In addition to the flagship now having a manual gearbox option, revised styling and slight price increases also come with revitalised Nissan coupe.

REINVIGORATION of the Nissan Z lineup here has delivered the model with a fresh face and a hands-on transmission choice that cements today’s car more closely to its ancestors.

The flagship Nismo edition now becoming available with the six-speed manual gearbox previously only allocated to the standard model is potentially the breakthrough enthusiasts have been waiting for, though how much that might lift volume when availability begins in September is a guess.

The previous generation car, though a big headline act, was low-key sales performer, to point that earlier this year the message from Nissan NZ seemed to suggest the updated range - which though just announced regionally was unveiled in Japan in January - would not be bothered with.

The last of the pre-facelift generation were sold at heavy discount.

That attitude has clearly changed, and the car is back on track, with the entry editions in manual and automatic at $89,990 and the Nismo variants inbound for $108,500, increases of $5000 and $3000 over the full RRPs held by their respective editions in the previous range.

The new models have been updated with a new face that aligns it more closely with the Nissan/Datsun 240Z that got the ball rolling back in 1969, with some elements also from the more recent 280Z and 300Z products.

In addition to the bodywork revisions, there is also a new hero paint hue, Unryu Green, which takes inspiration from the original Z’s Grand Prix green hue.

In the cabin, a tan upholstery can avail for no extra cost. There’s also a new wireless smartphone charger, a frameless auto dimming rear-view mirror and a revised start-up animation. It also gets a new key design.

While engine outputs are unchanged - with the standard version of the twin turbo 3.0-litre V6 making 298kW and 475Nm and the Nismo tune delivering 309kW and 520Nm - Nissan and its performance arm have been fine-tuning the suspension and brakes.

The standard car achieves Nismo-tuned monotone dampers with larger pistons, in effort to improve ride comfort.

Suspension tuning for the Nismo products is not touched, but those cars take two-piece Akebono front brake rotors, said to be derived from those developed for the brake’s ultimate performance icon, the now defunct R35 GT-R.

The Nismo also continues with 19-inch Rays alloys shod with Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT600 tyres and has a bespoke body kit and Recaro seats.