Nissan has been known to make some high-horsepower cars. In its current lineup, there are cars like the all-new Z and the fabled GT-R – in addition to high-powered sedans and trucks. But does Nissan make a V8 sports car?
Does a V8 sports car exist in Nissan’s current lineup?
2023 Nissan GT-R | Nissan
The short answer is no; Nissan does not currently make a V8 sports car. The closest model in Nissan’s current lineup is the GT-R, which is powered by a twin-turbo V6 engine that produces a maximum of 600 hp for the Nismo trim level. That power is routed to all four wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Admittedly, the GT-R has always been a wonder in the automotive world. Its physics-defying adaptive suspension makes handling corners a breeze, and it’s comfortable for around-town driving as well. Unfortunately, the Nissan GT-R never came with a V8 engine, and honestly, it never really needed one. After all, Nissan was always good at extracting power from its V6 engines.
The 2023 Nissan Z is the brand’s affordable sports car
The new Nissan Z | Nissan
Although the 2023 Nissan Z doesn’t have a V8 engine either, it’s still a great sports car in its own way. Under the hood is a twin-turbocharged V6 engine that pumps out 400 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. That power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission, and the whole combination has the ability to rocket the Z up to 60 mph in around 5.3 seconds.
Overall, the Nissan Z presents a good value proposition for anyone looking to buy a modern sports car. Not only is it quick, its handles well and has a comfortable interior. Inside, there are two seats that can fit average-sized Americans in addition to a decent amount of tech features.
Some of them include an option 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, and Apple Carplay/Android Auto connectivity. What’s even better is that there is an optional Bose premium sound system if you’re an audiophile like we are.
Did Nissan ever make a V8 sports car?
Technically, yes. According to Drive.com, an Australian automotive news site, Nissan unveiled an Altima V8 Supercar that competed in the V8 Supercars Championship. The car itself was a one-off racecar based on the 2013 model-year Altima. It had a V8 engine under its hood, sourced from a Nissan Patrol.
The car itself was built by the Kelly Racing team, and it reportedly took 12,500 hours of design work, 350 hours of machining, and over 900 hours of fabrication to put it together. According to Racecar Engineering, the Nissan Altima V8 Supercar is worth in excess of $1.5 million when it’s all said and done.
Otherwise, Nissan USA has not built a mass-produced V8 sports car, only one outfitted with naturally aspirated and turbocharged V6 engines. Will the Japanese automaker ever produce a V8 sports car? Probably not.
As we can see from that race team that put their car together, it takes a lot of time, money, and engineering to make such a car for a small number of people that would actually buy it. If anything, Nissan will likely stick to making electric and hybrids in the foreseeable future.