An affordable sports car that everyone loves
We took a long-distance test drive of the Nissan Fairlady Z Nismo, a hot 2024 model that has appeared amid a lack of progress in new car deliveries. We report on the Z’s “genuine tuning car” capabilities, which has attracted a great deal of attention as a “well-loved affordable sports car”.
A high-performance version of a familiar sports car
Not only the R35 GT-R Nismo, but also the BCNR33 and BNR34 Skyline GT-R Nismo complete cars are being sold at unusually high prices. This is a sign that Nismo is finally beginning to be recognized around the world as a high-performance brand on par with AMG and BMW M.
Since Nismo has been aiming for such a position many times in the past, it should be said that it has finally achieved its long-held dream. Nevertheless, it is not only the motorsport activities, but also the presence of the famous Nippon car, the GT-R, as a base that drives up the value of the brand. The GT-R should be a dream come true.
However, the following “Fairlady Z” has the role of an affordable sports car to begin with. Its Nismo is no different. Only when the FAIRLADY Z becomes a model that can be quickly bought, like the BMW M3, will its brand power take root.
The current situation is somewhat unsatisfactory: the RZ34 FAIRLADY Z itself is already two years away from its 2022 debut, yet it is still a rarity on the streets. The used car market is still at a high and stable price, although it seems to have improved a little in recent years. In other words, they are not fulfilling their intended role. This is not good for Nissan or the brand. And with the Ariya, Leaf, and Aura replacing the Z, it must be said that the brand is far from established (no matter how good the car itself was).
The Nismo was announced while deliveries of the base model were not going as fast as expected. While this is great news for sports car enthusiasts, it must have been a bit frustrating for those who had ordered an RZ34 Fairlady Z and were waiting for delivery, or those who had been waiting for the Nismo from the start without buying. Questions also remain about the sales methods and so on.
Because of that, the Fairlady Z Nismo stood out anyway when I drove it. I was approached more than when I was testing the Supersport. I guess they are easy to talk to, which is proof that the Z is an affordable sports car that everyone loves.
Carefully tuned and polished for GT performance
As usual, I took the car on a long drive from Tokyo to Kyoto. The ride quality was nothing like that of the GT-R Nismo, but rather an extension of the base model.
While the powertrain and aerodynamics have been carefully “Nismo-tuned”, if I was to evaluate the finish in a few words, we would say that it is a “high-quality version of the standard model”. “A high-quality version of the standard model”. The Z’s original character as a well-made grand touring car has been refined without over-emphasizing its sportiness, in other words, without moving towards a polarisation between the circuit and GT like the GT-R. The visual impression is quite different. It is longer and wider than the standard. The front mask design is also very different, giving it an exceptionally strong presence.
The 3L V6 twin-turbo engine for the standard model is already sufficiently high-spec with a maximum output of 405 hp and maximum torque of 475 Nm. Even with its own tuning, the Nismo has 420 hp and 520 Nm respectively, and to be honest, on public roads, it doesn’t seem to make much of a difference. Ride comfort in town is also surprisingly good. Not only the suspension and brakes, but also the body and floor have been carefully reinforced, yet there is no sense of stiffness.
If you want to easily experience the recent Nismo style, a long drive on the motorway is recommended. When driving in the 120 km/h cruise zone around the New Tokyo-Nagoya, the benefits of aerodynamics can be felt to no small extent. It is easy to see that the GT performance level of the base model has been raised another notch, with the sensation of ripping cleanly through the air, a flat ride feeling close to the road surface, and a sense of stability in the corners where it is pushed.
Of course, the quintessential experience of the Fairlady Z Nismo is sports driving. The engine is a joy to drive, with a fine sound quality and a refined feel when pulling up to the high rev range. The handling is straightforward and agile, with a high level of freedom of movement. It was the first time I wanted to drive a Z on a circuit.
However, in fact, the standard model also has enough of these qualities, except for the urge to drive on the track. So, for those owners who were in the queue for a standard model when the Nismo came out and couldn’t afford it, I’d say there’s no need to be pessimistic. In terms of driving fun and GT performance, it’s high enough in stock form. Those who were able to buy one are indeed lucky. The Nismo, and even the standard model, is just as good.
translated by DeepL