Best look yet at new Nissan 400Z

The striking new design of the all-new Z35-series Nissan 400Z has been illustrated yet again in a new image from Japan.

Created to mimic a new car brochure, the illustration draws on the only visuals of the new Z-car officially released by Nissan back in late May, and provides a new take on the rear-end styling.

As we've previously reported, the new Nissan 400Z will get a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine (VR30DDTT) with around 300kW of power, which should provide the new-generation rear-drive sports car a potent base from which to attack the upgraded 285kW 2021 Toyota Supra due here later this year.

During the July reveal of Nissan’s all-new electric SUV, the Nissan Ariya, the brand’s global design chief Alfonso Albaisa told carsales it was a challenge coming up with the final design for the new 400Z, but confirmed the new model will draw inspiration from past Z-cars.

Related: Toyota Supra v Nissan 400Z

“So naturally you picked up on some things [from the teaser image] which are a nod to recognise where we have come [from]. But the car is a modern car, but I should stop talking now. Where’s my hook, take me off the stage!” he laughed, not wanting to reveal too much.

“Naturally, as you know the process of design, we started with 12 ‘Z’ models. And of course some of them were really forward looking and some of them were really reminiscent, so without saying too much more, obviously the result was to embrace the fact the Z car changed the landscape of sports car,” said Albaisa.

Just don’t call the new design 'retro'...

“We’re a company that has 60 cars and when you design cars like a Z, like a Patrol, like a GT-R, like Murano, they have such iconic status for innovating that naturally you have to think about. It’s not retro as much as it is respect,” stated Albaisa.

“Is that answer vague enough not to get me fired?” he joked.

As the next-generation Nissan 400Z pays homage to Z-cars of the past, it will continue to be an affordable sports car and is expected to undercut the Toyota Supra on price.

“I say it with humbleness – I’m not saying that [affordable] sports cars are spectacular – but in the world circa-1969, if you wanted a real sports car you really had to be a wealthy person,” said Albaisa.

“Because even the great Mustangs and Camaros, these cars were not exactly nimble, refined, scientific. That side of sports cars that was occupied by 911s and Jaguars.

“So the democratisation of sports [cars] is something that as a company we do take pride that we contributed greatly with that, with our innocent 240Z.”

The current Nissan 370Z is priced from $50,490 while the cheapest Toyota Supra currently costs $84,900. The new 400Z is tipped to undercut the Supra, but it won’t be a $50K sports car like the current model and is likely to cost around $70,000 when it launches in 2021.

Nissan is expected to unleash a hotter 400Z NISMO version in due course, to take on the upcoming Toyota Supra GRMN.

As we’ve reported previously, the follow-up to the Z34-series Nissan 370Z is expected to enter production in the second half of 2021.

Nissan had originally planned to reveal the Nissan 400Z this year and while COVID-19 has played havoc with global vehicle launches, we believe the world debut for the new car is imminent.

Stay tuned for more details.