Buying the sportier version of a sports car and discovering you can’t have a manual gearbox is a little awkward. You wanted more involvement. The car would rather handle the shifting. Nissan has now addressed that disagreement with the refreshed Fairlady Z NISMO, which goes on sale in Japan with a six-speed manual option. The regular Z gets an update, too, but let’s deal with the clutch pedal first.
Nissan says the addition follows strong customer feedback. So yes, people asked, and it happened. The new manual has a dedicated short-throw shifter, plus specifically tuned throttle response and ignition timing. Standard and Sport modes adjust the accelerator response and acceleration sound, while a NISMO-exclusive Traction mode gives the stability-control system its own tuning. The nine-speed automatic remains available, so nobody has to pretend they enjoy clutch work in a traffic jam.
The NISMO also borrows two-piece drilled front brake rotors previously used on the GT-R. They dissipate heat better and reduce unsprung weight, with suspension tuning revised to suit. A low-friction steering rack improves steering feel, and the calipers now wear bright red, making the brake upgrade easier to admire while parked.
Anyhoo, the regular Fairlady Z’s changes are easier to spot. There’s a redesigned bumper, an extended nose, and the return of the front Z emblem, also fitted to the NISMO. The new forged wheels take their geometric detailing from the Z31’s aero-disc design. Add the S30-inspired Unryu Green/Super Black paint and available tan interior, and I can see a few people spending rather too long on the configurator.
The revised front end reduces lift and drag, while larger monotube dampers are offered depending on grade. Nissan has also given the 12.3-inch instrument display a startup animation showing every Z generation. Nice. But I imagine it’d get old very fast. Hopefully, there’s a way to turn it off.
Both versions get a Qi2 wireless charger with magnets and a cooling fan. I appreciate this particular update. Watching your phone slide off its charging spot while the car congratulates itself on its handling is not ideal.
Less visible, but worth mentioning, is a new fuel-tank chamber that helps maintain fuel delivery during high-G cornering. It is worth mentioning that the emergency braking now includes bicycle detection, too.
The refreshed Fairlady Z and Fairlady Z NISMO are on sale in Japan, starting at 5,737,600 yen and 9,752,600 yen [JP], respectively, including consumption tax, which works out to be about US$36,800 and US$62,600. The manual and automatic carry the same price at those grades.
Now the people who asked for a manual NISMO have a rather expensive promise to keep. Well, at least, for once, choosing to do more of the work yourself doesn’t cost extra.
Images: Nissan [JP].
