Just last week Nissan revealed its plans for revitalization over the coming years. Part of that presentation was a teaser video hyping Nissan and revealing future products hidden mainly in shadows. It included shots of the next 400Z. You could make out some features and the overall profile, but not much else. But it didn’t take long for fans of the Z to post their best guesses at what lay deep behind the shadows. Here’s one we think is solidly on the mark. This is the 2022 400Z based on the Nissan teaser from last week.

As the successor to the 370Z, the car is not so much a make or break model for Nissan to survive. But it is the spiritual face of the company. The Z has been a styling and performance darling since its inception in 1970.

Messing with the brightness and contrast of the teaser video Nicolas Cavero strained long and hard to make out as much as he could. Once he pulled out as much as he could he started creating this rendering on the computer.

Unless Nissan is trying to throw us off this is a close render of the 2022 400Z

Insiders at Nissan have been saying all along that the new Z would be more of an homage to the original. Armed with that knowledge and the teaser this is a fairly close representation of how the 400Z will look when it debuts later in 2021. That is unless Nissan was trying to throw everyone off with the sports car in the teaser.

A lot of what has been speculated is in some ways rendering what can be seen in the video and then filling in the rest. Things like the Z emblem on the C-pillar and decorative strip above the side windows aren’t visible in the teaser. But they have already been described by Nissan. The chin spoiler and side mirrors are strictly guesses. But knowing what we already know they make sense. 

Reports indicate the 400Z taillights will resemble 300ZX-like designs. 

We did not get a chance to see any evidence of what the rear of the 400Z will look like. Reports indicate the taillights will resemble 300ZX-like designs. 

The interior has also not been shown nor has it been described by anyone from Nissan. So that part of the puzzle will have to wait possibly until the Z debuts. Some say the touchscreen and dash will be variations of the Altima and Sentra. Hopefully, liberties will be taken to distance the design from those origins if that is true. 

A version of the twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 used in the Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400 will power the next Z

There has been no comment about a convertible version of the 400Z. Nor has Nissan indicated if a hotter Nismo version might be on the horizon. What we know is that a version of the twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 that is used in the Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400 will power the next Z. It will be connected to either the six-speed manual or a nine-speed automatic. 

Nissan has to be careful with its development dollars so there may be familiar touches from other models visible. Maybe not. But if that is how Nissan can bring out a new Z we’ll gladly overlook those distractions.

The 400Z is happening. Let’s hope it brings attention to all of Nissan’s models and helps it to get back on solid footing.