We here at TopSpeed like to think we’re pretty patient. Usually. Sometimes? Look, the point is we’re just about fed up waiting for the new Z car, what with the relatively ancient 370Z model and all its ho-hum special editions Nissan has been dishing out lately. Luckily, it sounds like Nissan heard our cry for something fresh, as it was recently revealed by one of the automaker’s lead designers that a new Z is indeed in development. Like, right now.

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This latest bit of uplifting news comes courtesy of our Australian friends at WhichCar.au, who spoke to Alfonso Albaisa, Nissan’s current head of styling.

According to Albaisa, Nissan is gearing up to release a new Z car prototype very soon indeed. This is the first time a Nissan official has commented on the long-awaited replacement for the 370Z.

Albaisa’s previous work at Nissan and Infiniti includes a host of concepts and show cars, such as the retro-tastic Prototype 9 that showed at the Pebble Concours d’Elegance last year, a design we loved by the way, as well as the more recent and more production-friendly Q Inspiration concept.

But even though the man clearly has some impressive design chops, he’s fully aware of the gravity of the task at hand.

As for the mechanical bits, that’s all still very much up in the air, but the latest is that Nissan might pull from Mercedes when it comes to the powertrain stuff, sourcing a 2.0-liter four-cylinder for motivation. Nissan might also carry over a 3.0-liter V-6 from Infiniti. Output could range as high as 400 ponies, and hybrid power might be on the table as well.

We can’t wait to see what’s in store. Luckily, we have just over a year before we get the next Z prototype, which is expected to drop in October of 2019 at the Tokyo Motor Show. And not a moment too soon, considering the Z’s 50th anniversary is quickly approaching following the original Fairlady 240Z’s debut in 1969.

Further Reading

Read our full speculative review on the next Nissan Z.

Read our full review on the 2017 Nissan 370Z.

Read more Nissan news.