A Test Mule For The '400Z' Next-Gen Nissan 370Z Has Been Spotted

A test mule for the 370Z's replacement has been photographed at the Nurburgring

31 Oct 2019

A Test Mule For The '400Z' Next-Gen Nissan 370Z Has Been Spotted

Want some excitement injected into your gloomy Autumnal week? This should do the trick - the car you see here is the next-generation 370Z. Well, kind of.

It may look like an example of the current Z with some extra holes drilled into it, but don’t be fooled - this is almost certainly an early test mule for Nissan’s next rear-wheel drive sports car.

It had been previously reported that the ageing 370Z - which has been in production for over 10 years now - would be replaced by a crossover, but it seems Nissan has stayed true to the Fairlady lineage.

Nissan’s senior vice president of design Alfonso Albaisa confirmed last year that he was already working on a successor. More recently, speaking to Car Throttle sister publication Auto Express, Albaisa said Nissan would “never leave this [the Z-car] alone”. Asked for his thoughts on a new 370Z, Albaisa said, “It’s easy to imagine”.

As for what’s going on under the skin of the Nurburgring mule, we don’t know a great deal. It has previously been reported that the next 370Z will use the 400bhp VR30DDTT 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 used in the Infiniti Q50 and Q60 as well as the current Nissan Skyline.

How would your ideal ‘400Z’ look?

Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.

Comments

Not sure what to expect from this since I didn’t see Nissan continuing the Z lineage, in Europe at least.

I just hope it’s not too bulky and doesn’t share too much with its Infiniti brethren. There is not much in a Q60 that appeals to an enthusiast bar the performance figures. Also hope it isn’t to overwrought with tech to separate it from the GTR.

Kind of predicting the opposite sadly; it’s 2019 after all, no-one can afford to make a sports car without raiding several parts bins. Especially since the future of the Z was seemingly saved only by a few desperate (but good) people within Nissan.

Although, since Nissan is still partnered with Alpine, perhaps it could lead to them breathing a little magic on the Z/ a A310/A610 successor?

The Q60, 400HP with 4 wheel drive, if the ‘400Z’ can lighten up on the existing 370Z, keep it as a two seater, with four wheel drive, game on! My 370Z roadster is up to 400BHP atmospheric, but the weight is it’s main downfall.