It’s no secret that Nissan has been planning for a replacement model to the aging 370Z for quite some time now. Ever since a 370Z mule was seen testing on the Nurburgring late last year, the rumour mill has been kicked into high gear.
It seems like the hype train isn’t going to stop anytime soon, as Motor Trend has just spotted a new trademark filing by Nissan in Canada, for what looks like the new Z logo for the upcoming Z-car.
If this is indeed the new Z logo for the 370Z replacement, we might have just gotten our first hint at how the new car might look like. The logo in the trademark filing features a little cross-flourish, which mimics the logo from the original Datsun 240Z – pointing to a retro-inspired styling.
It has been long rumoured that the upcoming Nissan Z sports car will feature the name “400Z“. However, unlike its predecessor, the name will no longer signify the engine displacement but instead its power output.
The 400Z is expected to be powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine, as seen in various other models from the Nissan family, which produces roughly 400 hp.
Although this specific engine has always been paired to an automatic gearbox, reports suggests that a manual version will still be available for the next Z-Car.
Nissan has previewed this combination before, with a engine-swapped 370Z at the 2018 SEMA Show, featuring a manual transmission.
Whatever it is, we hope we get to see it sooner rather than later. The Nissan 370Z made its debut more than 10 years ago in 2009, and although there were several facelift treatments and special editions, the two-door sports car is starting to show its age.
