After months of spectulation, Nissan has finally given enthusiasts a peek at their next big car, the 370Z. While there have been spyshots (going around the Nurburgring!) floating around the net for a while now, it was clad in camoflauge test car gear and the interior was still a mystery. The two exterior shots show off some of the major changes that were done to the exterior styling. While not too many fans are surprised at the new crazy headlights borrowed from the Nissan Maxima, not too many people expected to see the same design used for the taillights. It looks pretty good though, there are only so many ways to design lamps on a car and at least Nissan is actually doing something very different from previous designs.

Another subtle change is a straight hump on the rear hatch where the third brake light is positioned; one of the main complaints with the previous 350Z’s design was the overwhelming ROUNDNESS of the car and Nissan has taken steps to introduce some hard lines into this car. Check out the roofline as well – instead of forming a gentle curve that goes all the way to the end of the rear hatch, there are some sharper bends at the top – it looks a LOT like the GT-R roofline! The sidestrake area of the car has been spruced up as well, it now forms a smooth curve towards the inside of the car instead of just ending straight downward.

The interior seems like a big deal in the 370Z, check out the third concept shot. No word yet on trim levels for the Z but I’d guess that this model is the most expensive you can buy; it has leather seats, suede door paneling, electric seat positioning, navigation, and Brembo brake calipers. It may just be a trick of the photograph but the interior just looks extremely inviting; it would be a pleasure to take a long roadtrip sitting in those seats.It is missing one crucial feature though – the passenger’s “Oh Sh** Bar”, what will they grab on to while the car is being driven like it is supposed to?

Traditional triple gauge set on top of the dashboard have been included again (crucial “Z” feature). One of the main three gauges has been changed to an all digital form; the way its laid out probably has the center and left gauges displaying road and engine speed while the digital one on the left displays everything else (very efficient!).

More importantly, kudos to Nissan for bucking the trend of making increasingly heavier cars. The new 370Z will be 200 LBS lighter than the previous generation, with MORE hp and torque. While I have yet to see any solid times posted up, it has been spotted testing at the Nurburgring which is like the new 0-60MPH time for car manufacturers.

Stay tuned for some real pictures of the car as it is unveiled!