Nissan 400Z previewed before 2021 debut

• The first look at the new ‘Z’ sportscar came via a recent product planning presentation

• This successor to the aging 370Z is expected to be called the 400Z and be revealed in the next 12 months

• No statement has been released regarding which markets the new model will be offered in

Nissan has previewed the long-awaited successor to its 370Z sports car in a presentation outlining its future product strategy. 

Official details of the mysterious new car are thin on the ground, but we can see it will have styling evolved from the 370Z coupé and will be the latest addition to the Japanese brand's Z sports car lineage – begun in 1969 with the launch of the iconic Datsun 240Z.

The preview comes following Nissan's announcement that it's to embark on a wide-reaching cost-cutting strategy under the 'Nissan Next' banner. As well as closing its commercial vehicles plant in Barcelona, Spain, the company will reduce production capacity by 20 percent over the next three years and streamline its ageing product portfolio. 

The 370Z is the oldest car in Nissan's current line-up, having launched in its current form in 2008. The company's product planning boss, Ivan Espinosa, told our sister publication Autocar UK at last year's Tokyo motor show that the sportscar – along with the flagship GT-R – was "at the heart of Nissan" and that the company was "actively looking at and working on" a successor.

We expect the new ‘Z’ sportscar will be called the 400Z and be powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 with more power than the current car. It's unlikely to sit on a bespoke platform, given its relatively low sales volumes, and could instead make use of the rear-driven underpinnings from Nissan sibling brand Infiniti's Q50 and Q60 models.

Nissan recently submitted a trademark application for a restyled version of the Z badge, fuelling speculation that a new sportscar was on the way. The badge's retro look hinted that the new model will take styling inspiration from Nissan's historic sports cars, potentially with a sharp front-end like that of the 240Z and distinctive brake lights inspired by the 300ZX. 

The interior of the new model is earmarked for a significant redesign, too; the 370Z was frequently criticised for being outdated compared to its rivals. Expect a focus on premium materials throughout and for the current car's basic touchscreen to be replaced with a modern infotainment system with access to various connectivity services. 

Nissan is expected to reveal the new 400Z in international markets within the next 12 months. The carmaker has made no statements regarding which markets the new sportscar will be available in. It is worth mentioning that Nissan did offer the 370Z sportscar in India from 2010, up until when the car was discontinued in 2014. However, the 370Z is still offered in a number of markets abroad.