Nismo Z prototype spied testing in the U.S.

[takemorepills]

its funny you mention fake vent because the $7K a side fender vents on the new GTR NISMO are kinda sorta fake. they are real in the fact that yes there are now openings in the fender....but the fender liner underneath is the same as the ones without the vents so there is no different airflow for aerodynamics and there is no new vent or opening connecting them to the engine bay to directly dissipate heat which is the other function of the vent.

I was watching some automotive performance tech show that was discussing real fender vents and other performance/appearance design cues, and they mentioned that designers need to be careful that certain design elements don't just allow painted parts to be sand blasted with road grit......

I mean, I'm sure that's what the TRD Camry designers are going with.....

 

[MHockey17]

its funny you mention fake vent because the $7K a side fender vents on the new GTR NISMO shown on this render are kinda sorta fake. they are real in the fact that yes there are now openings in the fender....but the fender liner underneath is the same as the ones without the vents so there is no different airflow for aerodynamics and there is no new vent or opening connecting them to the engine bay to directly dissipate heat which is the other function of the vent. so there is probably some benefit from the vents existing in themselves but there is no channel leading out of the engine bay or down in the the wheel well to assist them. they are totally sealed off

I imagine for front fender vents to serve an aerodynamic purpose, you could compliment it with a mesh grill of sorts installed in the fender liner to allow turbulent air to escape; probably especially helpful with a brake duct system that’s directing air flow into the wheel well.

I’m curious though, how are fender vents routed on your GTR NISMO?

 

[MCN1SMO]

I imagine for front fender vents to serve an aerodynamic purpose, you could compliment it with a mesh grill of sorts installed in the fender liner to allow turbulent air to escape; probably especially helpful with a brake duct system that’s directing air flow into the wheel well.

I’m curious though, how are fender vents routed on your GTR NISMO?

Mine doesn't have the vents. They only added the vents in 2020+ model. The 2020 model has the same fender liners as my car so there is no additional holes or anything leading down into the wheel well

My car does have the brake ducts with proper carbon air guides

 

[MHockey17]

Mine doesn't have the vents. They only added the vents in 2020+ model. The 2020 model has the same fender liners as my car so there is no additional holes or anything leading down into the wheel well

My car does have the brake ducts with proper carbon air guides

Oh gotcha, didn’t realize the fender vents were a recent addition. Kinda disappointing to hear they’re not functional though , especially on a NISMO-branded vehicle.

The brake ducts factory or did you add those?

 

[MCN1SMO]

Oh gotcha, didn’t realize the fender vents were a recent addition. Kinda disappointing to hear they’re not functional though , especially on a NISMO-branded vehicle.

The brake ducts factory or did you add those?

brake ducts are factory and they have a pretty efficient design to them as well. i am interested to see if any of this transfers to the Z.


as for the fender vents im sure there is some sort of functionality there just from the openings themselves its just there is just no corresponding changes made other than the openings being added and the fact the entire fender is now carbon ( something I guarantee we wont see in the Z)

 

[MHockey17]

brake ducts are factory and they have a pretty efficient design to them as well. i am interested to see if any of this transfers to the Z.


as for the fender vents im sure there is some sort of functionality there just from the openings themselves its just there is just no corresponding changes made other than the openings being added and the fact the entire fender is now carbon ( something I guarantee we wont see in the Z)

Yeh factory brake ducts would be welcome addition to the upcoming NISMO Z, considering the flak it’s received for brake fade in reviews. The v2 front fascia on the NISMO 370Z also seemed to naturally accommodate brake ducts, so I could imagine that design language carrying over.

I’d also agree, prob won’t see much CF parts on the Z.

 

[trackratZ]

More news, may be worth the wait...but really needs 500 hp at least IMO

"Some of the changes that will set the Nismo apart from the standard Z will be hidden under the body: Engineers will make modifications to the suspension system, and they'll redesign parts of the undercarriage to improve airflow. Some of the changes will be a lot more obvious: The publication notably highlights a deeper front bumper that will add about four inches to the Z's overall length.

None of this is official, but the exterior updates described fall in line with the photos (pictured) our spy photographers sent us in late 2022. Our spy photos also suggest that the Nismo will receive a vented hood, model-specific side skirts, and a redesigned rear bumper.

Power will continue to come from a twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter V6 engine, but Best Car claims that software changes will increase its output to about 420 horsepower (up from 400 in the regular-production model but down from the 500-horse output that earlier rumors have floated) while letting the driver go further into the upper echelons of the rev range. Rear-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission will come standard, and a nine-speed automatic transmission will be offered at an extra cost. Beefier brakes will help keep the extra power in check."

https://www.autoblog.com/2023/02/27/nissan-z-nismo/

 

[Connelly]

Oh great, we now get the privilege to pay over $60k MSRP to get gapped by a Supra.

I know, I know, there are many other reasons to get this, but the pricing will make people look closer at the competition.

 

[MCN1SMO]

Oh great, we now get the privilege to pay over $60k MSRP to get gapped by a Supra.

my guess is 65K to tie with a supra

 

[MHockey17]

Power will continue to come from a twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter V6 engine, but Best Car claims that software changes will increase its output to about 420 horsepower (up from 400 in the regular-production model but down from the 500-horse output that earlier rumors have floated) while letting the driver go further into the upper echelons of the rev range. Rear-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission will come standard, and a nine-speed automatic transmission will be offered at an extra cost. Beefier brakes will help keep the extra power in check."

https://www.autoblog.com/2023/02/27/nissan-z-nismo/

I love my NISMO 370Z but this gen will need to get more than an upgraded exhaust & tune if it’s gonna be priced anywhere near $60k.

Especially considering the pricing of it’s competitors; Just came across Fords ‘24 Mustang pricing today, for example https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a...R8Z01z78fRXAfaW07urfTwPkc574RQ1mcjL06VAg6edgQ
A ~$60k NISMO will have to compete with the Dark Horse stang ..

I have no doubt it will handle & drive superb, and look great with full body kit, as per usual for NISMO trim, but I think it really will need substantial power adders this time around, a la upgraded turbos; That would make for a strong value argument over the standard trim considering it’s a relatively expensive aftermarket mod.

 

[StrikeS30]

I love my NISMO 370Z but this gen will need to get more than an upgraded exhaust & tune if it’s gonna be priced anywhere near $60k.

Especially considering the pricing of it’s competitors; Just came across Fords ‘24 Mustang pricing today, for example https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a...R8Z01z78fRXAfaW07urfTwPkc574RQ1mcjL06VAg6edgQ
A ~$60k NISMO will have to compete with the Dark Horse stang ..

I have no doubt it will handle & drive superb, and look great with full body kit, as per usual for NISMO trim, but I think it really will need substantial power adders this time around, a la upgraded turbos; That would make for a strong value argument over the standard trim considering it’s a relatively expensive aftermarket mod.

As much as all that sounds great. I honest cannot see Nissan/Nismo going that all out on this variant if it even comes to life.

I have a feeling this Nismo (if it comes) will be a catalogue car, basically cosmetic. They will use their Nismo intake and exhausts, and probably a little tune. I really can't see them digging into internals, or upgrading turbos and such.

Pushing into and above the 500 mark is starting to step into the GTR territory for power levels, and I can't see them wanting to go there

 

[MCN1SMO]

No way this car exceeds 450hp.

 

[takemorepills]

Substantial power increase would just exacerbate the already poor ability of this chassis to lay down power. Even if it had 500hp, it wouldn't dig into GTR sales as that car can handle it's power.

I hate to say it, but if you want to see a Z that's fast in a straight line, they're either going to need to completely redesign the suspension, or utilize the AWD system that this chassis already supports (and take a weight gain penalty).

Should be real interesting to see what Nissan comes up with, if it can help with traction issues and if those changes can be swapped into non-Nismo Z's. However, if the rumor of only 420hp and an elevated redline are true, Nissan may already realize that the chassis can't handle any more power.

 

[West Aussie]

my guess is 65K to tie with a supra

Or if you are an Aussie around 105k

 

[FL-rally]

This Might Be The Upcoming Nissan Z Nismo

When you think about it, we’re so incredibly lucky to have both a new Toyota Supra and Nissan Z on sale right now. Two three-pedal, six-cylinder, rear-wheel-drive Japanese sports coupes in the year 2023 sounds nuts given the zeitgeist around electrification, yet here we are. What’s more, one of these cars is about to get even better. Here’s a look at an upcoming high-performance Nissan Z variant as it sheds even more camouflage.

Right off the bat, we can thank Autopian user 57sweptside for being awesome and snapping these amazingly clear pictures of this hot, camo’d-up Z-car. This vehicle was said to have been testing in Chandler, Ariz., but was pulled off to the shoulder with hazards on. Needless to say, the vulnerable position of this test car made for some awesome pictures.

From afar, it’s easy to see that this Z gets a much more aggressive visual package than the standard model. The fascias and side skirts really hang low, with pronounced valence bulges that offer a hint of BN-style kits. The rear spoiler is also more aggressive than the one included on the Z Performance trim, now extending onto the rear quarter panels. I definitely dig the extra attitude; it really amps up the tuner car vibes.

Of course, the big development here is how much of the front bumper is exposed. This clearly won’t be anything like the current standard or optional (in Japan) bumper, so let’s break it down. While Nissan hasn’t been able to move the forward radar sensor out of the way, this Z gets honeycomb mesh and a massively opened-up grille. Not only does the new grille extend below the bottom of the radar unit, it also stretches out wider when compared to the standard grille pictured below. Also quite interesting are what appear to be straked brake ducts outboard of the main grille, a great idea for keeping things cool on the track.

While the standard front end does look a lot better in real life than it does in pictures thanks to the subtlety in its shaping, the revised front bumper we’re seeing here holds a lot of promise for those who don’t want their Nissan sports car to look like it’s wearing a retainer.

In addition to the revised cooling apertures, the front bumper styling of this revised Z seems dramatically different from what we’ve previously seen. Instead of a high noseline that curves around the headlamps, Nissan has moved the bumper’s upper character line lower to make it essentially flat. This should make the nose of the car appear lower than on a standard Z even though all the hard points should be the same. The bumper surfacing also flares out just a touch above the grille, adding a nice little bit of complexity to the look of the bumper.

Those with a keen eye for Nissans will recognize the wheels on this Z prototype as being similar to the wheels on the 2022 GT-R Nismo. While they appear to feature a slightly different spoke profile, they’re the right sort of design and application to suggest they’re lightweight forged RAYS units, a favorite supplier for fast Nissans. These wheels are also shod in Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT 600 tires, which tracks well with Nismo tradition. The old 370Z Nismo and the GT-R Nismo both have run on Dunlops, so it’s not surprising to see Dunlops here.

Looking inside the car, I see a wicked set of sport seats. These definitely aren’t the carbon fiber seats seen on the updated GT-R Nismo, but I wouldn’t be surprised if these are sourced from Recaro due to Nismo’s history with the brand. Either way, they’re markedly different than the seats on the standard Z, so expect more support in the corners.

From wheels to tires to seats to styling, all signs point toward Nissan working on a Nismo variant of the new Z. Don’t be surprised if it packs more power, re-tuned suspension, and extra chassis bracing over a standard Z. The good news is that although this high-performance variant will be more expensive than a Z Performance, Nissan has decent headroom for pricing considering how a manual Toyota GR Supra 3.0 Premium costs $57,245 to a Z Performance’s $52,085. The new Nissan Z has a hell of a V6 and a proper limited-slip diff, but it needs some suspension tweaks and a better shifter to really excel. Let’s hope this upcoming high-performance model answers enthusiasts’ prayers.

(Photo credits: 57sweptside)