Although it’s not surprising, we do know.
The automaker saw the future of its legendary sports car when it took the covers off the Z Proto in September. It’s a solid future that keeps the Z formula of two-seats, sleek styling and plenty of power. The last bit is that Nissan has been vague about the Proto Z’s engine. It’s a twin-turbocharged, V6. We may now know exactly the secrets beneath.
A user on Instagram with the handle @layersworks posted photos from Nissan Crossing, Tokyo, where the concept car was displayed. Workers removed the hood, and the Instagrammer was quick to take action. Two photos were taken. While neither photo is clear about the engine, the Drive discovered some striking similarities between them and the V6 in the Infiniti.
We’re referring to the Q60 Red Sport. It has a twin-turbocharged, V6 engine that matches the Nissan. However, the Infiniti connection indicates it is the 3.0-liter mill with 400 horsepower (298 kilowatts). This engine is rumored to be the Z’s, and if you compare these photos with those of the Q60, it seems like there are enough similarities to make that conclusion almost certain. It seems quite straightforward, with the exception of a Nissan engine cover.
Although 400 horsepower might not seem like much, the Nissan sports car isn’t a muscle car. It is also smaller than pony cars such as the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro. This also means that it is lighter. It is expected to weigh in at around 3,300 pounds. With an available manual transmission, it may be able to grab Supra customers who are disappointed by Toyota’s auto-only transmission.
The Z Proto is technically a production car. Although it is called a “near-production machine”, recent patent photos indicate that very little will be different between the Z Proto’s production version and the Z Proto. It is possible that the name of this car will be called 400Z, another nod to the 400-hp engine. This information should be available later in the year.