Complaining is part of the job.
Even when a car nails it, you look for cracks. When the Z-NISMO debuted a couple years ago, I would’ve had words for Nissan. An automatic-only flagship? Really?
It felt like a step back to the ’80s.
I would’ve pointed at Toyota, too.
Their Supra gave you a stick shift while Nissan held yours hostage.
A valid burn, sure.
Then life threw a curveball.
Nissan put the six-speed manual in the 2027 model.
Toyota killed the manual entirely. They’re killing the whole car.
2026 was it.
Irony tastes like gasoline and rubber.
So I went to Sonoma.
To find out if this new configuration has a soul. Or just flaws.
The Changes Aren’t Just Cosmetic
The whole 2027 lineup got a face lift.
Less rectangular grille.
Wider at the bottom. Nostalgic nod to the original 240z. The hood badge dropped the wordmark. Just a Z. Clean. Simple.
Under the sheet metal, though, it’s different.
Damper tubes got thicker. Nissan says it’s for handling precision. Not ride comfort.
You’re trading bumps for control.
The Performance trim arrives in two-tone Shinkai Green with tan leather. British Racing Green vibes.
But let’s talk NISMO hardware. That’s where the story is.
The Stick Shift Wasn’t Bolt-On Easy
People assume a manual transmission is a bolt-on afterthought.
It isn’t here.
The NISMO squeezes out more juice than its siblings—420 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque compared to the base 400 hp/350 lb-ft.
You can’t just swap gearboxes.
The mounts were reinforced. The clutch needed a high-capacity pressure plate to handle the power. The shifter throw was shortened.
Engineers rewrote the throttle maps.
Changed ignition timing.
It’s a lot of invisible work to keep a warranty valid.
Brakes got a GT-R transplant. Specifically, the front rotors from the R35.
Fifteen-inch two-piece design.
Iron and aluminum.
Nineteen pounds lighter than the old ones.
Nissan had to retune the suspension and steering to handle the lower unsprung weight.
They didn’t leave well enough alone.
Fuel starvation? Gone.
The gas tank got better baffling.
No more stalling when you hit a corner with low fuel and high Gs.
At Sonoma, you hit corners that demand everything.
Sonoma Has No Runoff
Sonoma is old.
1968 old.
Built before the concept of a runoff area existed.
There is no soft dirt out here. Just white concrete walls.
Rubber and paint decorate every exit. Like abstract art.
Terrifying if you prefer survival over speed.
First Lap: Performance Trim
I started in the non-NISMO. The Performance.
A pro driver showed me the line.
Quick realization. This car wants your attention. It doesn’t forgive mistakes.
The Bridgestone tires get greasy fast once they heat up.
They squeal. Then the rear end squirms.
Benign, yes.
But you can’t run it hard on repeated laps. It tires too fast.
I shifted my brain. Then I shifted gears.
Into The NISMO
The difference in grip was immediate.
In the Carousel—turns 4 through 6—is a long, downhill slide.
You hang there waiting for apex.
I drove it at the speed I used for the Performance car.
Something felt wrong.
The silence.
I couldn’t hear the tires screaming.
That means I wasn’t near the limit.
The Dunlop tires hold on much longer. They do yowls later, harder.
Wider rear tires too.
285s on Rays forged wheels.
Felt like driving a different machine.
More planted.
More honest.
Stability control matters.
There are four modes. I stayed in Sport.
Turning it all off? Tempting. Dangerous, probably. With those walls? I kept an eye on the tail. Water on track makes things slide. Even in Sport mode, it wants to wag. Just enervating.
Not scary. Exciting.
Why The Automatic Felt Pointless
Who would buy the auto?
I genuinely wonder.
Nissan plans to build mostly manuals first. See what sticks.
I bet they’ll follow the Porsche GT3 playbook.
Stick shifts become the cult favorite.
On track, the VR30 engine torque is massive.
I used automated rev-matching. Felt great.
Downshifting for Turn 11 was almost optional. You can run the track in third and fourth if you’re lazy.
Or if you want to save your leg.
Why downshift if you don’t have to?
But you do it for fun.
Lap times be damned.
The short-shift mod?
Meh.
I didn’t love it.
The standard throw was already good. Not like stirring oatmeal. But it feels sportier. Purposeful. Doesn’t actually shave off milliseconds. Just feels faster.
Brakes Held Up. Mostly
Smoke came off the front pads after one stint.
No fade. None.
For real track work? You’ll want upgraded pads.
Easy swap though.
The rotors did their job.
Price And The Green
Summer release.
No price tag yet.
But check the 2026 model. $67,045 starting MSRP.
Expensive for a Nissan.
Fair for a twin-turbo, manual, rear-wheel drive two-seater?
Absolutely.
It’s a special formula. One that Toyota stopped making.
Perfection isn’t here.
Complaints remain.
Like that killer Shinkai Green.
You want it? Buy the base car.
Can’t get it on the Nismo yet.
Nissan knows how to mess with your head.
