The Nissan 370Z and GT-R may both be more than decade old, but if you thought Nissan had forgotten its sports car heritage, think again.
Despite the tough times facing car-makers worldwide, it’s been widely reported that the Japanese brand will indeed launch a new 400Z sports car by 2022.
And the 370Z’s all-new rear-drive replacement will continue to leverage six-cylinder power – only this time it'll be a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 that will pump out a Toyota Supra-slaying 298kW.
By comparison, the current Toyota Supra bangs out 250kW.
However, Toyota has clearly cottoned on to the fact that the Supra’s direct rival – which will be built in Japan, not Austria, like the Supra – is packing serious heat.
As such, Toyota has confirmed an upgraded 2021 Supra with 285kW and sportier suspension is on its way here later this year.
Although exact power outputs for the new Nissan 400Z are not yet known, it will be propelled by the same – or similar – 3.0-litre V6 (VR30DDTT) as the discontinued Infiniti Q60 Red Sport coupe, in which it produces 298kW at 6400rpm and 475Nm over 1600rpm-5200rpm.
The Toyota Supra currently generates 250kW at 6500rpm and 500Nm over 1600rpm-4500rpm, and hits 100km/h in a claimed 4.3 seconds.
It remains to be seen whether the new Nissan sports car will match the Supra's torque or acceleration, but as it stands the Infiniti Q60 Red Sport hits 100km/h in a claimed 5.1 seconds.
Expect a seven-speed automatic and possibly a six-speed manual in the Nissan 400Z, not to mention an all-new Z-badge.
Later in its life, a hard-core Nissan 400Z NISMO variant is likely to be launched to maintain interest levels in the sports car, and it could be powered by a development of the Infiniti Project Black S's F1-inspired V6.
The high-tech engine features input from the RenaultSport F1 team, including electrically assisted turbos and a dual-stage hybrid system with ERS, to generate 420kW – more tha 560hp.
The hi-po Nissan 400Z NISMO could even out-power the $170,000 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Coupe, which generates 375kW, and will certainly give the upcoming Toyota Supra GRMN something to think about.
However, unlike SUVs and utes, sports cars are not lucrative business for car-makers. That’s why Toyota reduced Supra development costs by joining forces with BMW and its latest Z4.
Hence Nissan is tipped to use the same FM platform architecture and powertrain as the Infiniti Q60 to reduce R&D expenditure.
It's understood the next-generation Nissan 400Z – whose name is not set in stone – is still roughly two years away from full series production, with a 2022 launch likely to be preceded by a concept car that previews the new design.
Before then, according to Japanese website Best Car, a facelifted version of the current 370Z will appear in May 2021, powered by the brawny twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 in 225kW and 298kW guises – the latter featuring the '400R' moniker.
Watch this space for more details.
Image credit: Best Car