Is an extra 20 horsepower and 34 lb-ft of torque enough to justify the Nismo's weight penalty?
The covers are officially off the 2024Nissan Z Nismo, and it seems many of ourearly guesses were on the money.
What we have is an enhancement of the current-gen Z that keeps the fundamentals the same with a few core tweaks. Starting with the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6, Nissan has massaged an extra 20 horsepower and 34 lb-ft of torque from the V6 mill for total outputs of 420 hp @ 6,400 rpm and 384 lb-ft @ 2,000-5,200 rpm - now officially more on both counts than the GR Supra.
But instead of letting you play with the extra power by means of a third pedal, the Z Nismo has been saddled exclusively with the nine-speed automatic transmission. The transmission gets revised clutch packs and new software that reduce downshift time by nearly half, while Launch Control is claimed to provide more aggressive acceleration; no 0-60 mph times have been claimed, however.
As if that wasn't insulting enough, the Z Nismo weighs in at 3,704 lbs, 102 lbs more than the Z Performance trim with the automatic. With the extra power, it sports a marginally improved power-to-weight ratio, and it retains the services of alimited-slip differential.
But the Z Nismo gets more updates in the chassis department, which may be enough to overlook the nominal power increase that was attained by increasing boost and turbine speed, employing an independent ignition spark timing strategyfrom the new GT-R Nismo, and improving cooling and electronic wastegate control.
The chassis receives additional front and rear bracing and stiffening courtesy of Z-specific stabilizer bars, culminating in a 2.5% increase in torsional rigidity. The suspension is revised with a stiffer spring rate and larger dampers with revised tuning, and the electronic power-assisted steering has Nismo tuning.
Nissan claims the entire system is geared towards "one-shot" steering, where a driver can commit to the perfect line through a corner with minimal adjustment necessary. Isn't that what sports car steering is supposed to be already, Nissan?
Lastly, stiffer suspension bushings and a stiffer steering mount add the last little bit of extra rigidity.
At each corner, there's new rubber, with Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT600 tires that are 10mm wider at the rear (285/35R19), wrapped around lightweight RAYS alloy wheels (reducing unsprung mass) measuring 19 inches in diameter and 0.5 inches wider at the rear axle than the Performance trim.
Within these wheels, the front brake rotors increase in size by an inch (15 inches) while the 13.8-inch rear rotors carry over. A more robust pad compound helps improve stopping power and allegedly helps improve brake feel and durability on track. The Akebono front brakes retain their four-piston caliper setup, with the rears boasting a two-piston caliper.
To make full use of all of this, a new Sport+ driving mode has been added, while an engine oil cooler helps the engine cope with the rigors of track use.
Longer by 0.8 inches and wider by a full inch to accommodate 0.6 of an inch extra track width at both the front and rear, the Z Nismo is fatter than before with those extra 102 lbs onboard.
Visually, it looks longer and wider but also slightly lower, thanks to new front and rear fascias.
The front is dubbed the "Grand-Nose" or "G-Nose," which is athrowback to the Datsun 240ZG(where G stood for Grand) and sports a new mesh grille insert dubbed the thinnest of any production Nissan. Additional details include front canards to create vortices over the front wheels, housed within subtly flared fender lips.
The rear of the car gets a prominent three-piece ducktail spoiler and reshaped rear bumper corners for improved aero, complemented by Nismo side skirts said to do the same.
Black wheels, a darkened katana-blade detail over the windows, and a black-painted roof are offset by red detailing on the bumpers, skirts, and mirror caps. The car has been shown in Nismo-exclusive Stealth Gray but can also be painted Black Diamond Pearl, Brilliant Silver, Passion Red TriCoat, and Everest White Pearl TriCoat.
The interior is mostly untouched, save for manually-adjustable Recaro seats clad in leather and Alcantara, with a red center and Nismo headrest embroidery. The same treatment afflicts the steering wheel, with a red 12 o'clock marker, behind which sits the same digital instrument cluster as the regular Z but with new graphics, including a red tachometer surround and a Nismo boot screen. The final details are red anodized engine start/stop and drive mode select buttons.
Also introduced in the Z Nismo is standard Amazon Alexa integration, which will be a new feature for 2024 on the Z Performance, too.
The Nissan Z Nismo goes on sale this fall, with pricing to be announced closer to the time. As a reference point, the Z Performance with the automatic has an MSRP of $50,990 and the Z Proto Spec has a $53,990 asking price.
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