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Nissan to Expand Its Performance Brand and That Could Mean More Fun Cars for Us

They’re already giving us the NISMO Armada and Z, how about a hot Sentra or Altima?

Front grille of a blue Nissan car with a silver Nissan emblem and a "nismo" badge.Nissan
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By Chris Chin

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More fast and fun NISMO models are in the works. Nissan just globally confirmed that it will launch 10 new performance models in the coming years as part of its lineup overhaul.

The iconic Yokohoama-based automaker is in the process of turning over a new leaf. Part of the effort involves revitalizing its brand image to make affordable and fun cars again.

Shaking off its recent boring past

Gray Nissan sports car with black wheels and red accents on the front lip and side skirts, driving on a racetrack with a dry, open landscape in the background.
Are you a fast Nissan fan? Expect more NISMO models on the horizon.
Nissan

It’s no mystery that Nissan has spent the better part of the last three decades in a partnership with France’s Renault. The joint venture also included Mitsubishi.

While the alliance led to some good cars, it’s arguably also led to some pretty significant low points. Especially over the last decade or so.

2026 Nissan Armada Nismo SUV on street at sundown
Nissan made the bold move to sell the Armada NISMO Stateside, which could mean more NISMO models for the US.
Nissan

But now that shareholders restructured its corporate ownership to the point where both companies are now operating as separate entities, Nissan is apparently eyeing a resurgence.

Part of the resurgence also includes investing into its heritage program. A few years back, the brand established the Nissan Heritage division to produce parts and provide additional factory-backed support for its classic vehicles.

“Road to track, track to road”

Rear view of a beige Nissan Patrol with black and red trim and a "nismo OFF ROAD" license plate frame.
With Toyota building out its Gazoo Racing performance division, Nissan will probably want to compete.
Nissan

Part of this resurgence includes a completely new motto, which the company just announced today: “road to track, track to road.”

In short, it sounds like they want to start making fun cars again. Although Nissan didn’t specify, we’ve already gotten a taste of what it has in store.

Two gray Nissan sports cars with black wheels and red accents are driving on a curved race track. The cars have sleek, aerodynamic designs with prominent front grilles and LED headlights. The track is surrounded by dry grass and dirt.
Americans have been lucky to get the Z NISMO. Who’s going to say no to more?
Nissan

Not too long ago, the brand introduced the quirky and outrageous Armada NISMO, which yes, it is selling on North American shores. More recently, Nissan’s luxury division, Infiniti, also announced bold new plans to revamp its image and hopefully become relevant again by making enthusiast cars.

Two dark gray Nissan Nismo vehicles, a sports car and an SUV, parked on a racetrack with a tire rack trailer between them.
Nissan is hoping that expanding NISMO will revamp the brand’s image.
Nissan

Last week, reports began surfacing of a new rear-wheel-drive sports sedan with an optional six-speed manual. So, while executives didn’t specifically say which markets will benefit from the expansion of NISMO, the fact that Nissan’s already selling a rather unconventional model on our shores suggests that more could be coming to the States.

Close-up of a black Nissan V6 Twin Turbo engine cover with white "nismo" and a metal plate reading "VR35DDTT Expertly Tuned Iwaki Plant JAPAN.
Do you think more NISMO models will boost Nissan’s appeal? We do.
Nissan

With the push towards building out its performance brand, Nissan hopes that increasing the appeal of its cars will give a much-needed boost for the company’s sales and ultimately, its financial bottom line.

 “NISMO continues to elevate the excitement and innovation of Nissan vehicles,” Nissan Motor Company’s President and CEO, Yutaka Sanada, said in his statement. “Moving forward, we aim to infuse our passion and driven excitement into Nissan’s other product lines.”

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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