With the 370Z on the way out, the stage is set for its successor: the Nissan 400Z. First shown as the Nissan Z Proto Concept, the rear-wheel-drive sports car is almost here. And while some things are still under wraps, others are rather clearer. That includes when Nissan plans on showing the 400Z off.

What leaks and the Nissan Z Proto Concept tell us about the 2022 400Z

In both the interior and exterior, the 2020 Nissan Z Proto Concept borrows heavily from vintage Z cars. Still, production cars don’t always follow their concept versions closely, due to things like budgets and safety regulations. However, based on the video game and Instagram leaks, it appears the production 400Z follows the Z Proto’s looks fairly closely, Car and Driver notes.

As far as what’s under the hood, like the 370Z, the 2022 Nissan 400Z comes with a V6. However, unlike the 370Z, the 400Z’s V6 reportedly comes with two turbochargers, Road & Track says. Rumors suggest it’s the Infiniti Q60’s twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6, tuned to make as much as 400 hp. And while an automatic transmission will be available, the RWD sports car will also offer a manual.

In terms of price, specifics remain unknown. However, a Nissan Z forum user claims the 400Z will start at $34,995. And if the user’s claims are accurate, Nissan will also offer two $5000 packages: Type S and Type T, MotorTrend reports.

Some details are still unknown…for now

As of this writing, those are the most concrete details available on the 2022 Nissan 400Z. Although The Drive recently spent some time around the Z Proto Concept, it’s worth remembering that the ‘Proto’ stands for ‘prototype.’ As in, it’s “a show car with limited functionality,” The Drive reiterates. Therefore, it’s difficult to glean any significant information about the production version.

That being said, the prototype car does hint at a few things. For example, the Z Proto Concept retains the classic Z car three-gauge stack on the dashboard. But unlike the outgoing 370Z, there’s a large center-mounted touchscreen, presumably with a modern infotainment system. And The Drive notes that the Z Proto’s rear tires are wider than the ones on the 370Z Nismo and the Infiniti Q60 Red Sport.

What isn’t clear, though, is precisely how much of the 370Z’s platform carries over to the 400Z. The Z Proto Concept is “likely built on a largely unmodified 370Z platform,” The Drive says, but again, it’s a show car. That being said, MT claims the 400Z retains its predecessor’s chassis. However, that doesn’t things like the suspension, brakes, and engine position couldn’t change.

The 2022 Nissan 400Z has an official reveal date

Luckily, Z enthusiasts won’t have to wait long to learn more. The 2022 Nissan 400Z is scheduled to officially debut on August 17, 2021. It’s unclear, though, how much the COVID-19 pandemic and global supply shortages may have affected the production schedule.

Without driving the production-spec 400Z, it’s impossible to say with any certainty if it’s worth considering or not. However, if its official price falls close to $35K-$40K, it would undercut its biggest rival, the Toyota Supra. In base form, the 255-hp Toyota Supra 2.0 starts at $43,090. As for the 382-hp Supra 3.0, it starts at $51,090. And neither has a manual transmission.

Determining if the 2022 Nissan 400Z is worth waiting for will have to wait until August 17. But if the rumors and leaks are accurate, it just might be.

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