Nissan unveiled the Z Proto last fall and now the trademark office in Australia has revealed the production model in a series of patent photos. Looking virtually identical to the concept, the road-going model has a slightly revised grille with a sensor unit tucked between two horizontal accents.
Additional changes are limited, but the
production model has a rear lock and reflectors behind the rear wheels. The
liftgate also looks different, but this appears to be an optical illusion as
the Z Proto had a black roof which visually expanded the glass area. The
changes are pretty minor and mean the production model will remain almost
identical to the Z Proto. That’s a good thing as the concept was well-received.
Given the similarities between the
exteriors, it’s likely the interior will mirror the concept as well. This means
we can expect a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a modern infotainment
system and gauge pods on the dashboard.
Nissan has been tight-lipped about
performance specifications, but the Z Proto featured a twin-turbo V6 that was
connected to six-speed manual transmission. It’s expected to carryover from the
Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400, where the engine develops 400 hp and 474 Nm of torque.
That remains unconfirmed, but Nissan has
already hinted the next Z will have more power than its predecessor. As a
reminder, the current 370Z has a 3.7-liter V6 that produces 332 hp and 366 Nm of torque. The 370Z Nismo kicks that up to 350
hp and 374 Nm.
