Detailed rumours indicate Nissan’s Z-car not dead yet
A replacement for the Nissan 370Z is set to debut within the next two years, according to rumours allegedly leaked from Nissan senior officials to the U.K.’s Autocar magazine.
A “400Z” coupe is expected to make its debut in 2019 to line up with the 50th anniversary of the original Z’s export to markets such as the U.K., says the magazine, though the car may not hit dealerships until 2020.
While Nissan Motor Company design chief Alfonso Albaisa and chief planning officer Phillipe Klein have admitted to openly advocating for a Z-car successor, the rumours from inside sources apparently confirm not only that the car — code-named Z35 — has been locked-in for production, but that it will be a twin to Infiniti’s Q60.
Sharing the Q60’s engines and platforms may mean the next Z could gain up to a foot of length on the current 370Z’s wheelbase, and come fitted with the Q60’s 399-horsepower 3.0-litre twinturbo V6.
Autocar also suggests 2021 will see a Nismo-tuned version of the 400Z boast all-wheel drive and 475 hp.
The magazine reports a convertible is also expected, around 2021, though this directly contradicts rumours from Motor Trend that Mercedes-Benz recently approached Nissan about teaming up on a convertible and was turned down by the Japanese automaker because the roadster market just isn’t viable.
If anything more gets publicly confirmed, we’ll keep you posted. Even if it sounds like the 400Z may be something vastly different than the 370Z, we’re excited that at least the rumours aren’t that the Z-car is dead.