Nissan has just announced that the next-generation NISMO version of the Z will finally be offered with a manual gearbox—a piece of news that enthusiasts have long been waiting for.
The new-generation Nissan Z has enjoyed massive success since its arrival on the market. The automaker went all out, delivering a modern, sleek design, cutting-edge technology, and a high-quality interior finish—something the 370Z sorely lacked. In short, the Z quickly established itself as one of the most compelling sports cars of our time.
Although less popular these days, one of the main reasons behind its success is the fact that the Japanese sports car is available with a manual transmission. However, this feature is only offered on the standard version of the Nissan Z. As for the NISMO, it has so far only been paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. Admittedly, this gearbox is incredibly efficient, but nothing beats the thrill of shifting gears yourself in a performance vehicle.
The Ultimate Sports Car Experience
In its standard version, the Nissan Z is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine. It produces 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque—already very impressive. On top of that, buyers can choose between a 6-speed manual transmission or a 9-speed automatic, with power sent to the rear wheels in both cases. The NISMO version uses essentially the same engine, but thanks to a few tweaks, engineers have managed to extract 420 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque, making it even faster. The NISMO also benefits from several technical upgrades that make its handling sharper and more agile.
The only drawback with the Nissan Z NISMO so far has been that it’s only offered with the 9-speed automatic. Fortunately, that’s about to change, as Nissan’s ultimate sports car will receive a manual transmission for the 2027 model year. It’s expected to be the same 6-speed unit available in the regular Z.
In my opinion, this addition is likely to make the NISMO version more desirable and popular than ever.
Jean-Sébastien Poudrier
