Nismo Z Finally Gets A Manual, Nissan Launches Facelift In Japan

Nissan Fairlady Z Nismo finally pairs its twin-turbo V6 with a six-speed manual, launching in Japan with chassis tweaks and new tech.

Nissan Fairlady Z and Nismo refresh (Japan)

Photo by: Nissan

Brian Potter

By: Brian Potter

Aug 27, at 2:19am ET

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Nissan Z Nismo gains a six-speed manual, dedicated short-throw shifter and strengthened clutch with optimized throttle and ignition.
The refreshed Fairlady Z launched in Japan with larger-diameter monotube shocks for ride comfort and a returning front Z badge.
Pricing ranges from 5,737,600 yen (about $38,250) for the base Fairlady Z to 9,752,600 yen (about $65,000) for Nismo; special finish adds 49,500 yen (about $330).

Nissan just gave the Fairlady Z faithful what it has been asking for since the RZ34 launched: a stick shift on the range-topping Nismo. The refreshed Fairlady Z and Fairlady Z Nismo went on sale in Japan today, four years after the current generation debuted.

The Z Nismo's new six-speed manual pairs a dedicated short-throw shifter with a strengthened clutch. Nissan also fitted larger-diameter monotube shocks across the range, aimed squarely at ride comfort rather than outright grip.

Gallery: Nissan Fairlady Z and NISMO refresh (Japan)

Nissan Fairlady Z and NISMO refresh (Japan)

Source: Nissan

Refreshed Fairlady Z Launch In Japan

Styling leans hard on heritage. The front Z badge returns to the nose, flanked by a redesigned front bumper, and Nissan is offering 10 body colors, including a new Unryu Green over Super Black two-tone finish. It is a callback to a design cue not seen on the car in 53 years, according to Japanese outlets covering the reveal.

Inside, both the standard Fairlady Z and the Nismo get a Qi2-compatible wireless charger, a small but telling sign of how Nissan is keeping a heritage-styled sports car current. The Nissan Z facelift launched in Japan runs from the base Fairlady Z through Version S and Version ST trims before topping out at Nismo.

Nismo buyers also get a cosmetic and functional brake upgrade: bright red calipers with two-piece drilled rotors, similar in spirit to hardware borrowed from Nissan's GT-R playbook. Pricing spans 5,737,600 yen (about $38,250) for the base Fairlady Z to 9,752,600 yen (about $65,000) for the Nismo, with a special exterior finish adding 49,500 yen (about $330).

Nissan Fairlady Z and NISMO refresh (Japan)

Photos by: Nissan

Nissan Fairlady Z and NISMO refresh (Japan)

Photos by: Nissan

The 6-Speed Manual Changes Everything For Nismo

Until now, Z Nismo buyers in Japan had one choice with a nine-speed automatic. That made the Nismo badge feel like a performance ceiling without the engagement enthusiasts wanted, which is exactly why the Nissan Z Nismo manual transmission has been such a persistent request from the car's fan base.

Nissan's fix pairs the new six-speed manual with optimized throttle and ignition control, tuning the twin-turbo V6 to respond the way a manual-shift enthusiast expects rather than how an automatic-tuned engine happens to behave. It is a detail that shows Nissan treated the request seriously.

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The timing lines up with Nissan's broader Z strategy. The 2027 Nissan Z in the US with 6-speed manual should already be arriving in dealerships now, if not soon. American buyers curious whether the shifter feel translates well can already check our manual Nissan Z Nismo review. US pricing for the manual transmission is a no-cost option with an MSRP of $68,555.

Motor1's Take: Giving Nismo a proper six-speed manual does more than add a shifter. It restores credibility to the badge and delivers the kind of engagement enthusiasts have been asking for, not a token option. Nissan’s engine and control tuning for the manual shows this was done with intent, not as an afterthought.