Nissan Z Proto points to legendary sports car revival

Japanese brand Nissan plans to farewell petrol-powered high-performance cars with twin-turbocharged, retro-styled fireworks.

Nissan has unveiled a prototype concept car pointing to its next-generation Z coupe.

Nissan is set to farewell conventionally-powered sports cars with a high-performance successor to the 370Z.

Unveiled in near-production concept form, the Nissan “Z Proto” blends muscular retro styling with a high-performance engine, manual transmission and rear-wheel-drive traction.

Based on the ageing 370Z sports coupe, the Z Proto sheds the current car’s 12-year-old bodywork for styling that paying tribute to Nissan’s greatest hits.

The Nissan Z Proto has clear ties to Nissan’s back catalogue.

There’s more than a hint of 1970s 240Z and 260Z to the front end, while the rear tail-lamps are a homage to the 300ZX of the 1990s.

The Z’s long bonnet has always housed a six-cylinder engine, and that’s set to be the case for the next-gen model.

LED tail-lights draw parallels to the classic 300ZX.

Nissan says the engine will be a twin-turbocharged V6, though it hasn’t confirmed a displacement or power figures for the new machine.

Our guess is the GT-R’s handmade 3.8-litre, 421kW V8 would be prohibitively expensive for a sub-$100,000 sports car, and that the 3.0-litre, 298kW unit once found in the Infiniti Q60 coupe would make more sense.

While many concept cars are the stuff of fantasy, dynamic testing of the Z is well underway.

It would also lend the car around 400 horsepower, opening the door to a tidy 400Z nameplate for the US and beyond.

Huge six-piston brakes tucked behind lightweight 19-inch wheels suggest the new machine will be faster than the current 245kW version priced from $49,990 drive-away.

The current-generation 370Z (left) donates its bones to the new model (right).

While there’s no doubt the new car will cost more than that, it could shape up as a cut-price alternative to coupe rivals such as BMW’s M2 or the reborn Toyota Supra.

The prospect of a track-tuned Nismo version could prove irresistible for some enthusiasts.

On the inside, it’s clear the new machine is an updated 370Z rather than an all-new machine.

Scalloped doorhandles tucked into high-mounted air-vents are a giveaway, as are triple gauges placed high over the centre console.

The new Z Proto cabin (left) is based on the older 370Z (right).

A modern steering wheel with a tiny central airbag looks the goods while providing shortcuts to key features.

Dozens of buttons have been eradicated by the addition of a central touchscreen, while a 12.3-inch electronic display replaces analog driver gauges.

Vitally, the Proto retains a six-speed manual transmission and mechanical handbrake found in the old model.

Purists disappointed by auto-only sports cars can celebrate the new Z.

That’s great news for enthusiasts with few manual options to choose from.

Modern sports cars such as the Supra, Nissan GT-R, Honda NSX, Mercedes-AMG C63 and upcoming Chevrolet Corvette are auto-only propositions, giving Nissan a key selling point in the race for customers.

It could be Nissan’s last pure manual sports car, as electrification, increasingly strict emissions requirements and dwindling support for three-pedal cars make investment in niche models harder to justify.

A digital dash and central touchscreen modernise Nissan’s coupe contender.

Nissan has not said when the new Z will go on sale, only that it is finessing prototype models with an eye to putting it into production soon.

Nissan chief executive Makoto Uchida said the Z “represents the spirit of Nissan”.

“It’s a key model in our Nissan NEXT transformation plan, and it’s proof of our ability to do what others don’t dare to do, from A to Z,” he said.

“As a Z fan myself, I’m excited to announce that the next Z is coming.”

A production version of the next-generation Nissan Z could debut in 2021.