2027 Nissan Z Gets Pricier Across the Board, But Nismo Buyers Score a Free Manual Upgrade
Nissan is asking more for every version of its sports car this year, yet the halo Nismo trim quietly gains a reworked six-speed gearbox at no extra charge.
Nissan's Z sports car is heading into dealerships this summer wearing a subtly reworked face and a noticeably heavier price tag. Every trim level climbs by $1,510 compared to last year, a jump that arrives alongside a handful of visual and mechanical tweaks rather than a wholesale redesign.
The base Z now opens at $44,480, up from $42,970 previously. For that money, buyers get a refreshed front bumper, a redesigned grille, and a new badge on the nose that swaps out the classic Nissan logo for a standalone 'Z' emblem. A fresh Shinkai Green Pearl Metallic paint option also joins the lineup, while an updated fuel tank design promises steadier fuel delivery during hard track driving.
Step up to the Z Performance and the price now sits at $54,480, another $1,510 increase. This middle trim picks up some genuinely useful hardware, including a Qi2 wireless phone charger and new 19-inch forged wheels finished with black spokes and a machined lip. Bigger shock absorbers also make their way onto the car, smoothing out the ride, while a tan interior option gives buyers an alternative to the usual all-black cabin.
The real story, though, sits at the top of the range with the $67,260 Z Nismo. Despite carrying the same $1,510 price bump as its siblings, it arrives with a brand-new six-speed manual gearbox that costs customers nothing extra over the automatic. Nissan engineered this transmission specifically for the Nismo, pairing it with an upgraded clutch and a revised shift lever ratio designed to shorten throws and make each gear change feel tighter and more deliberate.
Nissan didn't stop at the shifter. The Nismo also benefits from sharper throttle mapping and retuned Active Sound Enhancement and Active Noise Cancellation systems calibrated specifically for manual-equipped cars. A GT-R-derived front brake setup adds two-piece iron-aluminum rotors that shave roughly 19 pounds off the car while improving heat dissipation, and both the suspension and steering have been recalibrated for sharper responses.
Under the hood, nothing changes on the powertrain front. The twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 still delivers 400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque in the standard and Performance trims, while the Nismo continues to make 420 horsepower and 384 lb-ft. With prices climbing across the board, that new manual gearbox may be the one bright spot for enthusiasts hoping to get more driving engagement for their money.
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