Nissan has put the updated Fairlady Z and Fairlady Z NISMO on sale in Japan. The facelift brings back the front Z emblem, adds a redesigned bumper and lightweight forged wheels, and introduces a new Unryu Green two-tone paint inspired by the original S30. The bigger news for enthusiasts is under the NISMO badge, where a dedicated six-speed manual gearbox joins the range for the first time.

Nissan has launched the refreshed Fairlady Z and Fairlady Z NISMO in Japan, with sales starting on the day of the announcement. The update is a targeted one: the long-hood, short-deck silhouette carried over from the 1969 S30 stays, but the front end, the wheels, the damping and — for the NISMO — the transmission choice have all been reworked.

The Z badge returns to the nose

The most visible change is the Z emblem on the front fascia, a detail that appeared on every generation from the S30 of 1969 through to the Z32 of 1989. It is fitted to the standard car and to the NISMO. Around it sits a new front bumper with a nose that extends further forward, which Nissan says emphasises the car’s proportions and gives it a lower, wider stance. Repositioned ducts and sonar sensors are said to cut both front-end lift and aerodynamic drag.

New forged aluminium wheels nod to the aero-disc design of the third-generation Z31, with a geometric machined pattern around the rim. Inside, a tan interior colour inspired by the S30 joins the options list on selected versions. Ten body colours are offered in total — five two-tone and five monotone — including a new Unryu Green / Super Black combination that references Grand Prix Green, the signature shade of the original car.

Damping and cabin updates

Larger-diameter monotube dampers are available on the refreshed Z, with a pressure-receiving area 26.6% bigger than before. According to the manufacturer, that allows tighter control of body movements over road inputs and a more settled ride at speed.

The 12.3-inch digital instrument display gets a new start-up animation that runs through the silhouettes of each Z generation, from the S30 to the current RZ34. Both models now carry a wireless charger built to the Qi2 standard, with magnets to hold the phone in place over rough surfaces and a cooling fan to keep charging stable. A new chamber inside the fuel tank is intended to steady fuel delivery under high lateral loads, and the emergency braking system now meets requirements for detecting cyclists.

A six-speed manual for the NISMO

Until now the Fairlady Z NISMO has been automatic-only, and Nissan says it added the new six-speed manual in response to customer demand. The short-throw shifter is designed for quick wrist-flick changes, and throttle response and ignition timing have been tuned specifically for the manual car.

Two drive modes are offered. Standard is aimed at city use and touring, holding engine noise down while delivering pull from the mid-range; Sport sharpens throttle response higher up the rev range and lets more engine sound through. Each mode has its own acceleration sound tuning. The stability control system also gains a NISMO-only Traction mode.

Chassis hardware moves on too. The front brakes now use two-piece drilled rotors taken from the Nissan GT-R, sitting behind red calipers, which improve heat dissipation and reduce unsprung mass. The suspension has been retuned to suit, and a low-friction steering rack is claimed to give a cleaner sense of the front axle. The NISMO comes in five colours, among them an exclusive NISMO Stealth Gray / Super Black two-tone, with leather and Alcantara seats inside.

What it means

A manual option matters here. Rivals such as the Toyota GR Supra and Ford Mustang have kept three pedals on the menu for their hottest versions, and until now the Z NISMO could not answer that. Nissan has not announced pricing or timing for markets outside Japan.

Facts: Nissan Fairlady Z and Fairlady Z NISMO

  • Transmission (NISMO): new dedicated six-speed manual, alongside the existing automatic
  • Drive modes (NISMO manual): Standard and Sport, each with its own acceleration sound tuning
  • Brakes (NISMO): two-piece drilled front rotors from the GT-R, red calipers
  • Dampers (Fairlady Z): large-diameter monotubes, pressure-receiving area up 26.6%
  • Display: 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with new generation-by-generation start-up animation
  • Colours: 10 for the Fairlady Z (five two-tone, five monotone); five for the NISMO
  • Special exterior colour (NISMO): mandatory, priced from 49,500 yen on top of the vehicle price
  • Availability: on sale in Japan now

Both models are available from Nissan dealers in Japan.

Source: global.nissannews.com