New Nissan 400Z sports car teased

There is a new sports car rivalry on the horizon as Nissan teases its newest performance model aimed directly at Toyota’s reborn legend.

Nissan is going back to the future with its new Zed sports car.

The Japanese brand has given its first glimpse of its new sports car, expected to be dubbed the 400Z.

Nissan’s current 370Z is one of the oldest cars on sale at the moment, having first entered production more than 10 years ago, and is in desperate need of a refresh.

The revitalised performance car will start a new era of Japanese sports car rivalry as the 400Z targets the recently released Toyota Supra.

The current 370Z is more than 10 years old.

Teaser footage shows the Zed sporting some cool retro styling recalling the original 240Z, while still maintaining design cues from the current 370Z.

It is believed the new 400Z will use the same rear-wheel drive platform as the Infiniti Q60 and Q50.

A twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine making about 298kW and 475Nm could be at the heart of the future Zed - giving it about 400 horsepower, a fitting figure for the new name.

And the 400Z is expected to feature a big leap forward in safety and infotainment technology.

Fans should also look out for a sharper, more focused Nismo version further down the track.

There has been no word on when the official reveal might be, but it is expected in the next 12 months.

Nissan revealed the next-gen sports car during a presentation detailing its four-year plan that would cut 20 per cent of models from the current line-up in a bid to drive profit.

Makoto Uchida, Nissan chief executive officer, wants to move away from rapid expansion and instead focus on getting back to the company’s roots, which he termed “‘Nissan-ness’ for a new era”.

The new 400Z is expected to form a big part of this, but Nissan hasn’t given any indication on when the next-generation GT-R would arrive. Nissan’s flagship performance car is pushing 13, which is ancient in sports car years, and is due for an upgrade.