September 16, 2020 – There’s a new Z in town, the Nissan Z Proto, and it is here to celebrate and combine the past and future of the legendary Z sports car. Revealed at an event at the Nissan Pavilion in Yokohama, Japan, the Nissan Z Proto is here to show the company’s intent to launch a new generation of the beloved line of sports cars.
The exterior of the car catches your attention immediately not only its bright yellow pearlescent paint, but also its unique design and silhouette that pays homage to previous generations. One of the coolest parts of the design of the Z Proto is the fact that the designers went back and found what made each generation successful. They then combined all of that info into one car, along with what they envision the future of the Z to look like as well. Its roofline, hood and teardrop-shaped headlights are reminiscent of the original Z, while the rear takes inspiration from the 300ZX taillights.
The interior follows the same trend as the exterior, with several touches coming from previous generations, while also incorporating modern technology. The cabin was designed to fit the driver and passenger like a glove, making the Proto Z a true drivers car. All vital information can be found on the 12.3-inch digital meter display seated right behind a brand new, deep dish steering wheel. The real nod to the past is the three-gauge binnacle found on top of the dash. To finish the cabin off, there are yellow accents and stitching throughout.
Probably the most fun part of the car can be found under the hood. A twin-turbo V6 engined coupled with a six-speed manual transmission powers the Nissan Proto Z, which has also been confirmed in the production version. This powertrain is capable of getting the Z to 60 in under 4 seconds, similar to its close rival, the Supra. There is no price as of now for the production Z, but there is a good chance it will be in the above $40,000.
