The livestream will begin at 8:30 PM Eastern (0:30 AM GMT on September 16).
It’s Z Day! After years of waiting, finally we will see the plans for the replacement of the 370Z by Nissan. The rear-wheel-drive sports coupe will not be a production car but it will be very close to the real deal. We have not seen spy shots of the car, but the company has done a fantastic job hiding it. We don’t know the name of the car in road-going form. Some argue that it will be called “400Z”, but others disagree, as it would not fit in with the Z car nomenclature. While the outgoing 370Z was named after the naturally aspirated V6 engine, the 350Z had different configurations of the V6. The “400Z” designation would suggest a 4.0-liter engine. However, rumors have it that the new Nissan sports car will use a twin-turbo 3.0-liter unit from Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400 which produces 400 horsepower. The 400Z might be justified by the Japanese marque due to the engine’s output. The teasers that Nissan released in preparation for the car’s debut today confirm the reports about retro styling. Already revealed are the round headlights that look like the 240Z, and the horizontal taillights similar to the 300ZX (Z32), while the body will remain the same as the Z cars.
The Z Proto will sport the Nissan and Z logos updated and feature a six speed manual gearbox. A teaser video showed the Toyota Supra’s conventional handbrake. At this stage, it is still unclear how the car will look underneath the retrolicious skin. The interior will be vastly improved and feature the most recent tech, while also using more luxurious materials to create a more elegant atmosphere.
It’s likely that we will have to wait until the car arrives at dealers, as Nissan has only shown a prototype. The car could be available as a 2022MY model, with rumors circulating about a spicy Nismo variant. It will be interesting seeing if the 370Z Roadster is renewed, given that convertible demand has been declining.