Confirmed: The Nissan Z NISMO is Getting a Manual Transmission

by Chris Teague

Published: September 3rd, 2025

confirmed the nissan z nismo is getting a manual transmission

The Nissan Z NISMO offers impressive specs and performance, but it’s been missing the one thing it needed to become a legitimate enthusiast car: A manual transmission. Given Nissan’s recent struggles, it was unclear if we’d ever see one in the NISMO, but that’s now changed. The automaker confirmed that the car would soon gain a six-speed manual gearbox option.

Nissan Americas' chairman Christian Meunier confirmed the news in an interview with Automotive News, saying, “We have a NISMO manual transmission coming.” We don’t know when or how the transmission will appear in the lineup, but at this point in 2025, its arrival is likely to land in mid-2026 at the earliest.

While it relies on the same twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 as the standard Z, the NISMO boosts output to 420 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque. Nissan also fits a range of other go-fast bits, including upgraded suspension and brakes, more aggressive bodywork, and a limited-slip differential.

The manual transmission makes a significant difference in the driving experience of the standard car, so it will likely be a good thing for the NISMO. That said, it will probably be a bit slower than the automatic, similar to the standard Z, which takes around a half-second longer to reach 60 mph with a manual.

[Images: Nissan]

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Chris Teague

Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.

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SCE to AUX on Sep 03, 2025

Nissan sold 3000 Zs in the US in 2024. Only a fraction will get the manual next year, so I hope this isn't a home-grown unit.

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- Slavuta on Sep 04, 2025
  
  I see, here they have 2004 Z Performance, Manual, new - 5mi, MSRP $56K, wants you to own it for $46K
  I first got exited about manual Nismo, but I see that other 2 trims already have manual. And now I see that Nismo is $65K, 20+ grand more than base trim. Forget it. I would go with base, if it also has a manual.
  
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Normie on Sep 03, 2025

Debuting to empty stands. Is that symbolic?

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