Nissan introduced the redesigned Z last year, but we’re already looking forward to the upcoming Nismo variant.
As you can see in these photos and video caught by a member of the Nissan Z Club, two prototypes were recently caught undergoing testing in Arizona.
While one of the prototypes is heavily camouflaged, the other sports a more minimalist disguise which eschews bulky padding. Thanks to this light-handed approach, we can see a new front bumper that features a split central intake as well as what appears to be new side intakes or air curtains.
Also: 2023 Nissan Z Gets New Engine Tuning Package By Nismo In Japan
Moving further back, there are lightweight wheels that are more extreme than what’s found on the Z Performance. While the red calipers appear to carryover, they might be joined by larger discs.
The sporty styling continues out back as there’s a more aggressive bumper with rectangular reflectors and a vertical accent between the dual exhaust system. The latter resembles an F1-inspired third brake light, but it’s not illuminated in the photos.
Nissan has been tight-lipped about the model, but previous reports have suggested it could come equipped with a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 that develops up to 500 hp (373 kW / 507 PS). That would be a significant upgrade over the standard model’s rating of 400 hp (298 kW / 406 PS), but less than the 563 hp (420 kW / 571 PS) created by the ill-fated Infiniti Q60 Project Black S. Of course, the latter used a complicated hybrid powertrain and the Z Nismo is expected to have a more traditional setup.
