The Nissan Z NISMO Finally Gets a Manual Transmission
The NISMO variant of the new Nissan Z coupe hit the scene with as much fanfare as a paper orchestra in a rainstorm. Despite its great looks and excellent handling, a mere 20 horsepower jump over a base Z and the egregious lack of a manual transmission threw ice cold water on what should have been a hot debut for the NISMO coupe. It turns out Nissan is looking to remedy at least one of those issues in the future.
Nissan Confirms Manual Transmission Z NISMO
In an interview with Automotive News, Nissan Americas Chairman Christian Meunier revealed that a stick shift Nissan Z NISMO was on the way when the interviewer asked him what future models he was personally excited for. “I love Z,” Meunier said. “Z is obviously very exciting. We have a lot of special editions in the pipeline. We have a NISMO manual transmission coming. We have a lot of exciting things happening on [the] Z side.”
Meunier, went on to mention some other models like the future Nissan Rogue, but we’re here for the Z news and that is a bombshell. Perhaps, one that Meunier wasn’t supposed to drop yet. When MotorTrend reached out to Nissan for further comment the automaker came back with the usual vague, canned PR response: “The Nissan Z NISMO represents the pinnacle of accessible performance in our lineup. We value the passion for the model and are always exploring ways to enrich the driving experience. We look forward to sharing more details in the future.”
My guess is that Nissan America’s marketing team had big plans for a manual Z NISMO reveal, but Meunier might have jumped the gun which put the PR team into lockdown mode. They’re either going to pretend he didn’t say it until an official reveal (which is probably accelerated now) is ready. Or they might just throw their hands up and confirm the plans in an email blast.
Why Wasn’t There a Manual Transmission Z NISMO In the First Place?
When the Z NISMO made its debut in 2023, enthusiasts were baffled by Nissan’s decision to omit a stick shift from what should have been the automaker’s ultimate driver’s car. When asked, Nissan responded with the typical statement that it pushed for cutting edge technology for its flagship coupe. However, there are rumors that the gearbox Nissan had in mind for the Z NISMO wouldn’t allow it to beat the 0-60 mph time of a base Z so the transmission was nixed.
Though, that’s just a rumor and even if that is factual Nissan would never publicly admit it. Regardless, this news leads me to believe that whatever the issue was, Nissan figured things out and is giving the people what they want.
Is a Manual Transmission Enough?
Is it too little, too late for the Z NISMO? Does the paltry power boost and near $70k MSRP too much even for a highly-requested manual gearbox to fix? I personally don’t think so. Despite its shortcomings the Z NISMO is still an excellent car by most measures and has its share of fans. As long as the price doesn’t get ridiculous, hardcore fans will line up in droves to buy the manual transmission Z NISMO. Now it’s just a matter of waiting learn when it will come out. Stay tuned for more info.
