nissan 400z

UPDATE, 7 April 2021: New images of the production 2022 Nissan 400Z – or simply Nissan Z, as it could be called – have emerged overnight. Posted by sources including CarBuzz, the images show front and rear three-quarter views of a silver example of the new sports car, which leaked information published in March 2021 suggests is a mid-spec, luxury-focused 'Type T' variant of the car. MORE: 2022 Nissan Z to shun 400Z moniker, start from AU$46,000 in the US – report

The 2022 Nissan 400Z sports car edged closer to Australia this week, with Nissan filing patent images locally for what appears to be the production car. While the Nissan 400Z has already been teased with the Nissan Z Proto concept (bottom) unveiled in September 2020, new patent filings lodged with Australian intellectual property officials seem to show the production version of the hotly-anticipated sports car.

Nissan showrooms will be overflowing with new or updated models over the next few years, as it aims to freshen-up its ageing line-up. In addition to the just-released Nissan Juke city SUV and an updated Nissan Leaf electric car (now with more range), dealers have been told an updated Nissan Navara is due in local showrooms early 2021. A leaked dealer presentation has revealed the Japanese car maker plans its biggest roll-out of new models in recent memory.

It was nearly three years ago, already eight years into the 370Z's life, that Nissan planning boss Philippe Klein put to rest any notion that the ageing Z was dead.

UPDATE, August 28: Looks like the 400Z has now been delayed another couple of years. UPDATE, August 27: new speculative renderings of the 2021 Nissan 400Z have surfaced in the Japanese media, posted to enthusiast forum GR86.org this week. We've added them to this story (above and further down), but the content is otherwise unchanged. July 17: The 2021 Nissan 400Z is believed to be in the final stages of development and due in local showrooms next year.