Tag Archives: Nissan

The redesigned Nissan Sentra arrived last year with sharper looks, more tech, and a clear ambition to feel a class above its predecessors. Mission mostly accomplished—at least if your definition of progress includes a continuously variable transmission and a 149-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder that treats excitement like an optional extra it forgot to order.

But not everyone is content to let the Sentra live out its days as a sensible commuter. Over in Scottsdale, Arizona, Pinnacle Nissan has decided that what the compact sedan really needs is a dose of tuner-era attitude. Enter the Sentra SE RS—short for Special Edition Rally Sport—a NISMO-inspired, dealer-built special that aims to inject some badly needed personality into Nissan’s bread-and-butter sedan.

The SE RS isn’t a factory-backed halo car, but it’s more than a sticker-and-spoiler special. Developed in-house, the package is meant to celebrate Nissan’s performance heritage, promote genuine NISMO components, and rekindle the early-2000s tuner spirit—when bolt-ons were king and enthusiasm mattered more than lap times.

The upgrades are exactly what you’d want if you were building a Sentra in your garage circa 2004, only with a warranty-friendly twist. A cat-back exhaust adds some much-needed soundtrack, while a coil-over suspension promises sharper responses and a more purposeful stance. Lightweight wheels complete the mechanical makeover, with exterior graphics and bespoke interior accents signaling that this Sentra isn’t here to quietly blend into the rental-car lot.

Power, however, remains unchanged. The familiar naturally aspirated four-cylinder and CVT carry on as before, which means the SE RS is more about style and handling than outright speed. Still, that hasn’t stopped Pinnacle Nissan from dreaming bigger.

To drum up attention for the SE RS, the dealership has announced plans for something far more ambitious: a turbocharged 2026 Sentra with a manual transmission, destined for the SEMA Show. Yes, a manual. In a Sentra. In 2026. Even if it never reaches production, the fact that someone is building it at all feels like a small victory for enthusiasts everywhere.

The Sentra program is being led by Nick “NISMO Nick” Scherr, best known for last year’s Xterra-based Project X. And he’s not stopping with compact sedans. Two additional builds are already in the pipeline for SEMA 2026, both based on the old body-on-frame Pathfinder.

The first, dubbed the Pathfinder Remix, leans into retro-modern reinterpretation. It’ll retain the rugged underpinnings of the original SUV but bring them into the present with updated hardware and—because subtlety is overrated—a V8 under the hood.

The second build, Trackfinder, takes a more aggressive approach. Inspired by NISMO’s performance ethos, this Pathfinder is slated to be lower, wider, and far more track-focused than any Pathfinder has a right to be. Expect significant chassis and aerodynamic work, capped off by a supercharged engine that ensures this family SUV won’t be mistaken for a mall crawler.

For those who want to watch the madness unfold, Scherr is documenting the builds on his YouTube channel. Whether any of these ideas influence future production Nissans is anyone’s guess—but in an era where enthusiasm often takes a back seat to efficiency metrics, it’s refreshing to see a dealership reminding us that cars can still be built for fun.

Even if it starts with a Sentra.

Source: Nismo Nick via YouTube

CONCEPT CARS

Nissan Aura NISMO RS Concept: A Hot Hatch with Motorsport DNA

January 16, 2026 Francis Mitterrand

At the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Nissan Motorsports & Customizing Co., Ltd. (NMC) dropped a bold new vision of electrified performance: the Aura NISMO RS Concept. This high-performance hatchback takes the already spirited Aura NISMO and cranks up the aggression—stylistically and mechanically—while borrowing tech from Nissan’s X‑Trail NISMO e‑POWER system.

The RS Concept is more than just a styling exercise. Designed as a technical validation platform, it merges mass-production know-how with NISMO’s racing pedigree, hinting at a potential production future for a halo hot hatch that’s unapologetically performance-focused.

Muscle Meets Aerodynamics

Visually, the Aura NISMO RS Concept is a departure from its city-focused predecessor. Its fenders are 145 mm wider, and the ride height drops 20 mm, giving the car a more planted, aggressive stance. Aerodynamic additions include a front spoiler, side skirts, a rear diffuser accented in NISMO red, airflow-optimized fenders, and a rear spoiler—all aimed at increasing downforce and reducing drag. A Dark Matte NISMO Stealth Gray finish completes the look, keeping reflections consistent no matter the sun’s angle.

“The exterior expresses a more muscular, performance-driven character while staying true to the Aura’s agile roots,” Nissan notes, emphasizing that the design is purpose-built, not just for show.

Powertrain and Performance

Where the RS Concept truly impresses is under the hood—or more accurately, under the body. The car uses the Aura NISMO’s lightweight chassis combined with the X‑Trail NISMO’s high-output e‑POWER series hybrid system, a setup designed to inject immediate torque and sharper throttle response. The front BM46 motor produces 150 kW and 330 Nm, while the rear MM48 motor adds 100 kW and 195 Nm, supplemented by a 1.5-liter KR15DDT range-extending engine generating 106 kW.

That combination, paired with NISMO’s e‑4ORCE all-wheel control, Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires, and a wider stance, promises confident handling on twisty roads, with braking duties handled by four-pot front and two-pot rear calipers. Despite gaining roughly 100 kg over the standard Aura NISMO, the car aims to remain nimble, thanks to the thoughtful integration of motorsports-derived engineering.

A Glimpse at the Numbers

Length: 4,262 mm (+142 mm)
Width: 1,880 mm (+145 mm)
Height: 1,485 mm (-20 mm)
Weight: 1,490 kg (+100 kg)
Wheelbase: 2,580 mm
Wheels/Tires: NISMO LM GT4 18×9.0J / 245/45R18

Inside, details remain scarce, but Nissan has emphasized that every enhancement—down to suspension tuning—has been refined with both road and potential racing use in mind.

Looking Forward

“Under our Re:Nissan strategy, we are committed to introducing heartbeat models at speed that resonate with customers,” said Yutaka Sanada, president and CEO of NMC. “The Aura NISMO RS Concept is our first offering born from our collective NMC expertise.”

While Nissan has not confirmed production plans, the RS Concept stands as a clear statement: electrified hot hatches with genuine performance credentials are on the horizon. And if the technical wizardry packed into this prototype makes it to a showroom, it could mark the arrival of a truly thrilling NISMO for the EV era.

Source: Nissan

NEW CARS

The Nissan Z Gets a Mid-Cycle Tune-Up—and Loses the Big Grille

January 10, 2026 Francis Mitterrand

The Nissan Z isn’t old enough to be nostalgic, but it’s already mature enough to know when less is more. Just three years into its lifecycle, the retro-modern sports car is getting a light refresh, and instead of chasing shock value, Nissan has opted for restraint. The updated Z—still called Fairlady Z in Japan—debuted at the Tokyo Auto Salon with a cleaner face, a classy new color, and a handful of mechanical tweaks that matter more than flashy gimmicks.

Let’s start with the nose. If you ever found the original Z’s gaping grille a little too eager to please, you’ll appreciate the revision. Nissan has ditched the oversized opening in favor of a slimmer, two-piece setup. Thin horizontal elements up top sit above a more open lower grille, with a body-colored divider in between. The result is simpler, more confident, and closer to the classic Z proportions enthusiasts actually remember fondly.

The new paint helps, too. Called Unryu Green, it’s a contemporary riff on Nissan’s old-school Grand Prix Green, and it looks right at home on a long-hood, short-deck coupe like this. Paired with fresh 10-spoke, 19-inch wheels, the Z gains a sharper, more premium presence without losing its throwback charm.

Inside, the changes are minimal—almost stubbornly so. A light tan leather option joins the palette, but otherwise the cabin carries on as before. That’s not a complaint. The Z’s interior was never about reinventing the wheel, and Nissan seems content to leave well enough alone. The bigger talking point is the Nismo model, which finally adds a manual transmission to the mix. Some early photos suggest paddle shifters are still present, likely tied to rev-matching duties, but either way, three pedals in a Z-badged Nismo feels like a long-overdue correction.

Under the skin, Nissan has done the kind of homework that rarely shows up in press photos. The refreshed Z gets retuned shocks with larger pistons, a change aimed at improving both body control and responsiveness. Bigger brakes—especially on the Nismo—promise more confidence when driving hard, which is, of course, the whole reason this car exists.

Japan will get first dibs, with the updated Fairlady Z expected to arrive by summer 2026. Nissan hasn’t officially confirmed U.S. availability, but if history is any guide, we’d be surprised if this subtly improved Z didn’t make its way stateside shortly thereafter, likely as a 2027 model.

It’s not a reinvention, and it doesn’t need to be. The Nissan Z was already on the right track. This refresh just sands down the rough edges—and sometimes, that’s the smartest move a sports car can make.