Nissan might co-develop the next Z car with Mercedes

The next-gen Nissan Z car is coming sooner than we know. According to a recent report, Nissan will join hand with Daimler, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz to co-develop the new Z model (digitally rendered in the picture). The new Z will arrive sometime next year in time for the 50th anniversary celebration of the original 240Z.

Although details are scarce at the moment, there are rumours that Nissan will borrow the chassis from a Mercedes vehicle. There will be a choice of two powertrains – a smaller 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with a lower spec, and a high-performance variant with a 400bhp 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 sourced from the Infiniti Q60. That would overpower the current 370Z as it produces 350bhp in the Nismo guise. A hybrid powertrain is not ruled out either.

We know Nissan is developing a new Z successor which will be the seventh-generation of the iconic Fairlady moniker. But it was another few years away since the Japanese carmaker declared it to be a low priority project at the moment. With the new Toyota Supra arriving soon in collaboration with BMW, Nissan might want to take the same route for its icon, shaking hands with Mercedes. The current 370Z has been around for a decade now. It is losing its sheen now with declining demands. 

The Renault-Nissan Alliance is already working in conjunction with the Three-Pointed Star for the new X-Class. The newly launched Infiniti QX50 was also planned to share the MFA2 modular platform co-developed with Mercedes. It is high time for Nissan to bring in a successor for the 370Z and co-developing it with Mercedes will help with its R&D and reduce the development time.

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