A new generation of the Nissan sports coupe is on its way and is expected to see the light of day in the next year, which is a very good thing because the current 370Z dates from 2009 and is hardly attracting any attention by performance enthusiasts anymore.
For some time rumors have been that Nissan is opting for electrification, but now slightly more believable information points to something different.
According to the British site Autocar , the next version will replace the V6 of 3.7 liters developing 332 horses by a V6 Twin Turbo of 3 liters. And from now on, it is no longer the displacement that would dictate the name of the model, but rather the power. Are you ready for a Nissan 400Z with 400 horsepower under the hood?
Obviously, we are not talking about a brand new engine. Faced with significant financial difficulties, the Japanese manufacturer tries by all means to save money, so it makes sense to use what already exists.
The Twin Turbo V6 in question comes from the Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400. As the name suggests, the latter also generates 400 horsepower. The difference is that it uses all-wheel drive, while the future Nissan Z should keep its rear-wheel drive. We will have to see what happens on the acceleration side, the quickest of the Q60 going from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in five seconds.
Without a doubt, a 400Z would be lighter than its Infiniti counterpart. And let’s not forget, that a more powerful NISMO version will inevitably follow.
A question also arises: Will Nissan keep the six-speed manual transmission in addition to the seven-speed automatic? Again, that would be good news for buyers – and a way to stand out from rivals like the Toyota GR Supra. The latter, which climbs to 382 horses for 2021, offers only an eight-speed automatic transmission.
