Just the pads are S tune. There's an option for R tune.

So if I have this right benefits of the Nismo are:

Lighter bucket seats
Titanium Exhaust
Lighter forged wheels
Stiffer chasis (reinforcements)
Better brake pads, fluid, and hoses
Higher spring rate tuning

The 350Z Nismo got chassis reinforcements (seam welds). I don't believe any version of the 370Z Nismo got additional chassis reinforcements. IIRC, Nissan claimed the 370Z chassis' rigidity surpassed that of the 350Z Nismo, and they never went any further with that.

The 2015+ Nismo got different final drive ratios, with the most aggressive change being in the 7AT version. The 6MT still gets a bump from the regular sport version. I don't know what the ratios are and I'm too lazy to google them right now.

The Rays Wheels on the Nismo 370Zs are wider for both front and rear, but I don't know if they're lighter than the sport package rays. They're probably lighter than the cast 18" wheels on the base models though.

Suspension is definitely stiffer on the Nismo. I want to say sway bars are different as well, but I might be making that up.

Brakes - on a standard Nismo they're no different than a sport package, however, you can equip the optional "Nismo R Tune" pads and some fluid, but honestly, I'd save the extra cash for some Motul RBF600, Carbotech pads, and a set of SS lines.

The exhaust is not titanium on any version of the 370Z. You might be thinking of the GT-R Nismo there.

The Nismo doesn't have the 3 additional chassis braces anymore? It did for the pre-'15s.

Also, I'd be shocked if the new seats are that much lighter than the old ones.

You're right Chuck - they do. I glossed over that part.

So shorter gears ricer? I like the sound of that.

So not much of a difference from the sport Z yet there does seem to be a general consensus amongst people who review them that the driving experience is much sharper.

The extra weight on the Nismo is the body bracing. The added 18HP was put there solely to make up for the weight of the body bracing. They tried to give you the power equivalent of the lighter car while improving rigidity the extra 18HP was not put there to add performance, just equalize it..

I got less lazy today - pulled this from Car and Driver on the release of the 2015 Nismo.

Nissan has shortened the final-drive ratio for the manual version from 3.69:1 to 3.92:1.... At 3.69:1, the automatic’s final drive is also shorter than the standard 370Z automatic’s 3.36:1 rear end.

More shifting for the win lol.

Wonder what 6th is like on the highway though.

This is one of the main reasons I'm considering the Nismo aside from the body bracing.

I am a fan of the 09-14 model because it body style and suspension even though I have upgraded pretty much everything on it. I had considered changing the front bumper to the 15 model style but I'm concerned that it would provide as much air flow through the engine compartment. If you are considering a turbo setup I think an 09-14 is the way to go so you can spend your money on turbo kit and supporting mods. Also, I have actually considered swapping my final drive to the taller gears that come with the auto because with twins 1st and second gear are pretty worthless even on the track.

I have always been a fan of silver because it looks good even when it dirty and minor scratches and dings are invisible to most. I can take or leave the red accents on the new models and prefer black accents on the exterior and the red with interior.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/2/1503/2...6e2347e8_b.jpg

I regularly catch people taking pictures and video of the car!