Nissan 360: the design future, and the new 370Z?
Click the image above for more hi-res shots of the 370Z and Infiniti design teasers.
There were crisp images of a blurry car being swapped and discussed today at Nissan 360. When Shiro Nakamura, the head designer at Nissan, revealed the barest hints of a car outline hidden behind a taut sheet of fabric, speculation began as to whether it represented the new Z. The arced flanges over the wheels, and the way they follow the wheels, have 370Z written all over them. However, it doesn't look as if it would fit this rendering exactly -- which is not a bad thing. All Nakamura would say is that we'll be seeing that wheel later this year, which, coincidentally, is when the next Z -- supposedly lighter and four inches shorter than the current car -- is slated to be unveiled.
The other design teaser was a top-view sculpture of future Infiniti design elements. Who knows what or how much of the elements -- like the ducktail rear -- will make it to the final product, and who knows what those features will look like when in production. But it's a good looking piece of art in its own right. A brace of edges peeking out from a sea of crimson undulations -- if they had thrown wheels on it I would have driven it out of the hotel last night.
Gallery: Nissan and Infiniti Design Studies
Our travel and lodging for this media event was provided by the manufacturer.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2004m3driver 8:23PM (4/29/2008)
Now with the internet my obsessiveness with car news is never quenched. Before I'd just go to car shows and have the usual mag subscriptions. Now I can find out about every little detail and rumor, but now its has bred me to expect things constantly and instantly. I can't believe I still find everything interesting even new mustang variants. Love the the red metal sheet. That looks hot.
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amdforever 8:51PM (4/29/2008)
Man, these shots tell you a lot about the car.
(1) it has at least two wheels
(2) it may have a body attached to the two wheels you see
Very revealing shots!
John 8:30PM (4/29/2008)
If I close one eye and hit my head against the wall I can almost see something that resembles a car in those pictures.
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Yar 8:37PM (4/29/2008)
At least we know it wont have tank treads.
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Duders 9:00PM (4/29/2008)
Could the wheels on the z be any larger? Or is the car just matchbox sized. And now at least we know the car will look stellar in beige.
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Red 10:36PM (4/29/2008)
I was thinking the same thing. I have a feeling the proportions are going to be off on this car. Or at least the concept.
Jrejre 9:09PM (4/29/2008)
The Z is about to rob a jewelry store and the Infiniti is partaking in some twisted latex sex games.
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AntBee 9:52PM (4/29/2008)
Useless and maddening pictures!
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hoss 10:19PM (4/29/2008)
Call me when they revisit the design of the Z32. Until then they can keep the jellybean with wheels they call a Z.
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ricotubbs 10:27AM (4/30/2008)
Jellybean you say? I sort of think the current Z looks more like a melting hershey's kiss.
Xcountryflyer 11:01PM (4/29/2008)
Completely useless!!! It pretty much tells you it will have round wheels.
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DDL 11:21PM (4/29/2008)
I see on the Nissan 360 website that the new NA Maxima is one of the event vehicles. Any impressions on that???
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Jonathon Ramsey 5:52AM (4/30/2008)
The Maxima was display-only (incredibly!). Nobody got to drive it. But we'll be doing a drive on it very soon...
Benfolio 11:15PM (4/29/2008)
C&D has a picture (rendering?) of the 370Z on thier June cover (with the 2010 MUSTANG!!!), and it looks like a 350 with GT-R wheels and the new-fangled Nissan headlights.
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naggs 12:16AM (4/30/2008)
scans? links?
you are a dirty dirty tease
mk 11:31PM (4/29/2008)
Well,
the side shows nothing save for some wheel design.
I am pretty sure that the red vacuum formed wall sculpture is an aerodynamics design study, that will have almost no bearing on the actual design of the new 370Z.
All hype, barely an ounce of substance.
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mk 11:33PM (4/29/2008)
err... I mean has little to do with the actual design of a future Infiniti. Or the 370Z for that matter, either.
Nick 12:20AM (4/30/2008)
I've just been relieved to hear that it will be smaller and lighter than the current Z, as that's by far the biggest downfall of the 350.
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Kevin 12:22AM (4/30/2008)
As much as I hate to say it, I think the oversized wheel spokes look almost Hybrid like. To reduce wind resistance and get better fuel economy. I am hoping that is not true. I am with everyone else though, a little too much left to the imagination on this one.
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Harrison 12:53AM (4/30/2008)
We also know it will have doors and an internal-combustion engine.
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