2027 Nissan Z NISMO gets the manual gearbox it deserves

Remember when Nissan launched the refreshed Z at the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon? Revealed alongside that was the 2027 Nissan Z NISMO, which is now available with a manual gearbox. Not only that, but the souped-up Z also gets some mechanical upgrades to handle all that power, like brakes derived from the R35 GT-R.

All well and good, but we only got to see a glimpse of it when it was revealed alongside the updated 2027 Z. Well, the upgraded Z NISMO has now made its debut in North America, and Nissan has revealed more details about the sports coupe.

As mentioned before, the 2027 Z NISMO can now be equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission after enthusiasts declared their wish to get one. It gets an upgraded clutch to better handle the power during shifts and is complemented by a shorter shift stroke thanks to a new shift lever ratio.

Meanwhile, the 3.0L twin-turbo V6 still makes an impressive 426 PS with 521 Nm of torque. However, Nissan conducted a manual-specific tuning for the twin-turbo V6, which adjusts the throttle and ignition timing control for a sharper and more aggressive throttle response, as well as sustained torque delivery. All of these are intended to deliver a more satisfying and powerful acceleration for Z NISMO manual drivers.

Even the Active Noise Enhancement and Active Noise Cancellation systems have been retuned for the manual transmission version of the Z NISMO. According to Nissan, the systems now dramatically amplify the intake and exhaust tones while in Sport Mode. While this is all well and good, it somehow cheats with how the powertrain really sounds like at full tilt without sound enhancers.

Apart from the powertrain, NISMO was also busy upgrading its chassis. For starters, the front brakes now use a two-piece iron-aluminum brake rotor derived from the R35 GT-R. It has improved cooling channels to dramatically reduce brake pad temperatures in track use and also save on unsprung weight, as they are 8.6 kg lighter.

The Z NISMO’s suspension has been retuned as well to account for the reduction in front-end weight due to the lighter brakes. Moreover, the steering rack has reduced internal friction by 20% for a more fluid cornering sensation.

With the Nissan Z NISMO set to be available in North American and Japanese markets, we’re hoping Nissan Philippines Inc. also brings the upgraded NISMO version, as well as the 2027 Z. The only question now is, when can we expect both vehicles to arrive here?