NISSAN'S ICONIC IN-HOUSE PERFORMANCE DIVISION, NISMO, OFFICIALLY TURNS 40.
Nissan proudly celebrates the 40th anniversary of NISMO, the brand synonymous with its high-performance legacy. Founded on September 17, 1984, as Nissan Motorsport International Co. Ltd., NISMO has been Nissan’s go-to for motorsport innovation, precision tuning, and adrenaline-filled road cars. The Omori-based division has been the driving force behind some of Nissan’s most exciting vehicles and motorsport achievements, rooted in the philosophy of “Track to Road,” where the lessons learned on racetracks fuel the performance enhancements for street cars. To mark this milestone, the Nissan Global Headquarters Gallery in Yokohama, Japan, is hosting a special exhibition showcasing a mix of NISMO’s legendary road cars and motorsport icons. Among them are the ultra-rare NISMO 270R and the sought-after NISMO 400R, alongside track legends like the Nissan R390 GT1, which secured a podium finish at the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the championship-winning Calsonic Skyline GT-R Group A. Visitors will also get a glimpse of NISMO’s current lineup of Japan domestic models, including the recently launched Ariya NISMO, AURA NISMO, and the ever-iconic FAIRLADY Z NISMO. The exhibition runs until October 15, 2024. Takao Katagiri, head of Nissan's global motorsports business unit and president of NMC, expressed his gratitude, saying, “We would like to thank everyone who has supported NISMO since 1984, and we look forward to delivering speed, confidence, and exhilaration for decades to come.” Looking ahead, Katagiri added, “Our goal is to continue thrilling fans at the track and embedding those performance insights into the cars our customers can buy. We plan to expand globally, bringing even more NISMO models to enthusiasts around the world.” The celebrations culminate with the 2024 NISMO Festival, set for December 1 at Fuji International Speedway, dedicated to honouring 40 years of NISMO’s rich heritage in motorsport and road car excellence.
NISMO was originally born out of a merger between two key Nissan motorsport divisions: Special Car Testing and Special Car Development. Initially focused on enhancing Nissan’s competitiveness in racing, particularly in Japan, NISMO quickly gained a global reputation. The 1990s marked its entry into elite motorsport arenas such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship. It was during this era that NISMO unleashed its iconic R32 Skyline GT-R, affectionately dubbed “Godzilla” for its sheer dominance on racetracks worldwide. As NISMO's motorsport pedigree grew, so did its presence in the performance tuning of Nissan’s road cars. The Fairlady Z and 350Z were among the first models to benefit from NISMO’s high-performance tuning, and by 2013, NISMO had become Nissan’s official performance brand, akin to BMW’s M division and Mercedes’ AMG. Flagship models like the GT-R NISMO epitomize this commitment, showcasing extreme enhancements over the already powerful GT-R. Today, NISMO continues to be at the forefront of Nissan’s motorsport ambitions, playing a pivotal role in Formula E, Super GT, and endurance racing, while transferring race-proven technology directly into road-going models. NISMO editions of popular models like the GT-R, 370Z, and Juke, and even the Leaf, offer enthusiasts enhanced performance, sharper handling, and unmistakable NISMO styling cues. Beyond complete cars, NISMO's aftermarket performance parts allow Nissan owners to upgrade their vehicles with race-ready components directly from the manufacturer. The NISMO brand is now synonymous with Nissan’s commitment to engineering excellence, driving excitement, and a rich motorsport heritage that continues to inspire enthusiasts around the globe.
Take a look at the YouTube video made to show the passion behind the brand, and following that one is an awesome 3-part YouTube series that shows off even more aspects of the iconic Japanese brand, Nissan's in-house performance division - NISMO: NISMO 40th anniversary: four decades of people, passion, and performance | Nissan
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