Most car manufacturers plunder their heritage (if it's any good, that is), so in recognition that it has a modern classic on its hands, Nissan has well and truly plundered the GT-R with this, the new 370Z.

Due to make its debut at the Los Angeles Motor Show on November 19th, the latest Z coupé is a very obvious nod to Nissan's flagship supercar baiter. And why not, we say, because it looks pretty hot.

It's still unmistakeably a Z car, but details like the angular side glass, sloping roof and massive flared arches all hint at the big boss in the family in a "my dad's harder than your dad" sort of way.

You'll notice it's no longer called the 350Z too, which is for the fairly obvious reason that the engine has changed to, you've guessed it, a 3.7-litre unit. It's the same V6 engine found in the Infiniti G37 coupé, in which it develops 320bhp - good for a sub six second 0-62mph sprint. There's no official word yet, but expect some minor fettling to unleash a few extra horses, probably by way of a remapped ECU and uprated exhaust. The rear-wheel drive configuration will remain.

The 370Z will hit showrooms early next year, with prices starting at around £28,000, and as with the 350Z a convertible version will follow.

Mark Nichol - 29 Oct 2008