Again, LeftLane News holds its ear to the European buzz machine, reporting on a story in an unnamed French magazine that Nissan is working up a 450Z sports coupe — powered by a worked-over version of the 4.5-liter V8 US buyers know from Infiniti's M45/ Q45 / FX45. The new sportster will likely find a spot between the 350Z and the upcoming GT-R in Nissan's line — unless of course Nissan launches the US GT-R as an Infiniti, which we're not betting on. We're assuming that V8 is the "punchier engine" a Nissan product specialist recently told AutoExpress would appear in the new Z car. No word on whether the rumored 2009 launch date is still in play.

Nissan may be readying 450Z to compete with Porsche, Maserati [LeftLane News]

Related:
Updated Nissan 350Z Due in 2009; Targets Porsche Buyers [internal]