In an effort to reduce costs and make prototype racing more accessible, the LMP2 regulations were thoroughly revised ahead of the 2011 season. A maximum price was set for all of the car's major components and additionally it was stipulated that the engine had to be based on a production unit. One of the leading LMP2 chassis and engine manufacturers, Zytek Motorsport stepped up to the new challenge and revised the existing chassis design while also partnering with Nissan Motorsport (Nismo) to develop a new engine.

Dubbed the Z11SN, the new-for-2011 Zytek was clearly a development of the 07S originally introduced in 2007. In fact the first Z11SN actually used the same chassis as one of the existing cars. A conventional Le Mans Prototype, the Z11SN boasts a carbon-fibre monocoque chassis with double wishbone suspension at all four corners. The in-board mounted springs and dampers are actuated by push-rods. The aerodynamics package of the Z11SN was also an evolution of the early Zytek designs.

The engine developed by Zytek and Nismo was based on the V8 also employed by Nismo's GT-R GT1 car. Displacing just under 4.5 litre, it featured an aluminium block and head, complete with twin overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. Breathing through mandatory restrictors, it produced around 460 bhp and 570 Nm of torque. Serving as a semi-stressed member of the chassis, the rumbling V8 was mated to a transverse Ricardo gearbox, equipped with Zytek's proprietary paddle-shift system.