Nissan 370Z Project Clubsport 23 Packs Twin-Turbo V-6 for SEMA 2018

Poor Nissan 370Z. After being introduced to the model year and updated for 2013, it's been years since Nissan's given it much attention. But while there is no new model or major update on the way, SEMA this year. So at least the little sports car has not been completely forgotten.

Nissan says it built the Project Clubsport 23 to be "a vehicle that could duplicate themselves using Nissan Motorsports or aftermarket parts." And with the Halloween-appropriate orange wrap, a carbon-fiber splitter, an aftermarket air dam, a modified rear bumper , rear foglights, carbon-fiber side view mirrors, and a carbon-fiber hood, it certainly looks like something to Z enthusiast would build. Inside, we're big fans of the diamond-stitched leather interior and new racing seats.

The most interesting part of the Clubsport Project 23, however, is under the hood. Nissan got rid of the naturally aspirated V-6 that powered the stock 370Z Nismo and replaced with a twin-turbo V-6 from one of the Infiniti Red Sport 400 models. That means power is up from 350 hp to 400 hp.

But since the new engine has never been paired with a manual transmission before, Nissan had to work with MA Motorsports to develop the necessary components. The tuning shop is a twin-turbo engine, and has the modified driveline to the Nismo Pro-Carbon GT two-way limited-slip differential and the MA Motorsports differential cooler.

According to on demand, Nissan says it can offer some of the builder's kit to allow customers to recreate the Clubsport Project 23 on their own. Such a kit would presumably include the upgraded brakes and suspension, wheels, and tires, as well as the body kit. But it was not clear that the parts needed for the engine would be offered, too.

It's also a little strange that Nissan has gone to the trouble of doing a whole thing for this project, especially one that has never been paired with a manual transmission before.

Getting the engine and the transmission to play well together has been made easier than ever before. It is also important that you consider it to be 50 hp (though much more likely to be available very early in the rev range).

But what if there are plans for this engine swap that go beyond a one-off SEMA project? Could Nissan be planning a powertrain update for the 370Z? Gold is the Infiniti maybe planning a manual version of the Q50 and Q60? Nissan has not said that way, but you never know.