Nissan 370Z test mule hints a new Z car

- Nissan is finally back on the drawing board for the 370Z successor 

- The prototype was spotted testing on the Nurburgring 

Nissan could have been referring to a new-gen Z car when they said ‘expect something new’ at the Tokyo press conference. And the recent sighting of a 370Z on the ‘Ring could mean that development has already begun. Or, given that the 370Z is pretty old and getting long in the tooth, the test mule could also be yet another update for the Fairlady.  

Whatever be the case, if you look closely, the test mule has a different face compared to the latest iteration of the 370Z. There are additional holes on the front bumper, perhaps to provide additional cooling to a newer powertrain. Even the wheel arches look more flared and wider than usual. But apart from that, everything on the test mule remains the same as it was when the 370Z debuted a decade ago.  

Since the 370Z has aged gracefully, we could assume Nissan is testing a replacement under the prototype. This could be an all-new model which will flaunt a new moniker and will have different powertrain under the hood compared to the one in the 370Z. It will come at a correct time when the Toyota Supra has marked its return. Both these Japanese sports coupe were once powered by a straight-six motor and we could see the same happen with the 370Z successor as well.  

There’s no official word or timeline about when we can expect the arrival of the new Nissan Z model. Or whether the 370Z will receive yet another update for it to soldier on a few more years. If it’s the former, we’ll have to wait for a couple of years before we could see the actual car on the streets. With so many speculations and rumours going around, at this point, what the test mule is hiding underneath – your guess is as good as ours.