A lot can happen in ten years. Think about the state of America in the early part of Obama’s first-term versus the third-year of Trump’s. Or how Pontiac was once a car brand. Hell, it was only ten years ago that SUVs were considered dead as a new generation of small, turbocharged cars were on the rise.
It was also ten years ago that Nissan introduced the next iteration of its Z-car line, the 370Z. Taking over for the squat 350Z, the newer version was lower, wider, and more powerful. Making extensive use of aluminum, it was lighter, while it’s 3.7L V6 was more powerful than the outgoing 3.5L. It had an output of 332 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque, traveling either through a six-speed manual or seven-speed auto to the rear wheels.
Then, little else changed.
The 400Z May Be a Hybrid, Though One Focused on Performance
There have been NISMO variants, offering more power and tighter suspensions. A roadster was first introduced in 2010 and continued up until the 2020 model. There was also a mild refresh in 2015, but otherwise, things stayed the same.
Now, finally, word comes that a new version of the Fairlady may come next year. It’s suggested it’ll be the 400Z, denoting the 4.0L engine that’s likely to power it. There are rumors of it being a hybrid, albeit one focused more on performance than fuel efficiency.
But that’s all that’s known for the moment. With the 2020 370Z still waiting to be revealed, any announcement of its replacement will come later. What that will mean for the 400Z remains to be seen. The increasing adoption of electric engines and battery-powered powertrains has changed people’s expectations in just the last few years, to say nothing of the last decade.