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What Is It?
Most of Nissan’s sales in the U.S. come from its extensive lineup of SUVs, and while these vehicles are great choices, we wouldn’t call them exciting. However, Nissan still has some excitement up its sleeve, and it can be identified with a single letter — Z. Last year the Japan-based automaker premiered the latest version of the time-honored Z sports car, and now five more letters added to the name reveal that performance has been turned up a notch, and those letters are N-I-S-M-O, as in the 2024 Nissan Z NISMO.
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Highest Performance
Since 1984 Nissan has been offering NISMO editions of its vehicles, when it created a new business unit called Nissan Motorsports International Co, LTD — abbreviated to NISMO. Over the last 40 years, the NISMO brand has adorned race cars and production vehicles representing the highest performance in a model lineup. The 2007 Nissan 350Z NISMO was the first Z car to get this high-performance treatment, followed by the 370Z. The 2024 Nissan Z NISMO joins the lineup to accompany the only other NISMO model currently offered — the GT-R NISMO.
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Styling Updates
When Nissan rolled out the seventh-generation Z last year, the company did an excellent job of carrying over styling cues borne of 50 years of Z car design. Up front, LED headlights have a unique half-circle design that the 1970s Japan-market 240ZG inspired, while the taillights have the same basic design as the 1990s 300ZX. Although the rest of the Z lineup continues unchanged, the Z NISMO possesses these design elements but makes some changes that give the more powerful model a sportier look, as well as improved performance.
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Longer Nose
Helping to set the NISMO Z apart from the rest of the lineup, the car’s longer nose extends the hoodline. The grille has been reshaped, which not only looks better than the square grille on the standard Z, but, with its thin honeycomb mesh, improves airflow while reducing drag. Additional aerodynamic improvements come from canards placed ahead of the front wheels, which increase downforce at the wheels. A red trim line surrounds the entire vehicle, further differentiating it from the other Z variants.
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New Spoiler
The 2024 Nissan Z NISMO gets a unique 3-piece rear spoiler that curves around the corners and gives the car a different appearance from the rest of the lineup. Not only stylish, the new spoiler provides downforce at speeds as low as 50 mph while reducing overall drag. An updated rear fascia also helps direct airflow away from the rear bumper for improved aerodynamics.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Model Lineup
Nissan offers the Z in three trim levels: Sport, Performance and the new NISMO. Prices start at $42,210, $52,210, and $64,990, respectively.
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Under the Hood
The Z NISMO uses the same 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine as the rest of the Z lineup; however, this higher-performance variant gets several enhancements. Turbo speed is higher, the air cooling intake is improved, and combustion is optimized thanks to independent ignition/timing control. These updates bring total output to 420 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque, representing an increase of 20 horsepower and 34 lb-ft of torque over the standard engine. While enthusiasts will be excited about the increased performance, they may not be completely happy — Nissan won’t offer the NISMO with a manual gearbox. The manual transmission will continue to be offered on the Sport and Performance trim levels, but the NISMO is available only with a 9-speed automatic transmission.
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Why No Manual?
The ultimate goal behind the NISMO design was to create the fastest production Z at the track, and a manual gearbox is counter to that goal. The 9-speed automatic transmission can shift much quicker than a human, so track times are quicker with the automatic. The 9-speed used in the NISMO has been updated with even quicker shift times, as well as an increased heat capacity to handle a day of pushing the Z around a racetrack.
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Performance Upgrades
In addition to more power, the 2024 Nissan Z NISMO gets several upgrades to bolster track times. Upgrades to the chassis provide a 2.5 percent improvement in torsional rigidity and a 12 percent increase in lateral stiffness, resulting in better overall handling on both road and track. The suspension is tuned with stiffer spring rates, and the front brakes are larger on the NISMO. Finally, the Z NISMO rides on Dunlop SP Sport MAXX GT600 tires mounted on lightweight Gloss Black 19-inch RAYS wheels.
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Inner Space
Nissan also gives the Z NISMO a sporty interior update with Recaro sport seats covered in leather and soft Alcantara. While the seats look great and provide excellent support — especially when hustling the Z around a track — they are rather stiff. Given the choice, we’d prefer softer sport seats found in the other Z variants for a more comfortable overall ride.
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Seeing Red
In addition to the Recaro seats, the Z NISMO gets a sport steering wheel trimmed in leather and Alcantara, replete with a red center mark and red stitching. Both the drive mode selector and start button are presented in anodized red. The digital driver’s display also gets graphics exclusive to the NISMO Z car.
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On the Road
The upgrades that make the Z NISMO a proper track machine also make the car much stiffer than the Z Sport or Performance, and this was noticeable when we took to the streets around Sonoma and Napa, California. On mountain roads with tight turns and switchbacks, the Z NISMO is an absolute blast to drive, with an exciting exhaust note and excellent handling that provided too much confidence for public roads. Unfortunately the ride can be harsh when the pavement isn’t particularly smooth, telegraphing every bump and uneven surface into the cabin, and at highway speeds the road noise is rather loud.
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On the Track
The 2024 NISSAN Z NISMO may be a bit stiff for everyday driving, but the upgrades are more appreciated during time on the track. Nissan took us to Sonoma Raceway to showcase the difference between the Z Performance and Z NISMO. The Z Performance is an excellent track car with admirable power and balance, but the NISMO is quicker.
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Excellent Cornering
The steering of the 2024 Nissan Z NISMO is excellent, and combined with the stiffer chassis and performance tires, the car can quickly change direction without concern, staying planted and flat through corners. With more downforce, sport suspension, and grippier tires, the Z NISMO could likely carry even more speed into turns, thus enabling faster exit speeds.
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Confident Drive
Flying through the S turns on Sonoma Raceway, the Z NISMO Z delivered the confidence needed to continue to increase speed as the day progressed. The car topped out about 10 mph faster than the Z Performance on higher-speed sections — a significant difference on a track. Luckily the brakes provide excellent stopping power with no brake fade, even after several stints around the track.
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Launch!
The 2024 Nissan Z NISMO features launch control for the ultimate acceleration experience. Of course this feature is intended for track use rather than on public roads. Nissan let us test this system on the drag strip at Sonoma Raceway. To activate, simply put your left foot on the brake pedal, pull back both paddle shifters, put the right pedal to the floor, and release the brake. The result is breathtaking as the Z shoots off the line. During out quick intro the Z’s tires squealed in protest until they found grip, but the car remained perfectly composed, even as it passed 110 mph.
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Rating: 8.5
Like other NISMO models that came before it, the new Z NISMO brings plenty of power and performance to this iconic sports car. While we like the original Z styling, the updates to the NISMO are a fine improvement, and the interior styling certainly kicks sportiness up a notch. But without plans to go to the track regularly, most enthusiasts will find the Z Performance to be equally exciting on the road, with the benefit of a more comfortable ride and the option of a manual gearbox. But the Z NISMO will not disappoint in terms of performance. For some it may be worth the higher price of admission to own the highest-performing production Z car on the road.
