Nissan’s 2024 Z Nismo Race Car Offers a High-Powered Adventure
Photo Source: NISSAN
The highly anticipated 2024 Nissan Z Nismo has finally been unveiled, displaying enhanced handling capabilities, increased power, and improved aerodynamics. Indeed, the 2024 Nissan Z doubles down on thrilling performance with the return of the Z Nismo, delivering an exhilarating track-ready experience for enthusiast drivers. The Nismo trim builds on the capabilities of the Performance and Z Sport trims for those who seek more dynamic performance and excitement.
Targeted enhancements amplify the precisely tuned Z to enthrall drivers of all abilities. The Z Nismo elevates the iconic sports car’s performance with additional horsepower and torque, revised aerodynamic bodywork, Nismo-tuned brakes and suspension, wider wheels with a more aggressive tire compound, and stiffened suspension.
Exterior Aesthetics
Exterior revisions to the Z Nismo were specifically engineered to increase aerodynamic performance on the race track. As a result of the modifications, the Z Nismo generates positive downforce. The front of the car prominently features a styling element known as the “Grand-Nose” or “G-Nose,” which extends farther forward than on other trims and recalls a similar design treatment found on the Nissan 240ZG. The new front fascia also features a restyled grille opening with the thinnest honeycomb mesh of any Nissan production car. That mesh grille balances the need to reduce drag while allowing cool air to enter the engine bay. As an additional subtle detail, a red accent runs along the lower edge of the front fascia.
Complementing the G-Nose is a wider, taller rear spoiler compared to the Z Performance with a three-piece design that extends onto the rear fenders. A red accent also runs from the lower edges of the rear fascia and above the exhaust outlets. Moreover, the Z Nismo’s redesigned side sills help minimize aerodynamic drag and lift. Above the window line, the Z Nismo further stands apart from other trims with a dark, metallic gray variant of the car’s signature katana-blade styling component. In addition, it has gloss-black 19-inch Rays forged wheels and a black-painted roof.
Upgraded Interior
Nissan designers carefully enhanced the cabin of the Z Nismo to intensify visual appeal without creating unnecessary visual distractions. Building on the equipment provided on the Performance trim, interior enhancements include manual-adjust Recaro seats, red-anodized engine-start and drive mode buttons, and a leather and Alcantara-encased steering wheel. The graphics in the fully digital meter display offer a nice touch by featuring a Nismo logo, a red outline around the tachometer, and a special red “flash” during the start-up animation. A new steering wheel features Alcantara and leather trim, with a sporty, racing-inspired red accent mark.
Under the Hood
The Nismo version of the Z retains the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 engine but receives an extra 20 horsepower and 34 pound-feet of torque, bringing the total output to 420 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque. The nine-speed automatic transmission, specifically tuned for Nismo, is the sole gearbox option. Nissan states it can “shift almost 50 percent faster than the standard Z automatic, and it gets a new Sport+ shift mode with sportier downshift tuning.”
The Sport+ drive mode produces a more dynamic, racetrack-tuned shift program for circuit driving, taking advantage of the powertrain’s quicker downshift capability. Enhancements have been made to the brakes and suspension as well. With a strengthened chassis, retuned dampers, unique sway bars, and stiffer springs, the Z Nismo provides sharper steering and improved handling.
For 2024, Nissan continues to offer consumers options to configure a Z that suits their driving style. While you wait for the Z Nismo to hit showrooms in the fall of 2023, please come visit Southern Team Nissan of New River Valley, where we are thrilled to help our customers. If you are looking for a new option to buy or lease, take a look at our new vehicle inventory or our quality pre-owned automobiles.