The Nissan Z Proto is finally here, except, it isn't

After several weeks of build-up and speculation-building teasers, the Nissan Z-Proto has finally been fully unveiled.

Last night's online unveiling is still only of a car in concept guise, but there's nothing about it that couldn't be repeated in a full production model.

As hinted in the moody silhouettes we've been drip fed over the last few weeks, the styling leans heavily on the Z-Car past, this Z-Proto very much looking like a 270Z for the 21st century.

Nissan have really ticked all the enthusiast boxes. Manual gearbox, rear-wheel-drive, twin-turbo, six-cylinder engine. They've even bucked some modern trends that not everyone is necessarily keen on. The centre console has actual knobs, dials and buttons; and what's that, an actual, physical hand-brake?!

Nissan hasn't gone into specifics about the Z-Proto's performance figures, merely stating, "each new Zed generation had a more powerful engine". With the outgoing 370Z topping out at 350bhp and this car believed to be sharing it's V6 with the Infiniti Q60, a number beginning with a four is all but guaranteed.

It all sounds too good to be true, and well, it kind of is actually. The Z-Proto, when it goes into production, will not be offered in Europe. Sad-Face Emoji.

The new coupe will be sold in Asia and the Americas only. Nissan's reasoning for not bringing the car to Europe being, "A shrinking European sports cars market and specific regulations on emissions mean that Nissan was unable to build a viable business case for the introduction of the production version of the next generation Z-car in Europe."

You can see the roadblock Nissan has come across, but to rub salt on the wounds, they continued. "In Europe, Nissan's priorities remain on its commitment to renew its crossover line-up and accelerate its range electrification strategy."

So if you thought Qashqais, Jukes and Leafs were a common sight on Irish and British roads, expect to see more of the same ilk moving forward.

Let's try find some positives. Japan is a RHD market let's remember. This is an enthusiast car, if someone really want to get one over here, it won't be impossible. There are some very reputable companies who import cars from the The Land of the Rising Sun regularly. Sure, it will cost you, but a sports car is always going to be a play-thing, so if you want it, you got to earn it.

If enough people start doing it, hey, maybe Nissan might be persuaded to change their tune and make it official. We can live in hope.