Japanese performance brands are in a quiet arms race to build the quickest car that still lets drivers row their own gears, and the latest Nissan Z has moved right to the front of that pack. With a six-speed manual, serious power and acceleration figures that nip at the heels of dual-clutch supercars, it is redefining what a traditional sports coupe can do. I see it as the clearest evidence yet that the manual gearbox is not just surviving in Japan, it is evolving into something sharper and more focused.
To understand why this Z stands out, it helps to set it against the broader backdrop of Japanese speed records, Nürburgring lap times and a new generation of turbocharged engines. From the Honda NSX to the Nissan GT-R, Japan has long treated performance as a proving ground, and the latest Z channels that history into a car that feels both familiar and startlingly quick. The question is not whether it is fast, but whether any other manual Japanese sports car can realistically match its blend of power, traction and real-world pace.
The Japanese speed benchmark the Z is chasing
Any claim about the quickest manual Japanese sports car has to be measured against the country’s established performance yardsticks. Historic lap times at the Nürburgring remain a useful reference, and the Honda NSX Type is a prime example of how seriously Japanese brands have taken that challenge. With a reported Lap time of 07:56.73 and a 290 hp output, that NSX showed that a relatively modestly powered Japanese super car could run with far more exotic machinery, and it did so with the kind of driver engagement that enthusiasts still crave.
That context matters because it shows how long Japan has been balancing outright speed with a tactile driving experience. The NSX, often simply called NSX Type R in enthusiast circles, proved that a focused chassis and a high revving engine could make 290 hp feel like much more on a demanding circuit. When I look at the latest Z, I see a car that is not trying to beat that 07:56.73 figure directly, but is clearly engineered to sit in the same conversation about Japanese performance benchmarks, only now with turbocharged torque and a manual gearbox that has to cope with far more power than that earlier Japanese icon ever did.
Power wars: where the new Z fits in Japan’s 2024 muscle class
Raw power is another lens through which to judge whether a manual sports car can claim to be the quickest of its kind. Recent rankings of Japan’s most potent machines show how far things have moved on from the naturally aspirated era. A survey of 2024 models highlights a spread of serious outputs, and its Key Performance Specs table lists engines such as a 3.5-Liter unit under the Engine heading, described as a Liter Naturally Aspirated V-6 in the Engin row. That kind of displacement used to be the default route to big numbers, but the latest Z leans instead on forced induction to deliver its punch.
What stands out to me is how the Z’s turbocharged approach allows it to compete directly with larger displacement rivals while still offering a traditional three-pedal layout. Buyers who once gravitated to a 3.5-Liter V-6 for its smoothness now find that a smaller turbocharged engine can match or exceed those outputs, and do so with a broader torque curve that flatters a manual gearbox. In that sense, the Z is not just another entry in a power list, it is a statement that Japanese brands can still build a front engine, rear drive coupe that feels every bit as muscular as the biggest engines in that 2024 field, without abandoning the manual transmission that defines the driving experience for many enthusiasts.
How the latest Nissan Z evolved into a manual missile
The current Z did not arrive in a vacuum, and its evolution helps explain why it feels so single minded in manual form. The Z Nismo was revealed on August 1, 2023, with a clear focus on sharpening both visuals and hardware, and that upgrade path is detailed in the Nismo overview. That account notes how the car gained significant upgrades over the standard Z both visually and mechanically, with changes that extended from aero tweaks to driveline components such as a steel driveshaft, and it frames those revisions as part of a broader Starting point for the latest generation of Z performance models.
When I look at that development arc, I see a manufacturer methodically building a platform that can handle serious power and track work while still accommodating a manual gearbox. Reinforcements like the steel driveshaft are not just about durability, they are about giving the driver confidence to use every bit of performance without worrying about mechanical fragility. The Nismo branding signals intent, but the underlying engineering is what allows the manual Z to translate that intent into real pace, and it is that combination of structural upgrades and driver focused hardware that turns the car into what feels like a manual missile rather than a retro styled cruiser.
Trim levels and the manual-friendly sweet spot
Within the current lineup, the way the Z range is structured makes it clear that Nissan expects a significant share of its customers to care about how the car shifts. Buyers can get the 2025 Nissan Z in three different trim levels, including Sport, Performance, and NISMO, and that spread is laid out in detail in a dealer overview of the Performance range. That guide explains how Buyers can choose between the more accessible Sport and the better equipped Performance trims before stepping up to the range topping NISMO, and it highlights how The Sport model in particular serves as the entry point for enthusiasts who want a purer, less complicated specification.
From my perspective, that structure creates a sweet spot for manual drivers. The Sport and Performance trims give enthusiasts a chance to prioritize the six speed gearbox without being forced into the most aggressive NISMO setup, while still benefiting from the same fundamental Nissan engineering. The fact that the NISMO sits at the top as a halo model reinforces the idea that the manual Z is not a token inclusion, but a core part of how the brand wants this car to be experienced. When a manufacturer builds an entire ladder from Sport to NISMO with the manual in mind, it signals that the quickest versions are expected to be driven by people who still want to shift for themselves.
Manual acceleration: the 0–60 numbers that change the conversation
Acceleration figures are where the manual Z starts to look genuinely disruptive. Official performance data for the 2024 model notes that, using the six-speed manual transmission, the new Nissan Z is capable of hitting 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds, a figure that is spelled out in a detailed breakdown of Nissan performance. That same source notes that the automatic version can post a 0 to 60 m time of 4.3 seconds, but the key takeaway for me is that the manual’s 4.5 second Time Using the six-speed manual is close enough that the driver does not feel like they are sacrificing much, if any, real world pace for the sake of engagement.
In the context of Japanese sports cars, a 4.5 second run to 60 is a serious statement. It places the manual Z in territory that used to be reserved for all wheel drive turbo sedans and high end coupes, and it does so with a layout that still feels old school in the best way. When a front engine, rear drive coupe with a manual gearbox can post a 60 mph sprint that starts with a 4, it changes the conversation about what a traditional sports car can be expected to do, and it gives enthusiasts a credible answer when asked whether a manual can keep up with the latest dual clutch and torque converter automatics coming out of Japan.
How it stacks up against other Japanese manual rockets
To judge whether the Z might be the quickest manual Japanese sports car, it helps to look at other three pedal machines that have made headlines. Performance databases of Japanese models list everything from factory tuned coupes to heavily modified specials, and one such compilation highlights a 2013 Flyin’ Miata MX-5 Miata w/ LS3 Swap that can hit 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds with a 6-Speed Manual Trans, as noted in a table of Japanese car 0-60 specs. That same resource lists configurations like a 2.8L Twin-Turbocharged I6 AWD Coupe and a Twin-Turbocharged V6 RWD Coupe, underscoring how varied the field of quick Japanese machines has become.
Those numbers are impressive, but they also highlight an important distinction. The Flyin’ Miata MX-5 example is a heavily modified car built around an LS3 swap, not a factory production model that a buyer can walk into a showroom and order with a warranty. When I focus on showroom stock Japanese sports cars with a manual gearbox, the Z’s 4.5 second 0-60 figure starts to look far more competitive. It may not match a 3.8 second special in a straight line, but as a mass produced coupe that blends everyday usability with serious pace, it stands near the top of the manual performance pile in Japan’s current lineup.
Lessons from earlier Japanese sports icons
The Z also has to be viewed against the backdrop of earlier Japanese sports cars that set expectations for speed and value. Enthusiast roundups of the quickest models often point to the Nissan 370Z as a reference point, and one such list of 10 fast Japanese sports cars highlights the 370Z’s specifications with an Engine described as a 3.7-lit unit under a section titled Specifications for the Nissan. That piece, dated Oct 18, 2023, frames the 370Z as proof that Oct era Japanese coupes could be both exciting and relatively attainable, and it underscores how much performance buyers already expected from a Z badge before the current generation arrived.
From my vantage point, the shift from a naturally aspirated 3.7-lit Engine to a turbocharged setup in the latest Z is not just a technical change, it is a philosophical one. The older car delivered its thrills through revs and sound, while the new model layers in a surge of torque that makes its manual gearbox feel more urgent in everyday driving. When enthusiasts compare the two, they are not just looking at spec sheets, they are feeling how the new car pulls harder out of corners and how its gearing works with the turbocharged powerband. That evolution is a big part of why the latest Z can credibly claim to be in a different performance league from its predecessors, even if both wear the same Nissan badge.
Where the GT-R and other Japanese heavy hitters fit
No discussion of Japanese speed would be complete without acknowledging the GT-R, which has long served as the country’s flagship performance car. A survey of the fastest Japanese models lists the Nissan GT-R Nismo as the number one entry, noting that, even years after its launch, it has still been the fastest GT-R ever built, as highlighted in a ranking of Nissan GT performance. That overview, dated Mar 12, 2024, uses the shorthand Mar to mark its timeline and emphasizes how the Nismo variant sits at the top of the GT-R hierarchy in both power and track capability.
The GT-R Nismo is a monster in its own right, but it also illustrates why the Z occupies a unique niche. The GT-R has moved firmly into dual clutch, all wheel drive territory, leaving little room for a manual gearbox in its current form. By contrast, the Z keeps things simpler and more analog, even as it borrows some of the Nismo branding and engineering know how. When I compare the two, I see the GT-R as Japan’s technological showcase and the Z as its purist counterpoint, a car that may not match the GT-R’s outright numbers but offers a kind of involvement that the bigger car’s automatic transmission and complex driveline cannot replicate.
Why the Z Nismo feels like a new Japanese sports car king
Independent road tests of the Z Nismo have started to frame it as a potential new benchmark among Japanese sports coupes. One detailed review of the car’s vitals, dated Sep 10, 2024, presents a Table with 2 columns and 13 rows that lays out everything from power to weight, and the writer notes that While the Nissan Z is certainly one of the best looking coupes on sale, the Nismo version adds a swathe of aesthetic tweaks and dynamic upgrades that push it into more serious territory, as described in a road test of the Nissan Nismo. That assessment captures how the car looks and feels like a more focused evolution of the standard Z rather than a simple styling exercise.
From where I sit, that is exactly what a modern manual sports car needs to be if it wants to claim any kind of crown. The Z Nismo takes the underlying strengths of the platform, including its manual friendly layout, and layers on suspension, aero and braking changes that make its performance feel more cohesive. When a seasoned tester comes away wondering if it might be the new Japanese sports car king, it reinforces the idea that this car is not just quick in isolation, it is quick enough to challenge long standing assumptions about where the best driver’s cars in Japan are coming from. In that light, the manual Z, especially in its most focused forms, looks less like a nostalgic throwback and more like the sharpest expression yet of Japan’s three pedal performance tradition.
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