Nissan will show a 300hp manual Sentra Spec-V concept, a volunteer-built SCCA race Z and a Chris Forsberg S30 restomod at this year’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
Nissan is heading to SEMA with a name sport-compact fans may not have expected to hear again. The Sentra Spec-V returns as a concept, and two enthusiast-built Z projects come along with it.
All three will be on Nissan’s stand at the Las Vegas Convention Center from 3 to 6 November. They will share the space with the Z Kaze, an open-top custom Z. Nissan says it will reveal its truck and SUV concepts at a later date.
A Sentra With Three Pedals and 300hp
The Spec-V concept marks 35 years since the Sentra SE-R arrived in North America. Nissan calls it a tribute to the community that made the SE-R a star of the import scene.
The parts list is serious. A turbocharged 2.0-litre engine makes 300hp and drives through an upgraded six-speed manual taken from the Juke NISMO RS. A Brembo brake conversion from the GT-R handles the stopping.
Custom NISMO coilovers and anti-roll bars sort the chassis, and the car sits on 19-inch NISMO LM-RS1 wheels. Inside are Recaro front seats from the GT-R. Outside, a custom body kit is topped by a GT-R NISMO rear spoiler. It’s not subtle, but SEMA has never been the place for subtle.
A Race Z Built by Nissan’s Own Staff
Project NAT2 comes from the Nissan Acceleration Team, a volunteer group of employees who race in their spare time. They built the Z to SCCA Touring 2 rules, taking it from road car to club competition.
The engine, suspension and brakes all get a mix of NISMO and aftermarket parts. The team stripped the cabin and fitted a roll cage and other competition safety gear. Nice. Few show cars can say their builders did it for fun after hours.
Forsberg Bridges Two Generations of Z
Formula Drift champion Chris Forsberg, a long-time Nissan collaborator, brings a restomod-style S30. It puts the twin-turbo V6 from today’s Nissan Z inside the shape of the original.
Forsberg’s team added NISMO engine upgrades and swapped key body panels for lightweight carbon fibre. They also fitted custom suspension and brakes. The announcement gives no power figures for either Z build, but Nissan has published separate build sheets with full parts lists.
Concepts, Not Showroom Models
Nissan is clear that none of these cars are for sale. It describes SEMA as a way to keep in touch with enthusiasts and gather feedback that could shape future products.
There is precedent for that. Nissan says earlier SEMA concepts inspired its Rock Creek range, which now covers the Rogue, Kicks and Pathfinder. Some of the Nissan and NISMO accessories on the show cars may also be sold through dealers.
Scale is what separates those examples. Turning a styling theme into a trim line is one thing. Building a 300hp manual Sentra for sale is a much bigger commitment. For now, owners are most likely to see this concept’s influence in the NISMO parts catalogue.
