2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo priced at $61,490, regular Z drops below $50k

IT’S taken a while, but the Nismo-enhanced version of the Nissan 370Z that has been available overseas for a number of years now is on the cusp of entering Australian showrooms.

Wheels confirmed its imminent arrival last month, but we now know that it will be cheaper than expected.

The word “cheap” is a relative term, of course, but at $61,490 in six-speed manual form ($63,990 for the optional 7-speed auto), the 370Z Nismo is set to offer a compelling alternative to the similarly-powerful $74,900 BMW M240i. If you want a real bargain sportscar, however, take note that Nissan has also taken the opportunity to drop the price of the regular 370Z Coupe to just $49,990 for the manual.

“The impending arrival of the Nissan 370Z NISMO allowed us to re-look at pricing across all variants,” said Nissan Australia managing director Richard Emery.

“The NISMO version naturally sits at the top of the Nissan 370Z range, but we wanted to maintain competitive pricing. This re-positioning offers a range of price points that will be attractive to a wider group of customers.

“We hope this will drive sportscar buyers into Nissan showrooms, giving them more choice and offering significantly more value for money.”

Propelled by a lightly warmed-over version of the regular 370Z’s 3.7-litre atmo V6, the 370 Nismo will make 253kW and 371Nm, with all of it going to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual or seven-speed auto.

That’s only an 8kW, 8Nm gain over the non-Nismo 370Z’s outputs, but while full specifications have yet to be announced, other Nismo touches like a racy bodykit, unique lightweight alloy wheels, wider rubber, a Nismo exhaust, additional structural bracing, track-honed suspension hardware, Nismo-branded instruments, and body-hugging Recaro seats should give the 370Z Nismo more than a few points of difference over the standard car.

Speaking of which, the regular 370Z range will continue to offer both manual and auto variants across coupe and convertible bodystyles, with 245kW and 363Nm emanating from its 3.7-litre V6.

Full range specifications – as well as our first drive review of the 370Z Nismo – will come at the end of August.

PRICING

Nissan 370Z Coupe manual - $49,990

Nissan 370Z Coupe automatic - $52,490

Nissan 370Z Convertible manual - $60,990

Nissan 370Z Convertible automatic - $63,490

Nissan 370Z Nismo manual - $61,490

Nissan 370Z Nismo automatic - $63,990