Did Nissan improve the Z with the NISMO edition?

What Were Those Changes?

“Once the speeds increase, that confidence starts to erode,” said J.G. Pasterjak in our on-track review of the Z Performance. “The Nissan Z becomes nervous and just doesn’t feel as fully locked down as a car in this class should be.”

[Why are we so disappointed with the new Nissan Z? | 2023 Nissan Z track test]

Nissan didn’t seem to ignore that complaint with the Z NISMO. Virtually all the changes revolved around making the car more stable, more predictable when pushed hard on the track.

Engineers increased torsional rigidity of the chassis by 2.5% with new front and rear crossbars plus a rear V-shaped reinforcement.

They increased lateral rigidity by 12.2% via stiffer lower link bushings, compression rod bushings, and rack insulators. The electronic power steering assist was recalibrated for improved steering feel.

Nissan increased the damper size and force, upped the rate for the springs and anti-roll bar, and added a rebound spring in the rear.

The brakes get bigger, both the rotors and calipers, and pad material becomes more track-appropriate.

The tires get wider in the rear by 10mm, to a 285/35R19 size, and grippier with the move to the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT600. That rubber wraps around 0.5-inch-wider Rays wheels, with 19x10s up front and 19x10.5s in the rear, both of which are not only bigger but also lighter.

Aerodynamics get improved, too, with a front fascia change and a wider, taller rear spoiler. The front and rear aero revisions result in a more balanced aero package, Nissan says, with more downforce front and rear, and less rear drag.

The engine gets power increased by 20 horses and 30 lb.-ft. of torque, up to 420/383 respectively. Nissan added an intercooler sub radiator to increase air intake cooling. They also improved the traction control.

As of now, the Z NISMO comes with only an automatic transmission. (More on that later.) Nissan did add a Sport+ mode with a track-tuned shift program for circuit driving. Revised clutch packs allow for faster shifting. Nissan says it reduced downshift time by almost half when compared to the Z Performance.

But, will these improvements be noticeable on track?

How the NISMO Compares with the Performance Model

During even our initial encounter, the Performance and NISMO models felt night and day different at Sonoma Raceway. Push the Performance model hard, and driver confidence started to erode–something J.G. stated during our initial test.

Then, came our turn with the NISMO.

What a difference.

Everything about it inspires confidence.

Point the car into a turn, and it does what you expect it to. Get on the brakes hard, and you know how they’re going to react–plus there’s plenty in reserve. The steering feels appropriately firm no matter the speed. Similarly, mid-corner grip feels predictable.

Getting off the corner, the chassis continues to grip as power is applied, and the nine-speed automatic transmission quickly and intuitively makes its way through the gears, both up and down.

(By the way, for the manual purists, Nissan is not opposed to offering a manual at some point. If you want one, Nissan said they want to hear from you.)

Nissan is targeting this car against the BMW M2 and Toyota GR Supra. All three cars offer different driving experiences, but all three fit the mold of a track car that you could drive daily.

On the road, the Z NISMO felt comfortable and its ride didn’t seem harsh despite its on-track prowess. The Recaro seats feel comfortable, even for a bigger driver, yet provide more than ample support. For a bigger driver, such as my six-foot-four frame, the Z NISMO is a tight fit. (Its blind spots seem larger, too, due to its C pillar design.)

The M2 offers much more interior space, and the Supra actually had more headroom.

How will the Z NISMO perform at the FIRM, our official test track? Based on our few laps at Sonoma, we feel that the updated Z should rank closer to the M2 and Supra than the Performance model. But how much closer? Nissan execs said it should give them a run for the money.

One challenge for the Z, in any trim, seems to be production. In its first full year of production, Nissan sold only 1229 units. Nissan said those numbers do not reflect the demand but instead the ability to produce cars. The Z car shares the production line with, of all things, the Nissan Ariya. The company hopes to ramp up Z production, but also added the car isn’t expected to sell in numbers like the Altima, its best-selling car.

Ultimately, in terms of performance, the Z NISMO is vastly improved over the Performance trim. However, one glaring question remains: At a suggested retail price of $64,990, will consumers pay more for a Z NISMO than an M2 ($63,200) or Supra ($54,500)?