UPDATE: 2026/06/14 16:00 EST BY SEAN MCMANUS
Nissan Z Nismo Specs and Driving Characteristics
Added a section pertaining to what the Z Nismo has to offer and how it handles.
When Toyota killed the GR Supra in March 2026, it left exactly one manual, twin turbo sports car for under $50k in America. Nissan just announced they’re doubling that number.
Alright, Nissan, you have my attention. In case you missed it, Nissan launched the Z Nismo with an automatic gearbox only. This seemed like a tragedy to many, and instead of ignoring the problem, Nissan listened to its customers.
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While on the one hand, it’s leveraging partnerships with Mitsubishi for new models and looking to partner with other automakers, on the other, it’s taking a page from Toyota’s playbook and investing heavily in enthusiasts again. Nissan plans to double its range of Nismo models in the next few years from five to ten products globally, and reports suggest a return of the Nissan Skyline GT-R in the form of a RWD sports sedan with twin-turbo power and a manual transmission. That sedan might arrive in the US as the rumored Infiniti sports sedan.
How Nissan Is Capitalizing On The Death Of Two Manual Rivals
2020 – 2025 Toyota GR Supra front 3/4 angle in blue while drivingToyota
Manual sports cars are somewhat of a dying breed, especially in this segment where the balance of power and performance often means an automatic is an easier fit. Demand at this price point ($40k+) also leans heavily towards the automatic side of things, at least compared to the affordable Miata/GR86 segment where the manual is still king. But there aren’t many manual offerings around. The Toyota GR Supra was one of the few, and Toyota left it late in the game to introduce the manual there. It was joined shortly thereafter by a manual version of the BMW Z4 – its shared-platform cousin – and the two of them, along with the base Nissan Z, were three of the only manual, RWD sports cars around.
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But the GR Supra and Z4 ended production in March 2026, a deadline that was extended into the new calendar year only because of demand from the US market. And with those two vehicles leaving the market, Nissan stands to capitalize with a broader range of manual models that will now include the Z Nismo.
2026 BMW Z4 M40i Final Edition ExteriorBMW
It’s difficult to find breakdown of manual vs automatic sales figures for the BMW Z4, but the GR Supra sold more manuals in 2024 than it did automatics. The 2025 figures aren’t in yet, but I suspect early demand for the manual may see that figure drop slightly. Still, that’s a significant enough group of buyers for Nissan to cash in on.
Nissan Z’s Dominance Will Only Improve
The Z has been a success story for Nissan in the US since its launch, and while it may have been criticized early on for its old bones and inherited twin-turbo V6, that hasn’t stopped it from overtaking the Supra as America’s turbocharged Japanese sports car of choice. it being America’s most affordable 400-hp sports car probably helps, too.
Nissan Z US Sales vs Rivals
2023
2024
2025
Nissan Z
1,771
3,164
5,487
Toyota Supra
2,652
2,615
2,953
BMW Z4
1,883
2,129
2,113
At the end of 2025, the Z nearly doubled the market share of the Supra. With roughly 3,000 manual sports car buyers left without options after the Supra’s death, Nissan’s Z Nismo could capture an additional 40–60% market share in 2026.
Why Did The Manual Take So Long?
2025 Nissan Z NismoIan Wright/CarBuzz/Valnet
Given the stats about manual sales for the GR Supra, one has to wonder why Nissan took this long, especially when there was already a manual in the regular Z. The official line from Nissan was that it was unclear whether there was enough demand. But there’s also the possibility that the manual couldn’t comfortably handle the extra 34 lb-ft of torque on offer in Nismo form. We’ve seen this issue curtail our manual hopes and dreams in other performance cars, with the most recent example being the BMW M2 CS.
Whatever the reasons for not giving the Z Nismo a manual, clearly, something has changed.
The Supra’s sales have likely been some indication, and we’re pretty sure fans have made their thoughts clear, too. But maybe there’s more at play. While the consensus is that the normal Z’s manual will be adopted here, it’s worth remembering that the 6-speed unit in use there is… old. It dates back several generations and is technically an advancement of the transmission from the 370Z. And it suffered the same frailties as it did in the 370Z, with crunchy first-second shifts even when nursing it. As much as it pains me to say it, the Z Nismo didn’t need a lackluster ‘box like that.
Nissan Z Nismo Specs and Drive Characteristics
2025 Nissan Z Nismo exterior detail shot of a rear wheelIan Wright/CarBuzz/Valnet
2026 Nissan Z Nismo Engine Specification And Performance
Engine
Nismo-tuned 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6
Horsepower
420 hp
Torque
384 lb-ft
0-60
3.9* seconds
Top Speed
165* mph
MPG
17/24/19 city/highway/combined
The Z Nismo was always intended to rival the MK V Supra, but with the Supra out of the way, it should see an even larger sales increase. That said, even if the Supra was still available, Nissan makes a good case for itself. It’s a fair bit more expensive than the standard variants, though; a base model Z starts at $42,970, while the Nismo tops the charts at $65,750.
Our road tester found the base model to be a great daily driver, but its suspension is too soft to make it a perfect canyon carver of track weapon. Nismo fixed that by stiffening the suspension to keep the chassis flat against the road no matter how you toss it around. In fact, our road tester found the suspension to be so stiff that it became uncomfortable after a few hours.
“Now, it feels like the power is absolutely everywhere all the time, and gear shifts are lightning quick. The Nismo Z isn’t crazy fast in 2025, but it’s plenty fast – and the power is usable. It also sounds fantastic, which is unusual for a V6. The Nismo loses some of the sound insulation, and the exhaust is ever so keen to let you know what the engine doing with a large degree of throatiness that leads to a satisfying roar when wound out.”
– Ian Wright, Senior Road Tester, CarBuzz (2025 Nissan Z Nismo Drive Review)
Hopeful For Changes To Make It More Special
2026 Nissan Fairlady Z NismoNissan
I’m hoping Nissan’s updated that transmission for duty here, not just to fix the shift quality, but to handle the extra torque. Nothing would upset fans more than neutering the Z Nismo with less torque just to give it a manual that isn’t all that great. Nissan would, of course, need to justify the expense of an upgrade, but that might be a little easier to do now that we know of its plans for other models.
There’d be no point investing that much just for the Z, which is sold in only a handful of markets globally. Toyota was able to invest in a manual for the Supra because it was, fundamentally, the same transmission used in a variety of BMWs including the M2, M3, and M4. Economies of scale made it possible.
2026 Nissan Fairlady Z NismoNissan
For Nissan, those economies of scale would come from launching more manual, RWD vehicles. I already mentioned the incoming GT-R reboot and accompanying Infiniti counterpart, which is slated to use the Z Nismo’s twin-turbo V6; those could be the models that have justified the investment in upgrades, and by sharing these costs across three models, Nissan can reduce overall investment and give fans what they want.
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Sources: Toyota, Nissan, BMW
