Small Nissan Prototype : Next Z? New Urge?

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A new prototype has shown up at Nissan’s facilities at Germany’s Nürburgring. The mule utilizes the body of a 350Z, but it has been altered considerably suggesting that it’s an early mule for an new model. Our sources on the ground in Germany report that the car looks like it has a shortened wheelbase, and there are some riveted sections in the roof that seem to support that observation. It appears that the roof line of this mule has been cut and shortened.

This prototype has surfaced just days after a story broke in AutoCar (http://autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/225906/ ) which claims that Nissan has begun development of a new rear-wheel-drive sport coupe using the Urge concept car as its inspiration. This mule could be the first evidence that something like the Urge is heading toward to production. Whatever this mule represents, it was running with a Porsche Cayman, so Nissan is engaging in some lofty benchmarking for this car’s driving dynamics. Given that the Cayman is an obvious competitor for the 350Z, we have to leave open the possibility that this is an early prototype for the next-gen Z-car, but this mule’s altered proportions suggest something different. If this a mule for the Nissan Urge, then budget-minded enthusiasts should have another enticing buying option in a couple years.

As this car hits the track in Germany, we’ll be working to gather more information.
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...I still have my fingers crossed that we see something like the Urge come into production, be it a full-bodied, smaller Z-car, or a stripped-down racer. Small RWD cars seem to be a trend that is emerging at many of the automakers, and if Nissan can get on it, thats early money before anyone else can get it.
 
A smaller, lighter, and possibly cheaper Nissan coupe in the works? Sounds brilliant to me.
 
Same here, this is definetly the way to be heading, FR's are coming back into the market bigger than ever now. And as you have said that's money in the bank for Nissan if they can get this thing out quick enough.

My one thing is that I hope they change a lot more, I don't think it should resemble the 350Z in any way, none of the other Z's do, so this one shouldn't either.
 
It could just be me or the angle, but that car looks significantly bigger than the other Zs in the 4th pic. I would say it looked like a GTR mule, but it's a little late for that. It could be a Z, or something completely different. That's my take on it.
 
Cool car,but the test mule is nothing compared to the Nissan Urge.But its still in development.If this was a FR,there will be more people buying the car if Nissan sells the Nissan Urge faster than the other competitors.and since its a FR you know what that means....

FR=Drift, MORE FR cars=MORE Drift cars

Lots of sideways action on the streets.I wonder if there is still a FR keicar like Suzuki Cappuccino in production........
 
mnm_bmx
Lots of sideways action on the streets.
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My god I hope not, if I see anyone doing that I'll be making a note of their number plate and reporting them straight away.
 
Perhaps the S16? Though what powerplant it would have is not something I'm sure of. Turbo charged version of the engine in the current Sentra SE-R perhaps? The Urge concept was awesome but completely a concept, this hopefully will lead to the Urge's idea of cheap, fun, RWD goodness.

@Philly, its the angle. Look carefully at the length of the side windows though and you'll see... quite abit shorter on the black test mule than on the other Zs.
 
philly cheese
It could just be me or the angle, but that car looks significantly bigger than the other Zs in the 4th pic. I would say it looked like a GTR mule, but it's a little late for that. It could be a Z, or something completely different. That's my take on it.
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No not really, if you compare it to the red Z, the weird shaped hood makes it only a little taller, but compared to the black one it looks a lot bigger.. weird just a sketchy angle i guess.
 
I think the black mule looks taller because they've cut out a section of the roof and doors (you can see the joint lines) giving it a sharper angle than the regular 350Z roof line.

There's certainly space for a small coupe to fit below the 350Z, Nissan has bumped up the power of the 350Z a few times now and given the price they are asking for a Z (here in australia anyway), a smaller cheaper coupe would probably appeal to a different market. Its not like Nissan haven't sold a range of different RWD coupes at the same time, in the 90's they has Silvia, 300ZX, Skyline, 180sx all at once.

The old s15 was very popular over here, low mileage, 2nd hand cars are still selling at pretty decent prices even though the car has been out of production for a while. I'd love to see something similar come back.
 
I hope the Silvia makes a comeback. Maybe with all of the success of these stupid ricer drifter movies now they will actually contribute something positive--like the resurrection of the Silvia.
 
Ye Gods, can 't we have a discussion of rear-drive Nissans without mention of the word "drift"? :eek:

I think the possibility of this signaling a follow up to the "Urge", in the form of a new Silvia, is very, very good. A turbocharged QR might be out of the question, unless the next generation of that block proves stronger... but maybe they can do something with the new 2.0 they have in the Sentra?

Or, even more enticing, what about a 2.0 or a 2.3 V6... with turbocharged versions bumping those 160 hp lumps to about 200 - 250? That would leave plenty of room for the VQ35DE powered 350Z above this car, and it would give it a killer engine note... :D
 
The exhausts and wheels look to be larger than the standard 350Z, so a lesser model seems unlikely. Perhaps with the similar sized Skyline (to the standard 350Z) coming out soon, maybe this is a slightly smaller replacement for the 350Z?
 
My guesses...

A: raw trackday car: Urge - too...Niche...
B: Smaller Fairlady Z: Return to the S30? - A bit more likely...I'll take mine in blue, black 8-spokes...
C: Return of the Silvia: S16 - Even more likely. I say bring it over here!
D: Miata Competitor: Solstice spurred - Also very likely. Why shouldn't Nissan try to get a piece of the Mazda/Pontiac/Honda pie?
 
A rear-wheel drive small car? For most people, it's about time that there's an affordable RWD car so that we don't have to fiddle around with an FWD "econo box." Take it from a guy who's never been a Nissan die-hard: this could be something big. The way I last remember the Urge, it was something like what's featured in this link from the 2006 Detroit (North American International A.S.) Auto Show: < http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_shows/naias_2006/0602_nissan_urge_concept/ >. I'd like to try to go by the test mule in this thread along with the Urge from last year's North American International Auto Show. I can envision what this Urge deal could like if it took on the kind of bodystyle for the 350Z. If they are going for a sort of roadster, I'd have to imagine that they'd be going up against rival Japanese cars like the Honda S2000 and the Mazda MX-5 Miata. I am hopeful that the finished product would be like holding up a beautiful newborn baby- a thing of beauty for the world to see.

I'd like to see how this thing would develop going on this test mule and the Urge from last year's Detroit show.
 
For those who don't remember:

nissan-urge-concept-2006.jpg


That would be the Urge...

There is a new rendering floating around of the new Z, but the link to the page isn't working for me.
 
That rear slant along with the rear spoiler produces a very ski-slope look at the rear.

Would be very interesting, but considering the Nissan was quite a muscular looking car it will be vital that the mini Z doesn't look too cutesy e.g. mx-5, Daihatsu Copen
 
Jim Prower
My guesses...

C: Return of the Silvia: S16 - Even more likely. I say bring it over here!
D: Miata Competitor: Solstice spurred - Also very likely. Why shouldn't Nissan try to get a piece of the Mazda/Pontiac/Honda pie?
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They could do both with basically the same car, one fixed roof one folding roof with both available with a turbo & non turbo engine (or maybe a high and low spec NA engine).

I wonder how long we'll have to wait before we find out the real story.
 
I think this car will also be the base for a new Alpine (Renault). Interesting to know what engines they are going to use, because there are hardly any affordable little FR sportscars available at the moment.
 
Being an S30 owner, I belong to several Z-specific forums. The Z-car community had a lot of criticism for the current car on it's arrival. Too big and heavy, and too pricey. (everybody wanted the rb26 too) The original 240Z was an awesome value for the money in it's day and that contributed greatly to it's success. The 350Z has sold just OK. It's not a car that twenty-somethings can snap up by the hordes like the original. In fact, for the price of a 350Z, there's a lot of nice options out there for enthusiast dollars. Maybe Nissan's finally been listening.
 
The Mustang GT comes to mind as a good option... But thats only if you're crazy like me.

I'm sure they're feeling a bit of pressure to move it down market. The "need" if you will for small, RWD cars is definitely back amongst the younger drivers looking for a more performance oriented vehicle, and the new car would certainly fit the bill. That being said, they're going to be diving into a crowded category in the near future. All of the Americans will be fielding an entry within the next year or so, and at least in the case of GM, will be moving a bit smaller, presumably with I4 and V6 options in the new Alpha cars (replacing the G6 and the BLS).
 
New photo, new mystery mule:



Apparently this Z (now rumored to be called the "400Z") is a bit wider than stock.

But the big question is, what the hell is that thing behind it?
 
What the crap are those two doing together?

I think a light, simple new Silvia is definitely possible with a new RWD platform, and if you're searching for an engine, there's the Megane's turbo 2.0L. It's already at 230hp and one can only assume the Z will be getting the 3.7L update soon, so there's lots of room under it. Bring it over here and sell it for a fair chunk under the Z and I don't see why it wouldn't be a hit!
 
That picture is so awesome! two test mules that might be competing against each other in the near future have been caught together! Now that I think of it, I'll give someone $100 in e-money:sly: if they can get a photo of the new Ford Falcon and a certain silver right hand drive Holden Commodore together in the same picture! The two have been seen testing in Detroit recently, So I't quite sweet to see the two together in the same picture.
 
very funny Jim P., Wangan Midnight often?
I think they wont sell an uber cheap car, what would happen to the Z then? It would be forgotten...
But they might make a more roadster-type car, but almost underpowered, so people will have to choose, power or handling. It seems like a great marketing approach, but it wont be a cheap, low(or high) power car either.
 

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