Nissan Confirms The 400Z Will Look Like This

It had been rumored to be in development for months and yet, despite spy shots, Nissan refused to comment on the future status of its famed Z car. That question was finally answered last month when theZ Proto conceptwas unveiled. Likely to be called theNissan 400Zwhen it reaches production in the relatively near future, thedesign has mostly been well-received, though there are some who felt otherwise. However, they're going to have to accept it.

Speaking to Japan's Best Car, Nissan's chief product specialist, Hiroshi Tamura, confirmed the concept's design is literally production-ready. "It will come out in this form," he said without elaborating.

He did reiterate that like all past Z cars, this latest one will once again be offered at a "buyable price." Judging by the Z Proto itself inside and out, it's pretty clear Nissan has no intention of changing much. For example, concept vehicles typically feature ultra-narrow and sleek side mirrors that don't meet federal regulations for a number of reasons. The Z Proto's side mirrors, however, are big enough to meet all necessary standards.

There could be a few additional tweaks to areas such as the side skirts and front grille design, again due to safety regulations, but everything else will remain the same. It's also important to note the Z Proto is widely believed to be based on an updated version of the platform underpinning the outgoingNissan 370Z.