Spied: Nissan 370Z

These are the first spy pictures of the Nissan 370Z, due to be unveiled next month at the Los Angeles motor show.

The successor to the 350Z was caught testing by our spies in Germany, and shows the complete look of the new car thanks to the low levels of disguise. The Nissan 370Z is shorter and wider than the 350Z it replaces, but maintains the coupe’s distinctive styling and vertical door handles, although they’re much smaller.

The car gets a version on Nissan’s 3.7-litre V6, as used in the Infiniti’s European models. That means the 370Z will have at least 326bhp, a substantial improvement over the 309bhp of the 350Z.

The 370Z’s shorter and broader stance has created a more aggressive look. It keeps the split twin exhaust but looks to have more pronounced rear haunches, emphasising its increased power and agility.

The 370Z will get a significantly improved interior, bringing it more into line with the sector and its competitors. A diesel version is expected later in the cars lifecycle to challenge Audi’s sporty TT oil-burner.

Customers will get the choice of a six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed automatic with paddle-shift controls when the 370Z goes on sale in the UK in the first half of 2009.

George Barrow