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Nissan Z Proto Video: ‘Proto’ in This Case Means ‘Pretty Much What the Z Will Be’

nissan z proto  03 oem jpg Nissan Z Proto | Manufacturer image

When Nissan announced plans to update its current lineup in May, seeing a replacement for the 370Z was unexpected. The 370Z has been on sale now for more than a decade, and one could be forgiven for thinking maybe Nissan just forgot about it. But, no, that’s not the case, and now we get the Z Proto, a glimpse at a nearly production-ready replacement for the aging sports car.

Related: Nissan Z Proto Hews to Heritage While Updating Icon

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We’ve been burned before with Nissan and being shown cool-looking things — remember the IDx Freeflow and IDx NISMO concepts? — but the difference here is that the Z Proto is a prototype (it’s right there in the name) and is thus much closer to being produced and sold than your garden-variety concept car.

The end result is what you see here, a car that harkens back to its lineage while having a very modern look by using the right amount of retro-futuristic styling — think more 2021 Ford Bronco and less 2005 Ford Thunderbird. The rectangular grille in front may not be for everyone, but the overall aesthetics are likely to be pleasing to most.

Why focus so much on the looks? Well, Nissan’s playing the rest of the details close to the vest, releasing only what the powertrain will be: a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 with either a six-speed manual(!) or some sort of to-be-determined automatic transmission — but not providing performance figures.

Check out the rest of what we know about the Nissan Z Proto in the video below.

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Brian Normile
Road Test Editor Brian Normile joined the automotive industry and Cars.com in 2013, and he became part of the Editorial staff in 2014. Brian spent his childhood devouring every car magazine he got his hands on — not literally, eventually — and now reviews and tests vehicles to help consumers make informed choices. Someday, Brian hopes to learn what to do with his hands when he’s reviewing a car on camera. He would daily-drive an Alfa Romeo 4C if he could.
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