Nissan celebrates the 40th anniversary of Nismo

It’s time to celebrate at Nismo. For four decades now, this subsidiary of Nissan has been dedicated to all forms of motorsport. That’s why, a few days ago, the Japanese manufacturer marked its 40th anniversary by inaugurating an exhibition of its landmark models at its headquarters in Yokohama, Japan.

From September 17 to October 15, this exhibition showcases a range of road and track vehicles associated with this famous brand. Two very rare Nismo 270R and 400R models are displayed alongside three icons of the racetrack: the Nissan R390 GT1, which secured third place at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1998; the R91CP, which unexpectedly won the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1992; and the Calsonic Skyline GT-R from group A, an undisputed star of the Japanese Touring Car Championship (JTCC).

In addition, visitors can admire the Ariya Nismo, the Aura Nismo, and the Fairlady Z Nismo, three contemporary production models that Nissan offers to its Japanese customers.

More Nismo in Canada soon?

As a full subsidiary of Nissan, Nismo began its activities on September 17, 1984. With this new entity, the manufacturer aimed to serve the world of motorsport and racing teams. Its name is actually a contraction of Nissan and Motorsports.

At the inauguration of the Yokohama exhibition, the director of Nissan’s motorsport division and president of Nissan Motorsports & Customizing Co. (NMC), Takao Katagiri, described Nismo’s raison d’être: “Our goal is to provide excitement to fans on the track, as well as incorporate the lessons learned on the race tracks into products our customers can purchase.”

He added: “Furthermore, our long-term goal is to gradually expand our business globally by offering ever more thrilling Nismo models to customers worldwide.” Will the Nismo brand soon be more present in the Canadian market? That’s a story to follow.

Photos: Nissan

The text Nissan célèbre les 40 ans de Nismo comes from L’annuel de l’automobile – Actualité automobile