Nismo Boss Says Manual Transmission Demand Is Coming Back

A Dying Breed?

Once the world's most common transmission, the manual faces a cloudy future. It's not just because fewer and fewer people are opting for it, as other parts of the world still offer a good number of vehicles with it. Rather, electrification is making it increasingly difficult to integrate.

That said, several automakers are trying to find ways to keep three-pedal driving alive. For instance, Subarufiled a patent for EVs, and possibly, hybrids, and more recently, Hyundai is having a crack at it, too. If there were no market for manuals, there wouldn't be any effort to save them in the first place.

Now comes Nissan reckoning that manuals will hang around for a little longer. More specifically, it's Nismo CEO saying that there's an uptick in manual purchases.

Hope for the Future

Australian publication Car Expert quoted Nismo CEO Yutaka Sanada saying, "customer demand for the three-pedal is coming back." It's likely that Sanada was referring to the recently introduced Z Nismo, which is now (finally) being offered with a stick. When the more-focused Z was launched a few years ago, there was outcry due to the lack a third pedal, but thankfully, Nismo responded to the call of the fans.

Sanada emphasized that the Nismo experience is about feel, regardless of transmission. However, it seems that the in-house tuning division might roll out more manuals down the line. The executive mentioned that the company will employ its factory team racing drivers in future vehicle development. More exciting times for Nissan, indeed.

What Models Could Get a Manual?

There are loads of models we'd love to see come with a manual, but we'll focus on the cars most likely to let their owners row on their own. Realistically, the rebooted Nissan Skyline/next-gen Infiniti Q50 is a great candidate.

The last time Nissan's sport sedan offered that transmission option was in 2013, with the V36 body. In America, the G35 and later G37 were still offered with a stick shift. The V37 Skyline/Q50 was automatic-only.

There's talk of Nismo being applied to off-road vehicles, too. With that, it opens up the possibility of a high-performance Frontier that'll do battle with the Ranger Raptor. Nissan could score an open goal by offering a hot pickup with a manual, as none of its competitors do.

Of course, don't expect the pedestrian models to be available with a manual. Even if it were offered, those have a strong likelihood of being anchored on dealer lots. But by focusing on the performance models, Nissan stands a better chance of continuing the manual revival and drawing more enthusiasts into its showrooms. And with the influence of said enthusiasts, the company could, down the line, further improve its image.

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