With over five years of experience in automotive journalism, Amanda Cline has spent the last four specializing in car reviews and enthusiast content. At HotCars, she produces detailed written reviews and long-form videos for the brand’s YouTube channel, showcasing deep knowledge of new and performance vehicles.
Nissan isn’t treating NISMO like a niche performance badge anymore. According to newly confirmed plans from both Nissan and Nissan Motorsports & Customization (NMC), the brand is positioning NISMO as a core pillar of its global identity, with more models, deeper motorsport integration, and a new race-developed sports car that will eventually reach production.
The headline number is easy to grab: Nissan plans to double its NISMO lineup from five models to ten by 2028, while increasing annual global sales to 150,000 units. But the bigger story is how Nissan is using NISMO to reconnect racing, road cars, heritage, and future performance under one umbrella…and you know what that means? Finally, a new sports car.
David Alpert / HotCars / Valnet
The most intriguing confirmation is a new NISMO prototype set to begin competing in racing events during the 2026 fiscal year. Nissan says the car will be developed on the track first, then refined into a future production sports model. Details are intentionally scarce. Nissan hasn’t confirmed whether these points point to a next-generation GT-R, an entirely new performance platform, or something electrified. What matters more is the process. Nissan is leaning fully into a “track to road” approach, using real competition to shape hardware and software before the car ever reaches customers.
That philosophy is already embedded in NISMO’s ongoing commitments to Super GT, Formula E, and Super Taikyu racing, with plans to expand into additional series. They even revealed a wild NISMO Hot Hatch concept earlier this year, which could have been a hint of what is to come.
Restored by Nissan themselves in the ’90s, clean is an understatement for this one.
Nissan has been unusually direct about Nismo’s new role inside the company. Rather than treating it as a niche performance label, Nissan and Nissan Motorsports & Customization (NMC) now describe NISMO as a core “heartbeat” brand that defines the company’s emotional and performance identity worldwide. That clarification is important, especially for a brand that has spent recent years prioritizing restructuring and efficiency over excitement.
As part of this shift, Nissan confirmed plans to double the global NISMO lineup from five models to ten by 2028, while increasing annual sales from roughly 100,000 units to 150,000. Importantly, this expansion is not Japan-centric. Nissan expects overseas markets to account for 60% of NISMO volume, up from about 40% today, signaling a much broader international push than before.
The strategy also goes beyond simply adding sportier trims. Nissan has openly said it will consider external partnerships to accelerate customization, personalization, and product development, suggesting future NISMO models could be more differentiated and market-specific. With expanded motorsport involvement, NISMO is being positioned as more of a platform, one that connects racing, road cars, and customer passion across Nissan’s global lineup.
These four custom Nissan builds take everyday vehicles and turn them into machines made for serious fun.
Nissan’s NISMO push isn’t purely forward-looking. The company is also expanding factory-backed restoration, restomod, and genuine parts programs, starting with the R32, R33, and R34 Skyline GT-R. That move taps into a global restoration market projected to grow beyond ¥1.2 trillion ($7,765,005,060, casually) by 2032, while reinforcing Nismo’s credibility with longtime enthusiasts.
This heritage focus sits alongside future EV performance plans, including potential electric NISMO models and performance variants built on new platforms. Nissan wants NISMO to connect its past, present, and future, rather than choosing one at the expense of the others.
For a brand that’s faced its share of challenges, this is a statement of intent. Nissan is rebuilding excitement around performance, racing, and authenticity, and NISMO is the tool it’s using to do it.
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