Nissan Will Finally Put a Manual Transmission in the Z Nismo Next Month

December 19, 2025

With 420 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque from its 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6, the Nissan Z Nismo is an exciting car – but it’s not exciting enough, say some enthusiasts. That’s because, unlike the regular, 400-hp Nissan Z, the high-performance version is only available with a nine-speed automatic transmission. But Nissan has promised to fix that with a Z Nismo manual, and the automaker has provided our first look at the cabin of that car ahead of the Tokyo Auto Salon at Makuhari Messe from January 9-11, 2026. Finally, Nissan Z Nismo owners will be able to enjoy shifting with three pedals, just like GR Supra drivers can.

The Timing is Ideal for the Manual Z Nismo

The Toyota GR Supra has been around since 2019 and has been confirmed to be reaching the end of production in March 2026, just two months after Nissan shows off its new creation. This means that when the manual Z Nismo arrives in America (likely as a 2027 model), Nissan will have the (relatively) affordable turbocharged Japanese sports car market to itself. But don’t expect Nissan’s rivals in Aichi to suck it up for long. Toyota will also be at the Tokyo Auto Salon, and alongside its new GR GT and GR GT3, as well as the all-electric Lexus LFA concept, Toyota has said it will showcase “additional GR models.”

While it’s too soon for a production version of the GR Supra’s replacement to be unveiled, especially without any spy shots having been caught yet, there’s a slim chance that Gazoo Racing could show off its next Supra as a concept. Toyota has already confirmed that a new Supra will definitely be produced, even if BMW doesn’t replace the departing Z4 with which it shares a platform, and some reports out of Japan say it could be Mazda-powered this time.

What to Expect From the Manual Z Nismo

Nissan didn’t reveal much about the manual Z Nismo besides the image that heads this article, and most of the focus in the announcement was on a mystery Nismo vehicle that will also be unveiled at Tokyo Auto Salon, but the interior and exterior seem identical to those of the Z Nismo with two pedals. We suspect that the six-speed manual is the same one as in the regular Z, but with some improvements to sustain the additional 34 lb-ft of torque (and extra 20 horsepower). Whatever the case, we’re just glad it will exist – as long as Nissan doesn’t charge a premium for the option. Manuals are a dying breed worldwide, and as more and more cars adopt a hybrid powertrain, gearbox manufacturers are shying away from developing new manuals for a minority of automakers. Nissan and now its luxury arm Infiniti are keeping manual cars alive, and hopefully, buyers will respond well enough to encourage other automakers to do the same.