Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Diesel


Given the reality of upcoming CO2 emissions regulations in both Europe and North America, it's not much of a stretch to assume that the next generation Nissan Z will get more fuel efficient. How Nissan will manage to extract those extra miles per gallon and reduced emissions is purely conjecture on the part of everyone outside of Nissan's engineering staff at this point.

Thankfully, the British motoring press has no aversion to speculation or even simply stuff up. In the wake of the cooperation deal between Daimler and the Renault-Nissan alliance, the future of the Z is a ripe target for such prognostication. Could the 370Z successor get a version of the 3.5-liter V6 hybrid powertrain from the Mercedes S400? How about a V6 diesel or inline-four diesel-hybrid?

Anything's possible, but not necessarily probable. Given the personality that customers expect from a Z, we think something along the lines of a downsized, boosted gasoline V6 is a much more likely configuration. The relatively low volumes of the Z would easily be balanced out by all of the electric vehicles Nissan is planning to build without having to do anything too radical to the sports car.


Gallery: Nissan 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition



[Source: Autocar]Rumormill: Next-gen Nissan Z to get Mercedes V6, I4-hybrid? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Jun 2010 10:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



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Autoblog
06-03-2010 11:56 AM

that would be an incredible blunder.


putting an engine from a foreign automaker into your flagship sportcar during its anniversary...

it doesn't make any sense.

"Here we introduce our most desirable incarnation of the 350Z; it is now more efficient and more powerful than any other 350Z before it. ... and we couldn't have done it without a Mercedes-Benz engine.... A great round of applause!"

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