When it was announced that Nissan/Renault was partnering with Daimler-Benz, we didn’t have a clue as to how close this relationship would be. We’re now hearing that it will be quite close, with the two companies planning to extensively share platforms and engines. The first reports from Japan suggested that the next-generation Infiniti G sedan and coupe, as well as future M sedans, will be built on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class platform. Then came more interesting news: how this relationship would affect the 370Z.

There are reports that the Z’s VQ V-6 may start being phased out soon (this engine was introduced in 1995, meaning it’s already 15 years old). Replacing the VQ 3.7-liter V-6 in the Z may be a trio of Mercedes-Benz powerplants.

The likely candidates are the E-Class’s V-6 diesel engine, a V-6 hybrid setup and quite possibly a V-8. If a diesel makes its way into the Z, it will be the 3.0-liter unit from the E350 BlueTEC. This powerplant puts out 211 bhp, making it much less powerful than the gasoline engine in the current Z, but torque is rated at nearly 400 lb.-ft. The hybrid option will most likely be the 3.5-liter V-6 mated with an electric motor—the setup currently in the S400 sedan.

As for the possibility of a V-8-powered Z, we feel that it’s far-fetched at this point, but both Mercedes-Benz’s 5.5-liter and Nissan’s 5.6-liter make sense. If Nissan engineers design the next Z to accommodate one of these potent engines, then the Z will have the power-to-weight chops to take on the Chevrolet Corvette. Nissan can even toy with the idea of fitting Mercedes-Benz’s 500-plus-bhp AMG engine, creating a beast that’ll give the GT-R a run for its money.