Nissan Z To Morph Into Sporty Crossover?

Sports cars - at least those at the lower end of the price spectrum - appear to be in trouble if latest reports are to be believed.

According to UK mag Autocar, Nissan's iconic Z-car could be replaced by a high-riding, SUV-ish crossover within the next 18 months, deviating from the low-slung coupe shape that has been the Z car's hallmark since its debut in 1969 as the 240Z.

Autocar cites unnamed sources as saying that the plan to make the next-gen Z a crossover was picked over other plans (a downsized coupe and/or a high-powered sports car) due to the increasing popularity of SUVs.

And, according to the magazine, we could see the first proof of this new direction at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.