2024 Nissan Z Nismo: THE LEGEND, REBORN

2024 Nissan Z Nismo:

THE LEGEND, REBORN

FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz—The big difference between Paul and me is that he took the Army’s money, and I decided to attend college.

A couple of buck sergeants finishing our first terms of enlistment, we were back from the field and working as instructors at the Army’s Intelligence school. We had specialties the military spent significant sums to develop and coveted, and reenlistment meant another stripe and $10,000, equal to $75,000 today.

My service had put me in the company of older, well-educated fellows, who took me under their wings and sparked a still-burning love of letters. Paul, a crackerjack counterintelligence operative, taught our course’s surveillance and evasive driving piece. He loved fast driving. 

Me, too. Anytime I could jump in the bad guy car to be surveilled and chased by Paul and his students, I did. With his coaching, I got better.

Paul would eventually finish his degree. That he did not do that in 1972, however, I lay at the feet of Datsun, which, in 1981, folded into the parent company Nissan.

In 1970, Nissan had a gutsy sports coupe sold in Japan as the Fairlady Z, which does not sound as macho in English as in Japanese. Thus, America got the 240 Z , a nod to the durable and torquey 2.4-L, straight-six under the hood. Its 151 horsepower went through a four-speed manual to the rear wheels. That was enough to get the 2,330-pound coupe from zero to 60 mph in 7.8 seconds.

In those days, that was fast. The Z-car also shone in ride, handling, and build quality. It shamed the Mustang and Camaro on the track and sparked improvements at Porsche, BMW, and Jaguar. It also shoved budget-priced sports cars from England and Italy out of the market.

Paul took half the money and put it in an investment account. He sent a grand to his mother. In October 1971, he purchased an orange 1972 240 Z and still had $500, more than a month’s pay and housing allowance, in his checking account.

Six months later, I was off to school and Paul would be stationed in Berlin, but in that interim, every weekend, we drove that car all over Arizona, New Mexico, and Sonoma. We found racetracks, entered rallies, and won enough to pay for comida y cerveza, food and beer…and car repairs.

Those experiences made a deep impression on me; indeed, hanging on the wall in my writing room is an oversized watercolor of an orange 1972 240 Z signed by the late Bill Neale, a writer, painter, gentleman racer, and another acquaintance who shaped me.

Gone in a flash

Those thoughts rattled around in this old head as I scooted along a winding, twisting, and desolate country road to find out if the 2024 Z NISMO drove as well through the twisties as it looked in my driveway.

This was my first experience with the seventh-generation Z, which Nissan billed in 2022 as all-new, though it is not that. It rides on the same Z34 chassis as the uninspiring sixth generation, but the driveline, bodywork, and interior are all new. 

Because automotive metallurgy over the past decade has brought stronger foundations for better handling and safer cars, I would have preferred a clean-sheet design. Nissan has not made product development investments to facilitate such a leap forward.

Still, Nissan remade the chassis with 10.8% greater torsional stiffness and 23.9% more body rigidity, which might be enough for a first-rate production sports car in the first quarter of the 21^st century. 

The most noticeable change was replacing a 3.7-L V6 with a twin-turbo, intercooled 3.0-L V6 that burbles like Porsche’s Cayman, assessing its limits along the Italian Riviera. In the base Z Sport ($42,970) and Performance ($52,970), it puts out 400 horses and delivers 350 lb-ft of torque across a broad rev range.

A nine-speed automatic or a six-speed manual is available at the same price. Traditionalists would choose the six-speed, and they would lose every time racing a car with the automatic. Nissan engineers have the automatic dialed in sweetly. It monitors various variables, from pitch and yaw to throttle, brake, and steering inputs, and in milliseconds, selects the optimal gear.

The NISMO ($65,750) provides a long list of handling and performance enhancements, not the least of which is 20 more horses, giving it a higher top speed and 34 more lb-ft of torque, which produces acceleration and improves handling. The NISMO comes only with the automatic because you wanted to go fast, right?

Power enhancements came through improved cooling, revised electronic wastegate control that increases turbocharger boost and turbine speed, and an independent ignition spark timing strategy inspired by GT-R NISMO.

The Z NISMO also features an enhanced engine oil cooler for extended track performance.

I soon learned to keep my fingers off the paddle shifters as I grew accustomed to the car. No matter how much I concentrated, the car always did a better job of getting itself into the right gear for the situation, especially in Sports+ mode.

I was near an area where I felt safe opening her up when I came upon a nicely restored pickup, which was also moving along smartly. I wanted to go faster. I knew the road well, and there were no ‘legal passing zones’ for miles. There was, however, about a 250-yard stretch between two constant radius curves.

I whipped around that pickup like it was standing still and was back in my lane with 125 yards to spare. I wonder what startled the pickup driver more: how quickly I went around him or that I was a ghost when he rounded the curve.

No, I seldom drive like that, at least not anymore. The Z NISMO, however, earned my trust because it stuck like glue in any line I chose. I’ve never felt steering that precise in anything costing less than $150,000. 

The Toyota GR Supra and BMW Z4 roadster comes close, but after testing all at speed, my hunch is the Z NISMO would post the fastest elapsed time. 

Symphonic performance

To manage the power and grip the road, NISMO engineers revisited the suspension, beefing up the chassis, employing stiffer components, recalibrating the electronic power steering system, upgrading the brakes, and putting on wider and lighter wheels sporting Dunlop® SP SPORT MAXX GT600 tires.

The NISMO also gets a limited-slip differential, which reduces individual wheelspin and improves traction. When a wheel loses traction, the LSD senses this and sends power to the wheel with the most grip. This enhances steering responsiveness and turn-in and provides excellent stability at high speeds. This is particularly beneficial when accelerating out of a corner.

Just as all of a symphony’s sections blend into a heart-touching sound magically, all the performance parts come together to create a production sports car that is as precise and hooked up as supercars costing twice as much.

Americans favor race cars that only go straight or make long, banked left turns. On an autocross track, however, it is all about “down-track”—how quickly one can slice through an apex while accelerating. At the end of the race, the top spot on the podium will hold not the driver of the most potent car but the driver who could safely delay braking while maintaining the ability to get back into the throttle first.

That is real racing.

Strengths and weaknesses

Reviewers acknowledge the Z Nismo’s strengths: a potent engine with a satisfying mid-range punch, a more responsive chassis compared to the base Z, and the visceral thrill that comes with a powerful, driver-oriented machine.

 However, criticisms surface. The infotainment system feels dated compared to rivals, and the interior materials, while improved, do not match the level of sophistication found in German competitors. The ride quality can also be firm, especially on rough roads, which is a trade-off for sharper handling.

Cabin considerations

The Z Nismo prioritizes driver engagement over excessive comfort. Bolstered Recaro seats hold one firmly in place during spirited driving, but some reviewers find them a touch on the stiff side for long commutes. While the rear seats technically exist, they are better suited for occasional use or extra storage space. Cargo capacity is minimal, a commonality among sports coupes.

The Z Nismo has essential safety features like automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning. However, vital advanced driver-assistance features, like adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assistance, are noticeably absent.

Fuel Economy, reliability, and ownership

Despite admittedly egregious driving, I still averaged around 20 mpg in a week in which I put on a lot of miles. Nissan is known for its reliable vehicles, and the Z should continue that tradition. Projected depreciation falls within the industry average for performance cars. Nissan offers a comprehensive 3-year/36,000-mile warranty with roadside assistance.

Bottom line

Reviews paint the 2024 Z Nismo as a compelling choice for drivers seeking a thrilling and engaging sports car experience. While it might not be the fastest or most luxurious option, the Z Nismo offers a unique blend of heritage, performance, and value. 

It is important to note that some reviewers find the Z Nismo a touch too stiff for daily commutes, and infotainment might feel dated compared to rivals. Ultimately, the Z Nismo caters to a specific enthusiast who prioritizes driver engagement and a connection to Nissan’s Z car legacy.

That would be me.