You Requested It: The 2027 Nissan Z NISMO Now Features a Six-Speed Manual Transmission.

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      The revamped 2027 Nissan Z has been unveiled as anticipated, and to make it even better, the Japanese carmaker is finally addressing one of the sport coupe’s major oversights: the absence of a manual transmission in the high-performance Nismo variant. For 2027, drivers can opt for a 6-speed manual in the 420-horsepower Nismo model.

      Rest assured, despite its current financial struggles, Nissan has made additional changes to the 2027 Z. The Sport and Performance trims feature redesigned front and rear bumpers, inspired by the company’s classic sports cars, and there are some updates to the color options as well. If you like green, you’re in luck.

      There are also modifications beneath the surface. The Performance trim now has new, larger shock absorbers aimed at enhancing stability and damping capability, according to Nissan. Furthermore, the fuel tank design has been reworked for 2027 to help alleviate fuel starvation problems on the track.

      The Nismo version also comes with an improved clutch tailored to better handle its increased power—it maintains 420 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque (compared to 400 hp and 350 lb-ft in the standard Z). Additional adjustments have been made to the Nismo’s throttle and ignition timing to better align power delivery with the manual gearbox's characteristics. There’s also a new set of front brakes derived from the GT-R’s braking system.

      Nissan has also modified the Z’s Active Sound Enhancement and Active Noise Cancellation systems to work with the manual transmission. Yes, these enhancements are everywhere nowadays.

      The 2027 model year will also initiate the Z’s transition to an order-only system, meaning dealers will no longer stock them just for display. This should simplify the process of ordering the specific car you desire, avoiding the pressure to select something from existing inventory. However, this does indicate that the era of finding inexpensive Zs sitting in dealer lots has likely ended.

      Nissan is scheduled to start shipping the 2027 Z this summer, and we expect pricing details to be revealed closer to the launch.

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