The 2027 Nissan Z NISMO now has the six-speed manual enthusiasts demanded.
Sometimes logic flies in the face of emotion. It dictates that the specialized, track-focused version of a sports car should eliminate all features that might slow it down, right?
Yes, unless the slowing-down thing is a clutch and a stick shift. Fans of the brand got downright emotional when the 2024NISMO launched with but two pedals. Now, having spent two-plus years toughening up the FS6R31A gearbox that’s been available in Sport and Performance models all along, that error of omission is corrected.
We visited California’s Sonoma Raceway, where we first experienced theBasically, that six-speed gets a new physical stick with a different pivot point that shortens the throw and enhances the mechanical feel somewhat. The clutch pressure plate is stronger, as are the mounting points on the case, all in the name of withstanding the torquier engine.models to get a sense of the baseline performance the NISMO aims to improve upon.
Swapping directly into the NISMO, the most noticeable differences are the vastly improved Recaro seats and the shifter. Simply flicking it through the gears while standing still, it feels noticeably more positive in its engagements. Out on the track, within the first lap the Z NISMO demonstrated greater ease closing the gap with the racing pro in the lead car after each corner.
This illustrates the benefit of the fatter torque curve, as 20 horsepower alone—a 5 percent boost—wouldn’t be as noticeable. The car’s braking is another conspicuous upgrade. The pedal feels slightly firmer, but the bigger difference is that it doesn’t degrade toward the end of the session . After several hard laps, the Performance model’s brakes felt spongier and were beginning to complain audibly.
Big ups to the new GT-R-esque two-piece composite rotors being chomped by carryover Akebono four-piston calipers and high-performance pads. At the pace we ran, Sonoma Raceway only affords a few 3–4 and 4–3 shifts per lap, but even these were more satisfying with the upgraded shifter, and we welcomed the rev-matching feature as a slight workload-reduction measure that helps smooth each lap.
We ran our first few hot laps with the chassis in Standard mode. Indeed, the retuned dampers absorbed the curbing chatter and compression events more comfortably while heaving enough on the pavement swells to prompt a mode switch. No surprise, all that goes away in Sport. Suddenly, correcting minor missteps on corner entries or exits involves considerably less body motion and drama than in Standard mode.
Is the stick fun to blast around a track with? You betcha. Is it faster than the automatic? No freaking way.
What percentage of all the miles racked up on all the Z’s produced will be on a track contending for lap times and series points? Dunno, but there’s probably going to be a lot of zeroes after the dot. We dig theand applaud Nissan for sticking with its utterly impractical two-seaters.
We had such fun that we tried convincing the product planners on site that what we enthusiastswant is a twin-clutch transmission, hoping that might earn us an invite back in two or three years from now. The 2027 Z NISMO goes on sale in July. Will the six-speed cost more, less, or the same? We don’t yet know, but for the fans who’ve been pining to row their own gears, it probably doesn’t matter much.
Get the newest car reviews, hottest auto news, and expert analysis of the latest trends delivered straight to your inbox! I started critiquing cars at age 5 by bumming rides home from church in other parishioners’ new cars. At 16 I started running parts for an Oldsmobile dealership and got hooked on the car biz.
Engineering seemed the best way to make a living in it, so with two mechanical engineering degrees I joined Chrysler to work on the Neon, LH cars, and 2nd-gen minivans. Then a friend mentioned an opening for a technical editor at another car magazine, and I did the car-biz equivalent of running off to join the circus. I loved that job too until the phone rang again with what turned out to be an even better opportunity with Motor Trend.
It’s nearly impossible to imagine an even better job, but I still answer the phone…
Please follow us on Google to support us United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Michael Jordan’s Most Popular Air Jordan Is Getting a New International Makeover in 2027Nike, Inc.'s Jordan Brand is giving Michael Jordan's beloved Air Jordan 4 a regional-exclusive 'Berlin' makeover in 2027. Find release info here.
Read more »
Much-Needed PS5 Port of Popular Life Sim Delayed, Now Expected in 2027This game shocked fans with its PC requirements at launch, leaving many waiting to play on console. Now, the PS5 version has been delayed.
Read more »
Duke Basketball Gem Banchero Joins Scheyer to Watch Top-Ranked 2027 PGThe Duke basketball recruiting team is now hard at work eyeing talents in grassroots action.
Read more »
Nissan Gives Us What We Want: A Manual Transmission for the Z NISMO (Driven)The Toyota Supra is dead, but the manual Z NISMO fills the void with two seats and 420 horsepower.
Read more »