The Most Expensive New Nissan Z You Can Buy and Race

In June of this year, Nissan's performance extension, Nismo Motorsports, put the new Z to task at 24 Hours of Fuji. Entered as a test vehicle, the group was gathering data and figuring out just how well their race-converted Z-car would do outside of the testing done at their own development facility. The new chassis, complete with a bevy of go-fast additions, fared well enough for Nissan to officially announce that the Nissan Z GT4 would be made available to race teams for the 2023 season.

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Back to Battle

Teased in white with red livery and black accents, the GT4 made its way around the internet before it was officially unveiled in red and black attire at this year's SEMA event with the news that the new race offering would be competing in SRO Pirelli GT4 America Series, IMSA events, the Michelin Pilot Challenge Series, and Japan's Super Taikyu Racing series.

The introduction and announcement is significant, being that this is Nissan's first venture into GT4 competition since its 370 GT4 put up a fight in the British GT Championships in 2018. Its rival, the Toyota Supra has a GT4 counterpart already serving duty in competition, racking up championship standings in the U.S., Europe, and Japan, and backed by over a 100 podium finishes, making the upcoming face-off even more interesting.

Just after SEMA, Chris Forsberg and his team invited us to his Newport, California facility to get a closer look at the Z GT4 in person. Having just been delivered to the shop for safe keeping, it was dropped off to give the crew a chance to pore over the purpose-built race car.

Forsberg's relationship with Nissan is airtight, with the talented wheelman pushing boundaries from the driver's seat of his VR38DETT-powered Z34 in drift competition and wowing crowds with his mind-blowing 2,000hp Altima. Then there are his personal gems that we've shown you in the past, including his RB25DET-swapped 280Z and the SR20DET-motivated 510 wagon he built for his wife. Whew!

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Meaner Mug

The white, red, and black version of the Z GT4 offered a clean look but this model's deep red livery that fades into black is much more aggressive. The controversial styling of the front bumper, grill opening, and headlights that caused quite a bit of debate when the new Z was revealed looks far more purposeful in this case. The grill slats have been cleared, protective mesh screen added and, just behind it, a series of aluminum ducting that sends incoming air to various sections can be spotted.

Carbon fiber canards are left unwrapped on either side of the bumper and just below, a sharp splitter, also in carbon, sees its ends wrapping upward into a barrier that runs along the ends of the bumper and connects to an additional piece that traces the fender all the way back to its mid-section. A carbon hood features two large rectangular openings that reside just behind the hood latches. Atop the rear hatch lid is an elevated carbon wing and if you look below the rear bumper, a pair of coolers collect otherwise ignored constant airflow.

Just below the lightweight bonnet the original 3.0L VR30DDTT remains at play though it's been massaged by Nismo and uses a new exhaust system with a high-flow catalytic converter, high efficiency front-mount intercoolers and charge piping, and a MoTec M1 Series ECU that gives complete control of the engine and brings power output to 450 horsepower with up to 443 lb-ft. of torque. Sure, your buddy can make more power with the new Z using a combination of parts but keep in mind this is a complete race car and a proper mix of power, handling, and safety is what wins races. Total power output will also depend on the balance of performance requirements for each race series.

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In the handling and braking department, custom Ohlins 2-way shocks with team selectable spring rates are used and 18x10.5 front, and 11 rear forged Rays Wheels wrapped in 305-660 front, and 305-680 rear Pirelli slicks are on duty. Brembo 6-piston calipers clamp 390 mm rotors in the front, with a 4-piston and 345 mm rotor used in the rear, and making wheel and tire or brake changes is a breeze with the onboard air jack system

All Business Inside

Crack the door open and you feel an odd mix of OEM and very lightweight aftermarket. The carbon fiber doors, fitted with fixed lexan windows, are rigid and still carry the OEM door cards, and give a nice "thunk" when you close them. There's no finagling or additional jab needed; they close just as well as the factory doors. As you would expect, the carpet and sound deadening are long gone, a full roll cage snakes throughout the cabin, and all seating has been replaced by a single driver's bucket with harness. An FIA FT3 fuel cell is mounted midship, and discreetly, a fire suppression system is routed throughout the interior. The weight watching equates to 3,108 pounds as compared to the factory 3,500-ish measurement.

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Where the shifter once resided, you'll now find a series of switches and knobs mounted to a carbon fiber bezel, and an adjustable brake bias valve just above. The lack of a traditional shifter is due to the 6-speed SADEV sequential gearbox that the pilot will sift through using carbon fiber paddle shifters mounted to the flat-bottom steering wheel that's been loaded with controls for on-the-fly changes. The OEM dash is intact, all of its infotainment screen removed and blocked-off, as is the original gauge cluster, which now houses a MoTec C125 display.

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While far less costly than GT3 competition vehicles, the Z GT4 doesn't come cheap. Priced at $229,000 and including Nismo's technical support after purchase, it's more expensive than the rival Supra GT4 Evo. The Z race car will be offered to select race teams midway through next year, with a few pilot teams getting early access for the 2023 season.