The teacher tells me to search for the grime street on the hill past the observe to level the 2024 Nissan Z Nismo in the correct route. It’s my first time driving Sonoma Raceway and all of the hype couldn’t have ready me for the short elevation modifications and blind turns of a observe carved out of a hill. 

After 4 laps within the extra docile 2024 Nissan Z Efficiency mannequin, we take lead-follow laps within the new track-ready Z Nismo. The primary flip banks onerous left and climbs as vertical as any observe grade I’ve been on. Then it’s a tough proper 90-degree flip into a fast descent and switchback. There’s a lot to course of that I don’t even see the alleged grime street till the next spherical of 4 laps within the Z Nismo. 

The recommendation helps, however not as a lot as being the tail of a five-car practice as a result of I’m the Sonoma noob. The preliminary financial institution earlier than the climb helps management the route and stability, but it surely’s the place it bends again left that the structural modifications of the Nismo over the bottom Z change into obvious. New stabilizer bars entrance and rear conspire with the bigger dampers and is derived to counter the forces pushing me huge, and I’m in a position to make use of the financial institution to climb straight into the blind flip. 

2024 Nissan Z Nismo

That shot of throttle uphill reveals one other efficiency benefit. The dual-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 shared with the Infiniti QX60 Redline is tuned to 420 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque within the Nismo, up from 400 hp and 350 lb-ft within the Z. The combustion chambers and valve timing have been optimized with tech used from the GT-R, and there’s enhanced consumption air cooling over different Zs, Nissan says, to raised deal with observe days. Regardless that the turbochargers are the identical as within the Z, they spin sooner, however Nissan didn’t disclose the change in enhance strain. From behind the wheel, the additional energy feels evident as quickly as I come off the brake onto the fuel. 

Exterior of the observe, carving by means of the twisties cresting over wine nation, I wanted to double click on the paddle shifters sourced from the GT-R to get the correct gear going into after which exiting a hairpin. It required lively and predictive flicks to have the optimum torque, which peaks as early as 2,000 rpm. 

I don’t want it on the observe, thanks partially to the additional Sport+ mode in Nismo fashions that holds the gears longer, and downshifts extra progressively. Out within the hilly nation, I toggled between Regular and Sport. 

2024 Nissan Z Nismo

The 6-speed guide isn’t provided on the Nismo, solely the 9-speed automated. The change to Sport+ mode is a welcome one. I concentrate on the blind onerous proper, discovering the grime street line and the approaching descent into one other proper, as a substitute of enjoying with the paddles. On this second, the hazard and adrenaline take maintain, however I additionally really feel weak, stripped away of my defenses in a hostile world and putting full belief in my accomplice, the Z Nismo. It’s like love.

I might have trusted the brakes extra and rode them tougher. The Nismo options bigger brakes at 15.0 inches up entrance (14.0 inches on the Efficiency Z) and 13.8 inches on the rear, with 4-piston entrance and 2-piston rear aluminum calipers, the higher to arrest the staggered Rays 19-inch alloy wheels (19×10 up entrance, 19×10.5 inches on the rear, a half-inch wider than on the Z Efficiency). Different efficiency vehicles have higher braking methods, however with 4 teams taking 4 onerous laps with about 20-Half-hour between group periods, the odor of burbling brake fluid or the sight of reddened rotors was principally absent. The brakes on the Z Nismo dealt with a observe day simply positive. 

For one second, the mania calms down, the traces seem clear, the onerous double bend proper downhill earlier than the carousel all comes into focus and I can see what to do and the best way to do it, envisioning the high-speed straight out of the carousel.  

The laps all mix collectively right here, and it’s my third go-round within the Nismo and probably the most aggressive one but. I’m poised to hit the apex out of the carousel, swing out huge proper then straighten out to try to hit 100 mph earlier than the subsequent downhill hairpin into the lengthy S on the decrease finish of the observe. My confidence is excessive, too excessive for my skill. 

2024 Nissan Z Nismo

Earlier than I began, one other teacher inspired me to press and maintain the steadiness management button (labeled VDC) till the red-hued 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster flashed a “Traction” mode. Utilizing the antilock braking system, and paired with Sport+ mode, it permits for extra rotation and slip angle earlier than stability management kicks in. It brakes the within rear wheel for extra rotation right into a flip, then brakes the surface rear wheel popping out of the flip to arrest that rotation. It could possibly’t assist silly, although. 

I goose the throttle too quickly earlier than finishing the carousel. The Nismo’s ducktail swings out to my proper, I overcorrect too onerous left, and the tail goes in entrance and the lengthy nostril to the rear. Not the place you wish to be. I’ve two wheels off; I flip round and play catchup, humbled but comfortable, if not a bit shaky. The opposite drivers didn’t discover, aside from my teacher who says, “That appeared like enjoyable!”

I flip it off for the final lap, but it surely’s principally a quiet down. I blew my probability. 

There’s extra enjoyable available, together with the dragstrip run to check launch management and the consequences of the Nismo’s further 102 kilos over the Efficiency mannequin, to a complete curb weight of three,704 kilos. Nissan doesn’t quote 0-60 mph occasions or prime speeds, but it surely looks like round 4 seconds with launch management: mash the brake, pull and maintain each paddles, mash the fuel, then let go of all the things however the throttle. The pink speedo clocks 118 mph earlier than I start braking; I don’t know what the time was for the quarter mile. 

2024 Nissan Z Nismo

2024 Nissan Z Nismo

2024 Nissan Z Nismo

Earlier within the day, earlier than my humbling, I had pushed the faster BMW M2 to the observe earlier than taking the 2024 Nissan Z Nismo on a zig-zagging street course full of hairpins and ascending and descending esses. The Z Nismo was a a lot comfier tourer than the M2 with its carbon-fiber bucket seats, and it didn’t appear that a lot stiffer than the Z Efficiency. 

The Nismo nonetheless solely seats two, and it lacks the facility seat features of the Z Efficiency; you’ll be able to increase or decrease the seat backside, or tip up the thigh cushion with the guide dials on the seat facet, however in any other case, there’s no adjusting the seat again. Nonetheless, my physique had fewer complaints throughout my three-hour street trip than throughout my journey within the M2.

2024 Nissan Z Nismo

It was out within the wild extra so than on the observe the place I observed the improbable grip from the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT600 efficiency tires upgraded from the Potenzas on the Z Efficiency. Flip the steering wheel simply 5-10 levels, they usually take maintain so effectively it felt as if it had been a special steering system than within the Z; except for extra inflexible bushings, they’re the identical. 

Additionally carrying over from the Z is a lot of the inside, aside from the leather-based upholstery and leather-wrapped steering wheel’s pink stripe on the 12-o’clock place and different badging. The 9.0-inch touchscreen is correct sized for the compact sprint, and its show and menu features really feel like a throwback from when touchscreens first began proliferating. It suits within the general vibe of the Z Nismo, whereas the gear shifter utilized in most different Nissan’s doesn’t match as effectively.

2024 Nissan Z Nismo

The $66,085 Z Nismo, with all its aerodynamic upgrades to the outside, together with canards on the entrance finish, a entrance splitter, a bigger rear spoiler and diffuser, all trimmed with Nismo pink, and a extra open grille for higher engine cooling, marks a trackable improve over the Z Efficiency, which prices $53,305. It’s a major value improve, and greatest reserved for enthuZiasts planning on common observe days. 

I’d love one other shot at Sonoma within the Z Nismo, and possibly subsequent time I’ll hold the entrance finish pointed in the correct route. 

Nissan paid for airfare and lodging for Motor Authority to carry you this firsthand report.