Nissan's CEO states that the Twin-Turbo V6 engine in the Nissan Z "has the potential for significantly more power."

      The latest in car news and reviews, straight to the point

      Nissan's top management is making swift moves to execute a significant turnaround strategy. The new CEO, Ivan Espinosa, who has only been in charge for just over a year, told The Drive in February to relay to enthusiasts, “Nissan is back.” While it's understandable for fans, critics, and anyone else to be doubtful, the presence of a leadership team passionate about cars could signal a potential resurgence for the automaker.

      In Yokohama, Japan, Ponz Pandikuthira, Senior Vice President and Chief Planning Officer for Nissan North America, revealed exclusively to The Drive on the latest episode of The Drivecast, “I do see performance upgrades in the future of the Z; that twin-turbo has the potential for significantly more power and output, in line with the latest emissions standards.”

      Furthermore, Pandikuthira added, “So I do foresee performance variants coming out, including special limited series.”

      You can listen to the full discussion starting at the point where Pandikuthira talks about performance upgrades for the Z as well as limited-edition models.

      Later, he noted that the Z’s VR30DTT twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6, which produces 400 horsepower in most models and is increased to 420 hp in the Nismo trim, is conservatively tuned. The SVP acknowledged that numerous tuners and enthusiasts are successfully extracting 500 hp from the Z’s engine without issues.

      The Z is currently enjoying a moment, thanks in part to an unexpected demographic: parents. Pandikuthira mentioned to The Drive at the recent 2026 New York auto show that, “One interesting aspect of today’s Z buyers is that many of them longed for this car in their youth but couldn’t afford it. The model lost its appeal over time. However, they are now excited about this version. We’re seeing a surge in older buyers purchasing it as a trophy or retirement vehicle. The Z performance variant is selling exceptionally well, catering to a specific niche that appreciates it for track use; they are opting for the Nismo.”

      “These buyers are those who once yearned for the car, and they’re saying, I adore that maroon color. I want that British racing green. I prefer the tan camel interior seats. I want it in manual, not automatic. They want to customize it to their liking. They are willing to wait since they’re not using it as a daily driver. They’re prepared to wait 3 to 6 months, the time required for production and delivery,” Pandikuthira elaborated at the auto show.

      This specific buyer profile is precisely why Nissan intends to focus more on limited-edition models, as per Pandikuthira. The Z will be more elusive starting in 2027 as the company transitions to a build-to-order model.

      If the turnaround strategy succeeds and Z sales continue to rise, Pandikuthira expressed, “I would love to see a convertible version of the Z out there.”

      It’s not surprising that the enthusiast-driven executive team is embracing passion projects. Espinosa commented to The Drive, “Sports cars are at the heart of our identity as a company.” This statement came shortly after he informed The Drive, “We are already working on the GT-R.”

      Following Espinosa’s remarks, Richard Candler, responsible for Nissan’s global corporate product strategy, told The Drive, “We’re seriously reevaluating our sports car lineup. We all want to create some exciting cars.”

      Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that the Xterra is set to make a comeback, along with an entire family of frame-based vehicles.

      Nissan aims to revive its exciting image, and if plans unfold as envisioned, it may indeed be an exciting time for enthusiasts. Now, they just need to sell some Rogues to support the development of limited-edition and high-performance Z variants.

      Do you have a tip regarding future products? Reach out to us at tips@thedrive.com.