Nissan Is Finally Building the Manual Sports Car Enthusiasts Have Been Craving

While the Z Nismo has yet to offer enthusiasts the option of a manual transmission from the factory, earlier this September, Nissan confirmed the possibility that would finally be changing.

It made for a welcome piece of news, given that America’s available stick shift options continue to grow slimmer by the year. Moreover, with Nissan having weathered a rough few months, it provided enthusiasts and brand loyalists alike with something fresh to be excited about.

Nissan

Thankfully, the Japanese automaker seems to be making good on its promise. Following recent statements that it will be building even more NISMO models, Nissan has stated that we’ll soon be seeing a prototype of this long-awaited Z.

A six-speed show car

According to Nissan, it’s set to make its public debut at the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon from January 9 to January 11 at Makuhari Messe. 

As part of a broader NISMO offensive, the automaker will be showing off a refreshed Fairlady Z (as the model is known in Japan) with a NISMO MT option featuring a manual transmission. 

Nissan

While the automaker hasn’t provided any further details regarding the forthcoming row-your-own Z, it did at least offer up a teaser image as consolation. Apart from the expected NISMO tweaks, the cabin doesn’t look too different, so it likely brings a similar setup to the standard model.

Accordingly, under the hood, Nissan’s manual Z NISMO should feature the same twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 good for 420 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque.

Nissan

Between a standard limited-slip diff, more aggressive suspension and some beefier brakes, the car brings some key driver-focused upgrades over the standard model. It’s no wonder that a stick shift has been the most glaring omission among the enthusiast core.

Not the only NISMO reveal

Assuming that wasn’t enough to stoke your enthusiasm, never fret — there’s more. Nissan has also confirmed that it will be displaying at least one other new NISMO creation as part of its 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon lineup.

Nissan

Given the automaker’s recent announcement that it will be expanding the performance brand with some 10 new models in the coming years, there are quite a lot of possibilities for what this concept could be.

Remember now, Nissan has given the NISMO treatment to some pretty uncharacteristic vehicles in the past. From the midsize Juke crossover to the mammoth Armada SUV, the outfit has exercised its talents on much more than sports cars like the Z and the GT-R.

Nissan

To that end, seeing as Nissan has already previously delivered production NISMO offerings in the form of the Frontier and the Sentra, it wouldn’t be surprising if the automaker wanted to test the waters with something a little different.

In any case, with Toyota ramping up its GR efforts and Genesis’s Magma division also entering the fray, it’s an exciting time to be a performance enthusiast. Nissan, like many automakers nowadays, is betting that some added excitement can help shake up its brand image.

Nissan

More to come

At this stage, Nissan hasn’t announced when its manual Z NISMO will go on sale. However, with the refreshed Fairlady set to go on sale in Japan in summer 2026, it’s not likely to land stateside any sooner.

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