[Auto] Could it be? Nissan reportedly working on 370Z successor, called the 400Z

[FearLess]

Back in 2002, Nissan launched its 350Z sports car in South Africa. Available in both coupé and convertible guises, the car became a massive hit.

So immense was its po[CENSORED]rity that 'EA Games' had it as the feature car on 'Need for Speed: Underground 2.' Oh, what a game! 

After a few years, the 350Z was replaced by the 370Z and after almost a decade, it received a quick nip-and-tuck. Just to keep it fresh and, dare we say it, relevant.

Because let’s be honest, the 370Z trails the competition by quite some margin. The automatic transmission, for instance, is not as sharp as the one used in the Toyota GR Supra, or even the BMW Z4. The Nissan is old by today’s standards, and a new model is long overdue.

In a segment where sales are hovering around single figures, Nissan is left with a big decision: either drop the 370Z from its line-up or bring an entirely new model to market. It would seem that the latter is in the works.

Not confirming anything

Speaking to the UK-based motoring publication AutoCar, Alfonso Albaisa, head of design at Nissan, said: "The Z is the car that democratised sports cars back in the ’60s. Before that, you had to have the money to buy a Porsche or Jaguar. The current car has been a long time in dealerships, and so you can imagine the designers working on a successor, even if I’m not going to confirm it."

Hmm, that pretty much sounds like confirmation that a successor to the 370Z is in the works. 

Rumours are circulating that the next Z car could be called the 400Z, and it is easy to understand why. If Nissan does proceed with its next-generation Z car, the current model’s 3.7-litre V6 petrol engine would have to make way. Given that V6 engines power Nissan’s Zs, the automaker could look to its luxury brand, Infiniti, for a solution.

Will it happen?!

Converting that horsepower figure will give you close to 300kW - substantially more than the 370Z’s 245kW. In the Q60, the power helps propel the car from 0-100km/h in 5.0 seconds. Helped, in part, by a four-wheel-drive system. 

The 400Z, if it does see the light, could utilise this engine and see a slightly 0-100km/h sprint time thanks to a lower weight. Furthermore, the 400Z would have to be rear-wheel-drive, so borrowing a suitable architecture from Infiniti, most like the Q50 or even the Q60 is not out of the question. 

The reason for this would be because the 400Z will sell in low volumes, so there is no need to spend money on an entirely new platform. Just as a reference, think Supra/Z4.

 

Edited April 20, 2020 by -Dark
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