Nissan to Cross Over with Next Z?

Nissan Motor Co.'s next "Z" model will be a sporty compact crossover, Autocar reports. Unnamed sources tell the British magazine Nissan will unveil a concept version of the vehicle at an upcoming auto show possibly next month in Frankfurt and launch sales in about 18 months.

Company officials previously have hinted that the next Z-badged vehicle will take the sub-brand in a new direction when the current 370Z is phased out in 2017. Chief creative officer Shiro Nakamura noted that the GT-R supercar will remain Nissan's high-performance image model and indicated the Z needs to be transformed into a more affordable, mass-market vehicle.

After mulling several alternatives ranging from a small four-cylinder car to a high-output sports car, Nissan opted for a sporty crossover, according to Autocar. The new model will be built on Renault-Nissan's CMF-B platform that also will carry Nissan's next-generation Juke crossover and Micra small car, the magazine says.

The Z crossover likely will be about the same size as the Juke, Autocar says, but its styling will be more in line with the larger Qashqai crossover. The new Z also is expected to get an angular roofline that reduces headroom for rear passengers.

Still to be decided is whether the body style will be a two- or four-door configuration. The base powertrain likely will be a small displacement turbocharged engine. Nismo performance packages and hybrid variants also are said to be under consideration.