Porsche Cayman, and the Alpine A110. Its arrival was earlier slated for late 2020 but pushed back due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It can now happen sometime in the next year, with global sales expected to begin in 2022.

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