A few days ago, Nissan released the first (video) teaser of the 2024 Nissan Z Nismo (aka 2024 Nissan 400Z Nismo), showcasing some smokey drifts performed by Formula Drift champion Chris Forsberg. And now that we’re one step closer to the debut of the JDM sports car, we can think of how the aftermarket will have its way with the spiced-up model. Enter a widebody 2024 Nissan 400Z Nismo, a digital proposal that introduces a bit of an old-school tuner look.
Before we move on to the custom 400Z Nismo that brought us here, allow us to mention there’s an uneasiness around this upcoming model right now. That’s because the said video teaser shows the Nissan in automatic trim.
In addition, a supposed order guide for the 2024 model year Nissan 400Z has recently been posted on the newnissanz forums, with this appearing to confirm the said auto-only hint. The guide, which lists the 400Z Nismo as model 41214, states that the Nissan won’t be offered with a manual transmission. It also shows that the updated Sport and Performance versions of the “standard” 400Z will continue to be offered with either a nine-speed automatic or a six-speed manual.
And while the Nismo version of the 400Z skipping the clutch would be enough to alienate die-hard enthusiasts, there’s more. You see, the paddle-shifted 9-speed automatic on the Nissan sports car is not among the sharpest torque converter automatics on the market.
2024 Nissan 400Z widebody CGI
Returning to the 2024 Nissan 400Z widebody rendering we have here, one may wonder why somebody customizing the hell out of the coupe would pay extra for the Nismo starting point. After all, an important part of the Nismo upgrades, at least from what we could see so far, involves meaner aero and dedicated wheels, which would be lost on a project like this.
Well, the 400Z Nismo is expected to bring more to the table, which is why we thought of this as the base for the tuner 400Z. For one, the twin-turbo 3.0L V6 should offer a premium over the current 400 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque—given the age of the engine, tuners have already done great things to it.
Plus, Nismo has always been big on handling upgrades and this kind of hardware would be mandatory for backing up the flamboyant aero that digital artist Peter Kevin Kargbo (aka karg_z on Instagram) put together.
From the overfenders to the side skirt extensions, the gaping intakes on the front bumper, and the quad vertical layout of the exhaust tips, this is one rowdy widebody 400Z Nismo! Oh, and let’s not forget the fixed wing, the custom wheels, and the eccentric graphics on the car.
Now, this style of customization has its roots in the way things were done back in the 2000s when the Fast & Furious franchise was in its proper years. And if you’re not sure if the style is also making a comeback in the real world, just check out what Veilside did with the FFZ400 project unveiled earlier this year at the Tokyo Auto Salon.
