The next Z34 Fairlady Z/370Z is shaping up to be one very promising sports car.

It’s been one scoop after the other since the Nissan GT 2012 meeting in May and the upcoming Z34 Fairlady Z (370Z) has to be the most eagerly awaited of the models shown, so much so that Japan’s Best Car magazine have already commissioned their own Z34 mock up made by Mad House! Unbelievable…

There have been a couple of new developments since our last report, the most significant of them being a V8 which could end up powering a high performance version of the Z34 which will be identifiable by a “G-nose” modified front bumper reminiscent of the S30 240Z. The G-nose will add even more 240Z flavor to the Z34 making it a kind of “new retro”, a phrase coined by Best Car to describe the mix of old and new influences.

Best car interviewed Z34 Chief of Production Shinjiro Yukawa last month and he confirmed that a V8 could see the light of day in a special edition model. Yukawa mentioned he wanted to “raise the performance of the new Z” while also acknowledging the Porsche Cayman S as being the Z34’s primary contender when it hits showrooms in December this year. The Z34 will of course be powered by a VQ37HVR engine from the V36 Skyline Coupe as we mentioned in our last update, only this time power is said to be slightly lower at 340ps but with the same 38.5kg/m torque. That shouldn’t matter though as the Z34 is rumored to weigh up to 100kg less than the Z33 350Z which should give it a useful boost in performance over the current model. A 6-speed manual and 7-speed “manual mode” automatic transmissions are still on the agenda.

The suspension is expected to be double wishbones up front with a multi-link rear end with upgraded braking hardware which will include 6 and 4-pot Brembo calipers and larger disks on the Version S and ST models. The basic Fairlady Z will make do with 18 inch wheels and tires while the Version S and ST will get a slightly larger 19 inch wheel and tire package. The interior is one area where there isn’t any information at all at this point… another area which will get more retro influence perhaps?

The styling of the upcoming Z34 is said to enhance the concept and proportions of the Z33 Fairlady Z, with even more pronounced fenders  than its predecessor and adding a roof line and A-pillar treatment similar to that found on the R35 GT-R.  The overall effect is one that resembles the outgoing Z33 but which also blends old and new elements to create an original shape. Best Car has put together some CG images using the leaked photos from the GT 2012 meeting to give us an idea of what to expect.

The price of the Z34 Fairlady Z/370Z is expected to be between 3,700,000 - 4,700,000 yen for the V6 models and over 5,000,000 yen for the G-nose V8 high performance version.

Along with the impending refreshening of Nissan's modern-day Z, the internet has been abuzz for about a year with rumors of a new smaller and less expensive coupe based on the same platform. This rear-wheel-drive coupe would compete against the upcoming Toyota/Subaru sports coupe, which also are also to be driven by the rear wheels. What we haven't expected, though, is an Infiniti version of this 240SX revival. According to rumors, the Nissan version would get a small displacement four-banger while its big brother from Infiniti would get a V6 displacing 2.5 liters.

Inside Line reports that this new entry-level Infiniti will be displayed at an as yet unnamed auto show sometime within the next year. Color us awfully excited at the prospect of RWD coupes from the likes of Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai and now Infiniti, all of which are set for the American market. Affordable performance never goes out of style, even when gas prices are this high.

for example... miata... my 5'7" sister in law almost looks too tall for it... my brother 5'6" looks right at home in there