Nissan plans huge expansion of Nismo performance model range

Nissan has announced it will double the number of vehicles from its performance arm, Nismo, with plans to offer 10 models for global markets.

Following years of management controversies and financial troubles, Nissan says it will refocus on both motorsports and performance cars.

“As part of the Re:Nissan product strategy, ‘heartbeat models’ are key to sparking emotion and define Nissan’s brand DNA,” the company said in a written statement.

While the Z is currently the only model on sale in Australia available as a Nismo special, the automaker offers Nismo versions of the Ariya, Note Aura, X-Trail, and Patrol in overseas markets.

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Company executives have been on the record in the past expressing their desire to expand the Nismo range, specifically calling out the Z coupe, the Patrol SUV, and the GT-R – with a new generation of the high-performance halo coupe expected in the coming years.

However, with Nissan unveiling the electric Micra – based on the Renault 5 – it’s possible a sporty Nismo version could be in the works, based on the Alpine A290.

Another possibility is the Nissan Navara, with the company admitting in late 2024 it was considering a Nismo variant for the new-generation ute – though it’s not clear whether this would overlap with the Pro4-X Warrior, created by Australia’s Premcar and sold through Nissan dealerships.

It’s a similar story with the Patrol Nismo, with the model understood to be under consideration for Australia – but potentially stepping on the toes of the locally engineered, off-road Patrol Warrior.

Beyond the GT-R, Micra, and Navara, it’s not clear what else will get the Nismo treatment – though Nissan’s global CEO, Ivan Espinosa, has publicly told of his desire to revive the 200SX, also known as the Silvia.

The announcement coincides with plans from Nissan's luxury brand Infiniti to introduce a new high-performance sub-brand.

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