Nissan produced its first cars in Japan in 1935. The company showcased its first Datsuns (a 1000 cc automobile) at the 1959 Los Angeles Auto Show. To keep up with the demand, it started production in Mexico in 1966 and sold trucks and automobiles in the US. Production in Taiwan and Australia followed, and the first American factory was opened in Tennessee in 1983. During the 80s, as other car manufacturers struggled to keep up with changing regulations, Nissan built upon its success during the 70s.
Nismo, abbreviated from Nissan Motorsport International Limited, is a tuning and performance division of Nissan. Established in 1984 as a merger of two departments, it has competed in the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, to name a few. Nowadays, it participates in the Formula E and the Blancpain GT Series. These are the 15 coolest Nismo models ever.
15 1994 Nismo 270R
The 1994 Nismo 270R was a limited edition car built on the S14 chassis. Only 50 units were produced in 1994. The "270" in the nameplate referred to the horsepower. The most notable features included a front-mounted intercooler, 2-way limited-slip differential, and a heavy-duty clutch. All 270Rs were painted black.
14 2005 Nismo S-Tune GT
The S-Tune GT was released to celebrate Nismo's success in the Super GT series. The car got a modified version of the VQ35DE engine delivering 296 horsepower and a sporty Nismo suspension. 20 units were produced in Japan. Even though it wasn't officially sold in the US, a couple of units were imported to America.
13 2009 Nismo 370Z
The first Nismo 370Z was unveiled at the 2009 New York Auto Show. The engine delivered 350 horsepower and 276 lb. ft. of torque. A six-speed manual transmission featured a new "SynchroRev Match" function. Thanks to 19-inch RAYS forged aluminum-alloy wheels, stiff springs, and stabilizer bars, handling was significantly improved.
12 2014 GT-R Nismo
In 2014, Nissan introduced the GT-R Nismo as "the world's fastest volume production vehicle around the Nürburgring Nordschleife with a lap time of 7:08.679 minutes." Under the hood sat a tuned engine delivering 591 horsepower and 481 lb. ft. of torque. A full Nismo-enhanced suspension was installed, including a hollow stabilizer bar.
11 2010 GT-R Nismo GT1
Produced to compete in the FIA GT1 World Championship, the 2010 Nismo GT1 was based on the street-legal version of the Nissan GT-R. The car was powered by a race-derived, naturally aspirated V8 engine delivering 591 horsepower and 479 lb. ft. of torque. With the GT1, Nissan could refine the performance of the GT-R.
10 2013 Juke Nismo
In 2013, Nissan introduced the Juke Nismo with unique styling tweaks. The New York Times wrote, "The face is dominated by bug-eye headlamps, and the running lights bulge up above the hood such that they’re in the driver’s line of sight. At night, the effect is of large bio-luminescent slugs lounging atop the front fenders."
9 2020 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Nismo had to perform some serious body and chassis stiffening procedures and install some cool-looking aftermarket parts to give a simple coupe a performance attitude. Under the skin, spring and damper rates were reduced. The Rays 19-inch wheels are wider than those on the standard 370Z. This is a big-hearted, effusive sports car.
8 2020 Nissan GT-R Nismo
The 2020 Nissan GT-R Nismo has 410mm front ceramic brakes – the biggest brakes ever fitted to a Japanese car. Carbon fiber panels save 30 kg in weight. The six-speed transmission with an R mode is more intelligent than ever and shifts faster. The attention to detail and depth of engineering is spectacular.
7 2019 Nissan Sentra NISMO
The 2019 Nissan Sentra NISMO was specifically produced to optimize the Sentra's performance. Featuring a tuned 1.6L turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 188 horsepower, the Nismo manages 0-60 mph in 7.3 seconds. Riding on 18-inch NISMO alloy wheels mounted with Michelin sport tires, the sedan has the most aggressive stance in the Sentra lineup.
6 2013 March Nismo
The 2013 March Nismo enjoyed unique design features including 16-inch aluminum wheels, massive front and rear bumpers, and LED running lights. Under the hood sat a 1.2L engine delivering 79 bhp. The car wasn't about the speed, it was about handling. It had a specially tuned ECU, customized suspension stabilizers, and a new exhaust system.
5 GT-R Nismo GT3
The GT-R Nismo GT3 got a twin-turbocharged V6 engine that delivered 599 horsepower at 6.500 rpm. The car won the "2015 Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hour driven by Katsumasa Chiyo." In 2016, it won all six Super Endurance Series races. The car finished 24 Hours Nürburgring consecutively between 2014 and 2016.
4 2017 GT-R NISMO N-Attack
As an enhancement for the Nissan GT-R, the NISMO N-Attack was a performance-oriented package for cars whose warranty period had already passed. These models had bucket seats, less weight, a completely reworked suspension and a unique aero package. The airflow was smoothed out to reduce turbulence and give an increase in downforce.
3 2013 Nissan 370Z Nismo
In 2013, Nismo gave the Nissan 370Z a decent makeover. Customers could only have it in silver, which worked well with dark gray detailing and a massive rear wing. Other muscular features included lightweight 19-inch RAYS alloy wheels painted dark gray, fat rear bumper and the front chin spoiler.
2 2008 Nismo 350Z
The 2008 Nismo 350Z featured the same engine as the standard 350Z but had many performance-enhancing goodies. These included a NISMO aerodynamics package based on the Super GT championship car with an aggressive front spoiler, a rear wing and an extended rear fascia. Nismo RAYS-forged alloy wheels helped with stability.
1 1990 Skyline GT-R Nismo
The 1990 Skyline GT-R Nismo was created to homologate changes related to aerodynamics, weight-saving and performance for Group A racing. The car was only available in Gun Grey Metallic. The engine developed 276 hp and 260 lb. ft. of torque. The ABS and the rear wiper were deleted to save weight.