2026 Nissan Z Nismo finally gets a manual at no extra cost

Key takeaways

• 2026 Nissan Z Nismo gains a first six-speed manual
• Prices rise $395 to $640, from $76,800 before on-roads
• GT-R-derived brakes cut 9kg, orders open now

The 2026 Nissan Z has landed with its biggest update since the current car arrived in 2022, and the standout is a first for Australia: the hardcore Nismo can now be had with a six-speed manual.

Order books are open this month, with the first cars due in September 2026. Prices climb slightly, starting at $76,800 before on-road costs.

A manual Nismo joins the 2026 Nissan Z range

The six-speed manual is the first ever fitted to a Z Nismo in Australia, and it slots in alongside the existing nine-speed automatic as a no-cost choice. That takes the range to four grades: Coupe manual, Coupe automatic, Nismo automatic and the new Nismo manual.

It is also a reversal for Nissan, which had earlier shelved a manual Nismo on the basis that the automatic Z would be the quicker car off the line.

The gearbox is a short-stroke unit with its own tuned drive mode. Outputs stay at 309kW and 520Nm from the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6, which is 11kW and 45Nm more than the standard Z.

GT-R brakes and chassis upgrades

Nismo models also pick up two-piece front brake rotors derived from the R35 GT-R, finished with a new caliper colour. The swap trims around 9kg of unsprung mass, which should sharpen how the car changes direction.

Both Nismo transmissions get upgraded monotube dampers, and the standard Z scores revised dampers with larger pistons for quicker responses over bumps.

Fresh face, new colours and cabin updates

The standard 2026 Nissan Z wears a reshaped front bumper and grille plus a new 19-inch alloy design. Nissan's Japanese figures claim the new nose cuts front lift by 3.3% and drag by 1%.

Unryu Green leads the palette as the new hero colour, with two-tone Boulder Grey and a black roof returning to the list. A tan interior is a no-cost option on the Coupe.

Inside, every Z gains a Qi2 wireless charging pad, a frameless auto-dimming rear-view mirror, a reshaped key, and a new start-up animation in the instrument cluster.

2026 Nissan Z pricing

Prices are up between $395 and $640 depending on grade. As before, the manual and automatic cost the same in each trim.

See Nissan Z driveaway pricing and specifications →

Specs and performance

Order books for the 2026 Nissan Z are open now, with first customer cars expected in Australia from September 2026. Every Z is covered by Nissan's conditional 10-year/300,000km warranty, and servicing is capped at $499 a visit for the first five years when maintained at a Nissan dealer.

Why the manual lands just as the Supra leaves

With Toyota closing GR Supra orders in Australia in 2025, the Z Nismo manual arrives with the field cleared of its closest rival.

At $95,000 before on-roads it is now the only new Japanese rear-drive coupe you can option with three pedals anywhere near six figures, and charging nothing extra for the manual reads as Nissan moving to absorb the enthusiasts Toyota just walked away from. Expect the manual to take a disproportionate share of Nismo orders as a result.

Petrol, rear-drive, manual coupes are a shrinking group, and the Z is now one of the last standing. The automatic is still quicker on paper, so the manual is the heart-over-head pick, and the kind of car worth grabbing while Nissan keeps building it.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the 2026 Nissan Z in Australia?

The Z Coupe starts at $76,800 and the Z Nismo at $95,000, both before on-road costs.

Does the 2026 Nissan Z Nismo come with a manual?

Yes. The Nismo now offers a six-speed manual as a no-cost alternative to the nine-speed automatic.

When does the 2026 Nissan Z arrive in Australia?

Orders are open now, with first customer deliveries expected in Australia from September 2026.