SPY PICS: Next-gen Nissan 370Z

Images have leaked online of what appears to be a modified version of Nissan’s current sports coupe, possibly the next-gen 2022 Nissan 370Z.

Although the 370Z in question doesn’t look like anything out of the ordinary, Nissan’s global product planning boss, Ivan Espinosa, confirmed at last week’s Tokyo motor show that both the GT-R and 370Z will live on for another generation – quelling previous rumours the sports coupe would be axed.

Espinosa also confirmed that the Japanese car-maker is working on developing a sports car powered by some form of battery technology. Whether than means the next 370Z will be a full EV or a hybrid is not yet known.

"So, it’s a very careful balance that we need to be managing," he said when discussing electrified next-gen sports cars.

"The answer is yes, as [EV is] one of the [sport car] alternatives, but we haven’t decided," he said of the car's powertrain.

"Are we working on it? Absolutely," said Espinosa.

But whether this mule is being used to develop the next generation 370Z powerplant remains unknown. It could be an early test rig for a high-performance hybrid electric boost system for the next Nissan GT-R.

While the test car photographed cutting laps at the Nurburgring in Germany appears much the same as the current model, a number of holes can be seen in the front bumper for no apparent reason. Extra airflow, potentially?

Or perhaps its red herring to throw super-sleuths off the scent, and it's a pure or partial EV.

That might be the case if the car was fitted with a more powerful V6 or plug-in hybrid engine, or perhaps a new-generation high-output four-cylinder turbo with mild hybrid boosting.

We’ll have to wait and see what the future holds for Nissan’s sports car family, but it's clear the Yokohama crew are planning something that requires a muscular sports car platform.