the breakdown
- The Nissan Z wears a new two-piece grille and Unryu Green paint.
- It also sports a retuned suspension and larger brakes.
- It goes on sale in Japan first, with a US debut likely later in the year.
The Nissan Z may only be about three years old, but the sleek sports car is already getting a subtle makeover. The refreshed Nissan Z—known as the Fairlady Z in Japan—made its debut at the Tokyo Auto Salon, showing off a revised front end and a lovely new paint color.
Good news for anyone who wasn’t a fan of the oversized grille: it’s gone. Nissan has replaced it with a sleeker, two-piece grille design featuring slim horizontal accents up top and a more open lower grille, separated by a body-colored panel for a cleaner look.
The exterior is finished in a gorgeous shade called Unryu Green, a modern take on Nissan's classic Grand Prix Green. The color pairs nicely with new 10-spoke, 19-inch wheels, which give the Z a sharper look.
Inside, the updates are more understated. The cabin now gets a light tan leather option, but otherwise, that’s about it. Other than the new manual transmission for the Nismo model, of course. (Update: Some photos of the interior show a manual transmission with paddle shifters. As some readers have pointed out, it could be for rev matching.)
The updates aren’t just cosmetic, either. The revised Z benefits from retuned shocks with bigger pistons, which are said to improve handling and responsiveness. Larger brakes also improve stopping power, particularly on the Nismo model.
The updated Nissan Z will arrive in Japan first, likely by the summer of 2026, before making its way to other markets. While Nissan hasn’t confirmed whether the refreshed Z will come to the US, we wouldn’t be surprised to see it stateside later this year as a 2027 model.
Motor1's Take: The Nissan Z was already an attractive sports car, but this facelift sharpens it up just a bit. The Unryu Green paint paired with black wheels also looks great. Now let’s hope Nissan brings the updated Z to the US sooner rather than later.
