Nissan’s latest Z-car is getting on a bit now. It’s knocking on the door of ten years old, and you might be expecting a new one any day. Well, at this year’s SEMA show, the Japanese automaker debuted an updated model — but it may not be what you’d expect.
Project Clubsport 23, as Nissan refers to it, is the company’s love letter to the sports car. At first glance, the 23 wouldn’t look out of the ordinary at any enthusiast gathering, and that’s the point. Nissan built PC23 to be “a vehicle that owners could duplicate themselves using Nissan Motorsports or aftermarket parts”. Well, that’s something the car makes clear as soon as you clock it.
From the carbon fiber front splitter, to the modified rear bumper, it fits the bill and then some. In putting the project together, Nissan started as any enthusiast would: with a donor body and engine. Apart from the exterior customization, the latter is where things get interesting. Ditching the original V6 engine, its replacement is Infiniti’s 3.0L twin-turbo V6 with 400hp. Even better, the automaker retained the Z’s 6-speed manual transmission.
That’s quite a big deal as the VR30DDTT has never paired alongside a manual transmission. Thanks to the help of MA Motorsports, that’s now a reality. The shop developed a clutch disc, cover and flywheel assembly to mate to the engine.
MA Motorsports also created a new exhaust system for the Clubsport. The three-inch system has dual exits through the rear license plate body panel. There’s other modifications to the original NISMO body, with a carbon fiber hood fitted with Aerocatch hood pins, and carbon fiber mirror covers.
Nissan fits new NISMO front and rear suspension components, along with KW coil-overs and Eibach rear springs. Braking is courtesy of Z1Motorsports two-piece discs, NISMO HC street/track brake pads and NISMO stainless steel brake lines.
Unfortunately, Project Clubsport 23 isn’t available for purchase — or at least not yet. Depending on interest levels, Nissan Motorsports may offer a “builders kit”, consisting of “hard parts and electrical components”, allowing customers to build their own Project Clubsport 23 car.
As the Clubsport borrows from several different performance parts suppliers, exactly what that kit might consist of is a little unclear. It would seem a rather pricey kit to include that twin-turbo Infiniti engine and manual gearbox conversion, so buyers may have to settle for cosmetics, brakes, suspension, wheels and tires.
Of course the Clubsport might herald an all-new powertrain for the 370Z in the future too…
See more articles on Nissan, Nissan 370Z, and SEMA 2018.
