Nissan Z adds retro flair

Nissan’s next-generation Z car will formally debut at the New York auto show in August. The sports car has been spotted undergoing road tests in the U.S., and it’s clear it closely tracks the Z Proto concept shown in September.

The makeover — due in showrooms early next year — will be the first for the car since 2009. The Z is expected to be powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine, similar to the engine used in the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400.

The design features retro styling elements that hark back to previous-generation Z’s, such as the signature silhouette — a long hood, pointy nose and short and sloping rear deck — and the original hood bulges from 1970s editions. Twenty-first century touches include LED headlamps, lightweight carbon-fiber bodywork and a 12.3-inch digital meter display.