Z-car gets Nismo treatment

JUST as night follows day, Nissan’s performance arm Nismo is about to introduce a hotted up version of the impressive new Z sports coupe according to a Nissan teaser YouTube video that featured the car being driven in drift mode.

The performance specialist has been responsible for number of enhanced Nissans including, of course, the GT-R and many less salubrious Nismo models like the Sentra, Note, Patrol, Micra, Juke, Silvia and 350Z/370Z.

It is also heavily involved in motorsport at a number of levels and makes performance accessories for various Nissan models.

Though minimal information has been forthcoming on the Nismo Z-car, it will likely be based on the higher spec’ Proto variant that sells here (if you can get one) from $80,700 plus on-road costs. The Japan list price for the Nismo Z-car will be equivalent to $A93,000.

Disappointingly, well connected Z-car forums tell us that the car, said to be only a couple of months away from global introduction, will be in nine-speed auto spec only… with paddle shift so no manual in any way, shape or form.

The Nismo Z will undoubtedly cost more than the standard Z-car based on the price premiums applied to previous Nismo models.

So, we can probably expect something in the vicinity of $100,000 for the new model highly likely to be available Down Under as the teaser video was forwarded from Nissan Australia.

On close viewing it appears the focus is on suspension, tyres, brakes and power judging by the tyre smoke generated…. pretty much the entire dynamic package.

Into that we can read stiffer and lower suspension potentially with more adjustability, Yamaha-sourced chassis dampers/mounts, larger Brembo brakes, GT-R style 19/20-inch rims with stickier R-spec tyres thought to be Dunlop Sport Maxxs, Recaro seats, a race style steering wheel, additional bolt-on chassis reinforcements/bracing and a multi-mode exhaust.

Setting the Nismo apart from the outside will be a duck tail spoiler, redesigned front splitter, reimagined bumpers, deeper side skirts along with specific colours and Nismo graphics and the almost obligatory red highlight trim to various components.

The twin turbo petrol 3.0-litre V6 is currently rated at a healthy 298kW and 475Nm which will likely increase on the Nismo Z-car, especially the torque output which is less than expected from such an engine.

The tip here is more turbo boost through a recalibrated Engine Control Unit (ECU) which means more power across the spectrum and additional torque. As the engine was designed and built for boost, a power upgrade would be both easy and within the engineering constraints of the engine unlike the previous, naturally aspirated V6 in the 370Z.

Speculation from Nissan tragics suggest this may go as high as 350kW and 550Nm but nothing concrete is available on that yet. If accurate, it would take the already capable 3.0-litre Z-car to “superfast” performance levels.

No details on Australian availability, price or specification are available at the moment but rest assured, GoAuto will keep you abreast of any developments.