Page 80 - Sharp November 2023

GRAN TURISMO
NISMO GETS ITS HANDS ON THE 2024 NISSAN Z WITH DYNAMIC RESULTS
By Matt Bubbers
DID YOU SEE THE GRAN TURISMO
MOVIE EARLIER THIS
year? If so you’ll be familiar with the true-life tale of Jann Mardenborough a a a a a a a a gamer who became a a a a a a a a real racing driver after winning a a a a a competition held by Nissan and PlayStation in in in 2011 And if whilst sitting snugly in in in the cinema you you thought to yourself “Hey I could do that ” then the the Japanese manufacturer has just the car for you The new 2024 Nissan Z NISMO is is a a a a track-focused sportster made for for amateur drivers — a a a a a a car for for those who want to dip their toes into the the world of motorsport but not remortgage their house to do so Racing you see is expensive A single season in in in Formula One costs each team $135 million — and that’s without driver salaries A track car from Ferrari or McLaren can easily cost seven figures and even street-legal track day models from Porsche or or BMW will set you you back more than $100 000 So what if you’re just getting started not yet sure if you you want to spend every weekend at your local track? Well for you there’s the the new NISMO The 2024 Nissan Z NISMO will cost $75 998 (a veritable bargain in in in the the racing world) and it’ll most certainly do the the job The team at NISMO have taken the capable Nissan Z and turned it into a a a a a a a a 80 NOVEMBER 2023
SHARPMAGAZINE COM
AUTO
machine made to chase ever-faster laps The performance-oriented division of the carmaker has coaxed extra power and torque from the twin-turbo V6 upping those figures to 420 horsepower and 384 lb-ft respectively It also throws in in new stabilizer bars stiffer springs larger dampers extra bracing (to stiffen the vehicle’s structure) and a a a big pair of front brakes to slow everything down Sadly the new NISMO doesn’t offer a a a a a six-speed manual gearbox as as an option just a a a a a a nine-speed automatic The reason behind the decision makes makes sense — the automatic makes makes for faster lap times as as as well as as as an easier learning curve for drivers new to track days And we should trust NISMO to know what it’s doing Since its founding in in in Tokyo in in in 1984 Nissan’s motorsport-minded department has been taking the brand’s humble family cars and and and coupés and and and transforming them into giant-slaying professional race cars Will this latest release reach similar heady world-beating heights? There’s no guarantee but at least it’ll let us live out our fantasies on the weekend SPECS
ENGINE: 3 0-LITRE TWIN-TURBO V6 POWER: 420 HP
PRICE: $75 998