Spied: 2024 Nissan Z NISMO in California canyons

19 December 2022

Nissan’s press site sports a headline that says, “2023 Nissan Z: One letter says it all. Again.” We’d like to add a word to that letter that says a little more: NISMO, the name of Nissan’s performance arm.

Spy photographers posted on the Angeles Crest Highway in southern California nabbed some spy shots of what we suspect are prototypes for the new 2024 Nissan NISMO Z, the return of the NISMO name for the first time since the 370Z wore it. The 370Z NISMO version was first seen at the New York auto show in 2009. Given that next year’s New York show will take place in early April, that might be where we get our first official look at the new NISMO—assuming it doesn’t debut at the Chicago show in February or wait until SEMA next fall.

The 370Z NISMO had a capable but modest 350 horsepower but was outfitted with exclusive features that improved handling, including stiffer springs and thicker antiroll bars. These particular prototypes appear to have bigger 20-inch wheels fitted with performance rubber (the cars are wearing Dunlops) than the regular Z, which sports 19-inch wheels. Meaty red brake calipers—possibly from Brembo—are also visible. The front and rear fascias appear to have been mildly modified and are a bit more aggressive and there’s a spoiler lip on the rear that is wider than the one on the current Z. There’s also a hint of increased underhood cooling vents.

The biggest pair of mysteries is what the car will cost—we’re hearing in the $100,000 neighborhood, plus the inevitable dealer markup—and what’s under the hood. The latter is likely to influence the former here. Rumors suggest that a retuned version of the current 3.0-liter, 400-horsepower twin-turbo V-6 may have as much as 500 horsepower. That would be a departure from past NISMO Z cars which emphasized, as mentioned, handling over horsepower bumps. Regardless, expect the Nissan Z NISMO to represent a substantial step up from the current Performance model with the Proto Spec option package, which already rings in at around $55,000. We’ll see, and we can’t wait.