Nissan previews all-new '400Z' sports car for 2021
370Z's coupé profile looks to have inspired the new model
Product planning presentation gives us our first official look at the long-awaited successor to the 370Z
Nissan has previewed the long-awaited successor to its 370Z sports car in a presentation outlining its future product strategy.
Official details of the mysterious new car are thin on the ground, but we can see it will have styling evolved from the 370Z coupé and will be the latest addition to the Japanese brand's Z sports car lineage - begun in 1969 with the launch of the iconic Datsun 240Z.
The preview comes following Nissan's announcement that it's to embark on a wide-reaching cost-cutting strategy under the 'Nissan Next' banner. As well as closing its commercial vehicles plant in Barcelona, Spain, the company will reduce production capacity by 20% over the next three years and streamline its ageing product portfolio.
The 370Z is the oldest car in Nissan's current line-up, having launched in its current form in 2008. The company's product planning boss, Ivan Espinosa, told Autocar at last year's Tokyo motor show that the sports car - along with the GT-R flagship - was "at the heart of Nissan" and that the company was "actively looking at and working on" a successor.
Autocar understands that the new Z car will be called the 400Z and take its power from a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 with more power than the current car. It's unlikely to sit on a bespoke platform, given its relatively low sales volumes, and could instead make use of the rear-driven underpinnings from Nissan sibling brand Infiniti's Q50 and Q60 models.
Nissan recently submitted a trademark application for a restyled version of the Z badge, fuelling speculation that a new sports car was on the way. The badge's retro look hinted that the new model will take styling inspiration from Nissan's historic sports cars, potentially with a sharp front end like that of the 240Z and distinctive brake lights inspired by the 300ZX.
The interior of the new model is earmarked for a significant redesign, too, with that of the 370Z frequently criticised for being outdated compared to its rivals. Expect a focus on premium materials throughout and for the current car's basic touchscreen to be replaced with a modern infotainment system with access to various connectivity services.
The 400Z's unveiling is expected within the next 12 months.
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