The new Nissan Z Proto has been unveiled, and boy does it look good.
The Z Proto comes with a twin-turbocharged V6 engine and a manual transmission gearbox, great for those of you who like to drive sideways.
The Z Proto is a reflection of what you should expect from the unfinished 400Z sportscar. The square front grille and headlights with daytime running lights take inspiration from the very first Nissan Z car - the 240Z from back in the day.
From the side, you'll see that the cabin has been pushed back towards the rear wheels to give it a long, low bonnet. The rising rear window frame under the contrasting black roof takes the shape of the 240Z's silhouette and features a similar 'Z' emblem.
Walk around the back, and you'll see that the Z Proto takes on the vibes of the '90s with square-shaped brake lights like the (then) high-end 300ZX.
Underneath, two exhaust pipes are peeking out from below the black section of the rear bumper, which gives the Z Proto a blunter and far less rounded back end than it's ancestor, the 370Z.
The Z Proto comes packed with a stunning twin-turbo V6 engine, with the car expecting to be running a 3L engine which will produce a lot more power than the current 370Z's 328hp 3.7L engine, nice!
Like the outgoing Nissan 370Z, and the 350Z before that, the new 400Z will come with a manual gearbox – something that is pretty rare in sports cars these days.
While the Z Proto’s exterior takes inspiration from past Z models, the interior is not living in the past. There is a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display instead of the traditional analogue dials, and a second large touchscreen is nested on the dashboard.
The raised centre console and beautifully crafted sports seats should help you feel snug and secure inside - great for when you're hitting the corners sideways.
Well, here is some bad news. When it goes on sale either in 2022 or early in 2023, Nissan has confirmed that strict emissions regulations mean that it will be unlikely the new Z Proto will go on sale in Europe, where Nissan intends to focus on SUVs and electrified vehicles.
