The updated Nissan Z looks incredible, and the hot one is getting a manual

Maybe it’s because we’ve been cruelly denied it on our shores, but it seems as though the current Nissan Z has only been around for five minutes. In fact, it was actually being delivered to customers all the way back in 2022, and Nissan has already seen fit to give it a facelift.

Unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon on the weekend, the refreshed Z defies convention by reducing the size of its grille. Looks excellent too. Properly retro. There are new 19in wheels, a fresh green paint colour option and the little lip spoiler round the back has been binned.

Those exterior styling alterations apparently increase aerodynamic performance, while the interior seemingly just gets a new tan leather option. Fine by us. No word on any updates under the skin, but the Z did already get 400bhp from its 3.0-litre twin turbo V6, so it wasn’t lacking in firepower.

The facelifted Z will go on sale in Japan this summer, and it should make it over to the States too. Not the UK though. Booo.

Oh, and one more piece of news, because alongside this small update, Nissan also announced the hottest Z Nismo (even better aero, chassis upgrades, sticky tyres, 420bhp) will finally be available with a manual gearbox. Hurrah!