Nissan kicked off sales of the facelifted Fairlady Z in Japan on August 27, and the real headline has nothing to do with the bumper. The NISMO grade, which had been stuck with a single 9-speed automatic since launch, finally gets a proper option: a short-throw 6-speed manual. Both transmissions cost exactly the same — 9,752,600 yen. The mandatory special paint adds at least another 49,500 yen on top.
That doesn't make the car any cheaper, though. Before the update, Japan's official configurator listed the NISMO's base price at 9,302,700 yen. The difference is 449,900 yen, roughly 4.8%. The standard Fairlady Z climbed too, with its starting price rising from 5,497,800 to 5,737,600 yen. These are Japan-market prices before shipping, duties, or any other costs tied to importing the car elsewhere.
Nissan didn't simply bolt the standard car's gearbox into the NISMO. The 6MT gets a shortened shift throw, plus its own dedicated throttle response and ignition tuning. Standard and Sport modes are on offer, and the stability control system picks up a specific Traction setting. Up front sit two-piece perforated brake discs borrowed from the design used on the Nissan GT-R, while the steering rack has been retuned for lower friction.
The standard Fairlady Z is easy to spot thanks to its reworked front bumper and the return of the Z emblem on the nose. A new Unryu Green paint nods to the Grand Prix Green of the original S30, and the larger monotube dampers now have 26.6% more piston working area. Inside, Nissan added a brown-and-beige interior scheme, and both grades now come with Qi2 wireless charging with magnetic phone alignment.
The arrival of a 6MT on the NISMO changes the character of the lineup more than any new color or bumper ever could. Before this update, Japan's most powerful factory-built Z effectively forced buyers into an automatic if they wanted the most power. Now it's simply a matter of preference — and Nissan isn't asking for a premium for the three pedals.
Nissan previously updated the Note and Aura for 2026 in Japan.
