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The Nissan 370Z stands as one of the oldest sports car models available today. Last year, the prospects for the Z seemed grim; however, Nissan hinted in January that they were actively exploring solutions for the future of the Z series.
Following the enthusiastic reception of the Toyota Supra’s comeback at the Geneva Motor Show, reports suggest that Nissan feels encouraged to revive the Z. To facilitate this, the company is reportedly considering collaboration with Mercedes-Benz, with the latter allegedly agreeing to share the costs of developing the platform, as noted by Response.
The rumored engine options for the upcoming Z include a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder from Mercedes for the more affordable models, as well as the existing 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 found in the Infiniti Q50. This V6 engine generates up to 400 horsepower, offering a notable increase of 50 horsepower over the 370Z’s 3.7-liter V6.
However, some sources express skepticism about an Infiniti engine being used in the Z, with Japanese Nostalgic Car highlighting Nissan’s aim to separate its premium Infiniti brand from its mainstream Nissan brand.
There are also claims that the new Z will be officially announced in 2019 during the Los Angeles Auto Show.
The Drive reached out to both Mercedes and Nissan for their comments; Mercedes opted not to provide a statement, while Nissan offered a vague yet optimistic response.
“The Nissan Z is an iconic nameplate,” remarked Dan Bedore, Nissan’s Director of Product Communications. “We value the excitement and interest surrounding its future from Z fans and automotive enthusiasts. As of now, we have not made any announcements regarding plans beyond the 2018 model year Nissan 370Z and, as a policy, we do not engage in speculation about future product plans.”
Sharing development costs for sports cars is becoming increasingly common in the automotive industry. Toyota and Subaru were pioneers of this approach with the 86/BRZ partnership, and Toyota later collaborated with BMW for the development of the Supra, which will also be marketed as the Z4 by the German manufacturer.
Nissan’s lineup for enthusiasts is in urgent need of modernization, with the GT-R now a decade old and the 370Z nearing the same milestone this December. The Nismo brand is struggling, as the reception of Nismo Sentras and Jukes fails to compete effectively with rival offerings. The situation is likely to worsen with the forthcoming release of the Leaf Nismo, which we fear could alienate traditional Nismo fans.
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