Nissan’s New Z Sports Car Teased Ahead Of September 16 Unveiling; Design Elements Borrowed From Previous Zs

• Nissan is expected to showcase a near-production prototype of the next Z sports car.

• The name is yet to be revealed but Nissan is calling it Z Proto, where Proto likely stands for prototype.

• The Z Proto will pay tribute to its 50-year-old ancestry while bringing a breath of fresh air to the Z badge.

• It will have retro design elements borrowed from legendary models such as the Nissan Fairlady Z/ Datsun 240Z and Nissan 300ZX.

After a long wait riddled with uncertainty, the news of a new Z sports car was confirmed by Nissan itself in April 2020. The Japanese carmaker has now teased the 370Z’s replacement, which will be unveiled digitally on September 16. Dubbed the Z Proto, the prototype could be called the 400Z in its final production form. Nissan also claims the new Z will get a blend of “a retro theme with modern technology.”

While slight changes up front are visible in the teaser, the overall design of the car will pay homage to its 50-year-old Z legacy. It will sport the new updated Z logo on its rear pillar, the same position as the older Z models. 

The headlights pay homage to the Nissan Fairlady Z/Datsun 240Z whereas the tail lights match the Nissan 300ZX. The end of the teaser also focuses on the gear lever area without revealing it. Signs of a manual transmission shifter?

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While most of the technical specifications have also been kept under wraps, expect it to be powered by a very powerful, specifically tuned 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine mated to a choice of manual and automatic gearboxes.

Nissan could take a while to go from prototype to production-spec, so we could see the new Z going up for sale in 2021. Nissan does sell the GT-R (Rs 2.12 crore) in India which means we can expect the next Z model to reach our shores.