There's Hope for a Nissan Sentra Nismo Yet
Nissan wants to double the Nismo model count by 2028; we know just the right candidate.
Nissan is in the process of some serious changes as part of its Re:Nissan business plan. Cost-cutting and supply chain optimization are unsexy but necessary moves, yet the company has also announced a move sure to please enthusiasts: it wants to double the global Nismo model lineup from five to ten by 2028.
The Japanese brand refers to Nismo vehicles as its "heartbeat models," cars (and SUVs) that spark emotions. The current global lineup consists of the Z sports car, Patrol ( and Armada, which is closely related), Ariya, Note Aura, and Rogue.
While there are certain candidates that seem more likely than others— like the upcoming Xterra—we're pinning our hopes on the humble Sentra. Not only is there history there, as the last Sentra Nismo was available up until 2019, but the Sentra just saw a significant refresh and is comfortably Nissan's best-selling car. There's also great parallels and marketing opportunities in aligning an affordable sport compact with an existing one make race series.
Not to get too side-tracked daydreaming, but we figure Nissan's 1.5-liter turbo-three should fit in the Sentra's nose nicely, and the 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque it makes in the Rogue compares favorably to the existing Civic Si's 200 hp and 192 lb-ft. Surely there's a six-speed manual floating around another market that could be pressed into duty, too...
In addition to expanding the Nismo family, Nissan says it will also expand availability. While we don't expect the Ariya Nismo on these shores— not least because the EV is dead in America—we wouldn't be surprised if the next Rogue saw a Nismo model in North America. Ditto the next Skyline, which will serve as the basis for the next rear-drive, manual-transmission Infiniti sedan. The Nismo name has never been applied to the upmarket brand, but hey, these are unprecedented times.
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Kyle began his automotive obsession before he even started school, courtesy of a remote control Porsche and various LEGO sets. He later studied advertising and graphic design at Humber College, which led him to writing about cars (both real and digital). He is now a proud member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), where he was the Journalist of the Year runner-up for 2021.
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If this has a six speed manual, that would be a cool and fun little car!