Nissan finally offers a manual transmission for the 2027 Z Nismo, making it the best version of the new Z. We don't know why Nissan didn't offer the third pedal from the beginning, but we’re glad it’s here now. The 2027 Z Nismo answers a question many of us had since this turned-up version of the sports car came out a couple of years ago: Where’s the manual transmission?
Thankfully, Nissan has found it, and in doing so has turned the Z Nismo into a far better car. A whole array of upgrades found to the Nismo this year beyond the addition of a clutch and shifter, but this is the stand-out highlight, turning this into the best and most put-together version of the new Z. While the original Nismo version was a solid improvement over the regular car, with better suspension, braking and tires, the nine-speed automatic was a let-down.
View Price on AmazonProduct planner Paul Hawson says the Nismo Z’s manual shortens the stroke by about a quarter of an inch—or 6mm in metric—and also introduces some new bushings to give a notchier and more rewarding sensation. Both these changes were noticeable right away, but they’re evolutionary at best and this still isn’t a great stick; there’s a fair bit of mushiness and slop in the throws that Nissan didn’t tighten up.
Engineers tell me the Nismo was designed first and foremost to perform on the racetrack, then taken to road testing, where small concessions were made to make it tolerable. Which is just as well, as my first drive didn’t include any road driving element. Instead, Nissan let me rip on the Nismo on the challenging, endlessly entertaining Sonoma Raceway in California.
New front brakes derived from the GT-R proved themselves a reliable straightaway partner. The two-piece, iron-aluminum rotor occupies as much space in the front wheels as possible, and accounts for 19 pounds of unsprung weight shed across the car. Not only are the new brakes lighter, but new cooling channels in the disc help lower brake temperatures on track; Nissan claimed by up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit over a 10-lap session.
Source: roadandtrack.com
