We don't know why Nissan didn't offer the third pedal from the beginning, but we're glad it's here now.
Automakers sometimes seem to be playing by a different set of rules. It's possible that this was in Nissan's playbook all along, but the 2027 Z Nismo answers a question many of us had since this turned-up version of the sports car came out a couple of years ago: Where's the manual transmission?
Thankfully, Nissan found it and, in doing so, has turned the Z Nismo into a far better car. There is a whole array of upgrades to the Nismo this year beyond the addition of a clutch and shifter, but this is the standout highlight, turning this into the best and most put-together version of the new Z. While thewas a solid improvement over the regular car, with better suspension, braking, and tires, the nine-speed automatic was a letdown.
, and suspension tweaks help transform the Nismo Z from a car that reluctantly goes around the track to one that relishes being chucked into the high-speed esses on the back half of Sonoma.
Nissan does a swell job of making sure the interior is up to the task, with sculpted bucket seats holding me tight against cornering loads. These are manually adjusted—saving weight—and positioned to give a far lower hip point than the standard Z's electric seats. I didn't care for the partial-suede steering wheel , though it certainly looks the part inside the black and red cabin.
One big quality-of-life update Nissan made for 2027, outside of performance, is a magnetic wireless phone charger in the center console; my phone stuck to it no matter how hard I was driving. Another track-focused detail change: revised chambering in the gas tank, to prevent fuel starvation under sustained g-loadings. The one part of this equation we're still missing is a price for the manual Z. The 2026 automatic came in at $67,045.
Presuming it comes in around $70,000, it's tough to see the manual Nismo having the same wide appeal as alternatives such as the Ford Mustang Dark Horse or the. And yes, this car is right in the ballpark of a base M2 these days. But now it's even more tempting for the Nissan and Nismo enthusiast.
I didn't get to drive it on the road, but it's undoubtedly going to be far more engaging and livelier in day-to-day driving with the manual. But buyers should definitely take the manual Nismo to the track. It's ready to play right out of the box.
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