Nissan is preparing a major expansion of its high-performance Nismo road-car portfolio, with plans to double the current global range from five models to as many as ten. This strategy is designed to strengthen the emotional appeal of the Nissan brand by introducing more performance-focused “heartbeat” vehicles that connect with enthusiasts on a deeper level. A key part of this plan is a stronger international focus, as Nissan aims to significantly increase Nismo export volumes. Over the next two to three years, the company hopes to grow overseas Nismo sales from around 40,000 units to approximately 90,000, signaling a clear shift toward global markets beyond Japan.
At this stage, Nissan has not officially confirmed which vehicles in its lineup will receive the Nismo performance treatment. It also remains unclear whether future Nismo models will continue to offer a mix of petrol, hybrid, and fully electric powertrains. Currently, the Nismo portfolio includes a diverse range of vehicles: the Ariya Nismo electric SUV, the Note Aura Nismo hybrid hatchback, the X-Trail Nismo mid-size hybrid SUV, the Z Nismo petrol-powered sports coupe, and the Patrol Nismo high-performance four-wheel drive. This variety highlights Nissan’s intention to apply its motorsport-inspired branding across multiple segments rather than limiting it to traditional sports cars.
Looking ahead, several models appear to be strong candidates for Nismo upgrades. One possibility is the latest generation Nissan Leaf, particularly because it shares its core platform with the Ariya. Another potential addition is the successor to the Infiniti Q50 luxury sedan, scheduled for a 2027 debut. In Japan, this model is sold under the Nissan Skyline name, which already carries a strong performance heritage that would align well with the Nismo identity.
There has also been discussion around the idea of a Navara Nismo performance ute. However, questions remain about how such a model would coexist with the next-generation Navara’s Mitsubishi Triton-based architecture and Nissan’s locally developed Warrior off-road variant. Despite these uncertainties, Nissan has stated that it is open to working with external partners to broaden the Nismo lineup. This approach could potentially align with a future Triton Ralliart flagship, suggesting performance collaborations beyond Nissan’s in-house development.
Nissan also plans to expand the availability of Nismo vehicles across its global markets. Currently, no single region—including Europe, the United States, Japan, or Australia and New Zealand—has access to all existing Nismo models. Vehicles such as the X-Trail Nismo and Patrol Nismo are seen as particularly well suited for Australia, where their standard versions already enjoy strong popularity. Overall, Nissan aims to increase total Nismo sales worldwide from 100,000 units today to 150,000 by 2028, while raising the proportion sold outside Japan from roughly 40 percent to 60 percent. This would result in around 90,000 Nismo vehicles being sold internationally by that time.
Beyond road cars, Nissan has also announced plans to introduce new prototype vehicles for racing activities starting in the Japanese fiscal year 2026, reinforcing the performance roots that underpin the Nismo brand.