Ever since the Nissan 400Z, aka the new Nissan Z, entered production in April 2022, fans have been waiting for a hotter version. And here it is, folks, the 2024 Nissan 400Z Nismo, a weapon against the Toyota Supra and the 2024 Ford Mustang.
NISMO, or Nissan Motorsports, handles the Japanese carmaker’s racing and performance road cars. Most of the latter are balanced efforts focusing on improving overall performance and handling rather than adding an insane amount of horsepower. And the 2024 Nissan 400Z Nismo, aka 2024 Nissan Z Nismo, is no exception.
Starting in the engine bay, the Infiniti-borrowed 3.0L twin-turbo V6 now makes an extra 20 hp and 34 lb-ft compared to the standard Z, with the output sitting at 420 hp and 384 lb-ft (offered from 2,000 to 5,200 rpm). The engine received extra boost, an upgraded cooling system, and a new ECU.
The 2024 Z Nismo isn’t available with the standard car’s six-speed manual, so you can only get the nine-speed automatic. However, the gearbox features updated hardware like the clutch packs, alongside new software, cutting downshift times in half and offering more aggressive launch control.
The decision to only offer the Nismo version with an automatic came down to the lap time dedication of this model.
Being slotted above the Performance, which itself tops the Sport, the 400Z Nismo uses the same mechanical limited-slip rear differential, but gets dedicated 19-inch Rays wheels. These are 0.5 inches wider front and back but still manage to be a bit lighter. More importantly, the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT600 tires of the GT-R are also present on the 400Z Nismo, addressing grip criticism directed at the Z Performance’s Bridgestone Potenza S007.
The ground clearance is unchanged, but the brakes have been upgraded. Thus, the sports car features 15.0-inch front rotors (up one inch) one with four-piston calipers, along with 13.8-inch rear discs (same size) sporting two-piston calipers. Then we have a different compound for the brake pads, a measure aimed at fighting brake fade at the track.
How to spot a 400Z Nismo
The piece that instantly strikes you is the front end. Inspired by the 240ZG, the new nose is more prominent and sports a trapezoidal grille featuring a high-sitting horizontal bar with a Nismo badge instead of the standard square grille. As a bonus, there are small canards before the front wheels, plus a front splitter.
There are also new side skirts and fender flares that accommodate the added track width.
The posterior of the Nismo version is adorned by a three-piece spoiler for the liftgate and fenders, which builds on the standard ducktail. Then there’s the reworked bumper sporting GT-R inspiration and, of course, another Nismo badge.
Regardless of how you choose to spec the 2024 Z Nismo, you get a black roof, wheels, and door mirrors, plus a red stripe approach. And, if you zoom in on the Katana-inspired trim separating the windows from the roof, you’ll notice this is now dark gray.
You can choose from five different colors, with the Nismo getting a dedicated Stealth Gray, alongside Passion Red TriCoat, Brilliant Silver, Black Diamond Pearl, and Everest White Pearl TriCoat.
The interior is tastefully restrained
The 2024 Nissan Z Nismo features fewer changes than the interior, albeit sporting a balanced approach. There are leather and Alcantara seats by Recaro sporting Nismo badges, an Alcantara steering wheel.
Red is once again present for the seat stitching, steering wheel 12 o’clock stripe, engine start/stop button, and drive mode switch. The color has also found its way into the digital instrument cluster, where the Nismo logo is easily visible.
Pricing for the 2024 400Z Nismo
The spiced-up sports car will hit US dealers this fall, with Nissan set to announce the pricing closer to the marker launch. However, since the 2024 Nissan Z Performance automatic has a starting price of $52,085 (including destination), you can expect the 2024 Nissan 400Z to be offered for around $60,000. Alas, dealer markups will once again become a barrier for enthusiasts—remember how a standard Nissan Z got pushed to around $125,000?
Until we find out the 0-60 mph, top speed—no official figures yet—and track performance of the Japanese sports car, we’ve brought along a walkaround video of the 2024 Nissan 400Z Nismo. In the clip below, you can see YouTuber Raiti’s Rides taking us around the coupe, with that Stealth Gray facilitating the effort.