Nissan’s Z cars have always been a point of pride for the Japanese manufacturer, with their lineage stretching over five decades. Enthusiasts love them for their keen handling, reliability and potential to be tuned well beyond their original specification. The 307Z is looking a bit tired these days, but its successor has been shown in the form of the Z Proto concept car.
Sometimes concept or preview vehicles look more akin to the Batmobile than a real car you or I might drive on the road, but the Z Proto is remarkably tangible. There’s no flamboyant neon lights, no jet engine and a steering wheel that isn’t square – although, that didn’t stop Aston Martin. This would appear to be 98% of the real deal.
Harking back to the iconic Datsun 240Z, the new design has been heavily influenced by its forefathers. This much more emotive design features more rounded headlights, especially sculpted hips and a steeply raked roofline. Parking a 240Z next to what may end up being called the 400Z highlights the family resemblance. Nissan also says there are hints of 300ZX and 240ZG in there, too. In terms of dimensions it is a little lower and longer than the outgoing 370Z. Ditching the modern trend of sharp creases, the Z Proto is certainly a handsome thing.
The interior is also a fusion of modern technology and throwback design. A 12.3-inch digital instrument display is framed by a dished steering wheel etched with the classic Z logo, analogue turbo boost gauges on the dashboard are ‘old-school’ cool, and the driving position retains the traditional low-slung Z car setup. A large touchscreen infotainment system also crowns physical air conditioning controls.
Details on what’s under the bonnet are limited, but we do know that it’s a twin-turbocharged V6 engine that lays in wait. Best guesses put the power output at 400bhp, giving further credence to this sports car being called the 400Z. Highlighting the focus on this being a car for ‘drivers’, the Z Proto was shown in six-speed manual guise – we would expect an automatic transmission option to arrive with the production car.
Now for the bad news… Europe will not be getting the new Nissan Z sports car in any form. According to Nissan, a combination of emissions regulations and a shrinking of the sports car market made it difficult to create a business case. This will be a huge disappointment to loyal Z car fans in the UK and Europe, with no word on a direct 370Z replacement for these markets.
We’ll be seeing more of the Z Proto and its eventual production car in the run up to it hitting the road in 2021, just not European roads.
Keyword: Nissan’s next V6 sports car previewed as Z Proto concept