Spot The Changes: Nissan Just Quietly Updated The Z For 2026

Nissan quietly showed an updated version of its Z sports car in Japan, offering a look at what can only be interpreted as a mid-cycle refresh for a model that’s three years into its lifecycle.

Shown at the Tokyo Auto Salon under its home-market Fairlady Z name, the revised Zetto focuses on small but targeted changes to styling, chassis tuning, and equipment. The most obvious change is up front. Nissan has ditched the large, single-piece rectangular grille and replaced it with a cleaner, two-tier design.

A slim upper opening now sits above a more open lower grille and is bisected by a body-colored divider. It’s a subtle adjustment, but one that noticeably lightens the visual weight of the nose and brings the design closer to the classic Z proportions. Nissan says the revised face cuts front lift by 3.3% and reduces drag by 1%.

The Tokyo car also wears a new exterior color called Unryu Green, which Nissan describes as a modern take on its long-running Grand Prix Green. It suits the car well, especially when paired with the new 19-inch, 10-spoke wheels. Other minor changes include deleting the rear spoiler and swapping the Nissan corporate badge for a simple Z emblem.

Inside, changes are minimal. A new light tan leather interior option joins the palette, though the layout and materials otherwise carry over. More notable is continued attention to the Nismo variant, which in Japan now offers a manual transmission. Some early photos have introduced confusion by showing paddle shifters alongside a clutch pedal, though those paddles are believed to be part of rev-matching or drive mode functions rather than a dual-clutch gearbox.

Beyond the cosmetics, Nissan says the refreshed Z benefits from suspension revisions, including retuned dampers with larger pistons aimed at improving body control and response.

Under the hood, the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 is unchanged. It delivers 400 hp in standard guise, while the Nismo spec juices that figure to 420 hp. Power finds its way to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual or a nine-speed automatic.

The Nismo version finally gets a manual transmission option, a play enthusiasts were asking for since the car was introduced. Alongside the new gearbox, Nissan revised the ECU, including ignition timing and throttle tuning. The Nismo Z also gets upgraded brake hardware inherited from the R35 GT-R.

The updated Fairlady Z is expected to go on sale in Japan by mid-2026. Nissan hasn’t confirmed plans for other markets, but given the shared hardware and relatively minor changes, it would be surprising if the revisions didn’t reach the rest of the world.

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