Nissan’s upcoming redesign of its Z car is almost here, and proof positive is this prototype caught cruising around in the vicinity of Germany’s famed Nürburgring and then later seen refueling at a petrol station. Spy photographers also managed to capture the interior which looks very Nissan even from this angle.
The redesign is on full display here, with the boomerang-style headlights and taillights first seen on the new Maxima clearly visible. The whole front end is new but retains a visual connection with its predecessor, while big fender flares give away that the new car might be rolling on a wider track. There are also a few more kinks and creases on the new car, which are on display in the chunky C-pillar. It does look terrific as an attractive evolution of the current 350Z. The new car will change its nomenclature slightly to 370Z when it debuts this auto show season thank to the addition of Nissan’s new 3.7L V6 that will be producing well over 300 horsepower in the new Z. Word has it that Nissan has also worked hard to address one of the biggest criticisms against the current car: weight.
The spies say the quality of interior materials appear to be a vast improvement over the current model, and you can see this particular prototype’s interior is wearing bright orange suede door panel inserts and orange seats. Elsewhere there are three gauges atop the dash that point towards the driver and big paddle shifters behind the steering wheel, which sources suggest may indicate that Nissan will use a version of the GT-R’s six-speed dual-clutch transmission. That may not be the case, however, as the current car’s five-speed automatic with paddle shifters, which Infiniti already pairs with the company’s 3.7L V6 in its G cars, would look the same from peering in through the car’s windows.
Expect more shots as the Z starts lapping the ‘Ring.
Source: AutoBlog
