Automotive
Within the ever-shifting world of contemporary sports activities automobiles, surprises nonetheless occur. And this yr, one of many greatest surprises comes from Nissan, because the Z has managed to outsell the Toyota GR Supra by a staggering 3-to-1 margin to this point in 2025. For anybody who’s been following the evolution of each automobiles, this twist wasn’t precisely anticipated. However right here we’re.
After we reviewed the 2024 Nissan Z Efficiency with the guide transmission, we got here away totally impressed by its mix of traditional rear-wheel-drive enjoyable, usable energy, and reversion styling that simply works. It felt like Nissan lastly hit the candy spot between nostalgia and trendy efficiency. On the time, gross sales didn’t fairly mirror how good the automobile was, probably on account of lingering provide chain points, inflated seller pricing, and a comparatively sluggish manufacturing ramp-up. Now, these hurdles appear to be largely within the rearview mirror.
In line with the most recent numbers, demand for the Nissan Z has exploded in 2025. First-quarter gross sales surged 108 %, with 1,635 models bought. That momentum continued into the second quarter, bringing the entire to three,789 models by means of the primary half of the yr. That’s a 160.1 % enhance year-over-year — an enormous leap that displays rising curiosity and availability.
Examine that to the Toyota GR Supra, which, regardless of providing a compelling package deal and eventually including a guide transmission lately, hasn’t been in a position to preserve the identical momentum. We gave excessive reward to the 2023 GR Supra 6MT after we examined it, appreciating the way in which Toyota and BMW managed to inject some analog soul into an in any other case very tech-heavy automobile. Sadly, gross sales haven’t adopted swimsuit. Thus far in 2025, simply 1,231 Supras have discovered houses within the U.S., marking a 17.7 % decline in comparison with this time final yr.
Whereas the Z’s resurgence is price celebrating, it’s price noting that its most important rival received’t be round for much longer. Toyota has confirmed that the present Supra will finish manufacturing after the 2026 mannequin yr, with a limited-run Last Version of simply 1,300 models wrapping issues up. That mentioned, Toyota followers can take consolation in understanding {that a} sixth-generation Supra is already in improvement, probably closing the lengthy hole that after stretched 20 years between generations.
In fact, the sports activities automobile panorama has shifted fairly a bit, and whereas the Z is at present stealing the highlight from the Supra, each are nonetheless light-years behind the phase’s quantity chief — the Ford Mustang. Even with a 14.2 % dip in gross sales, Ford managed to maneuver 23,551 Mustangs within the first half of 2025. That’s greater than 4 instances the mixed gross sales of the Z and Supra. The Mustang’s broader enchantment and a number of drivetrain choices proceed to make it the go-to selection for American coupe consumers.
After which there’s the Nissan GT-R. Whereas probably not in the identical gross sales dialog on account of its value and now-limited availability, it’s price mentioning that simply 37 GT-Rs have been bought within the first half of 2025. That marks a 75.5 % drop, however with U.S. manufacturing ending final October and order books closing in Japan in February, the writing was already on the wall. The R35 chapter is closed. The subsequent-generation GT-R is coming, but when the Hyper Drive idea is any trace of what’s subsequent, anticipate a radical, probably all-electric future.
For now, the Nissan Z’s sturdy displaying in 2025 proves that even in a market leaning closely towards crossovers and EVs, there’s nonetheless room for an old-school, rear-drive sports activities coupe achieved proper. Whether or not this tempo retains up stays to be seen, however the message is evident — lovers are paying consideration.
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Lloyd Tobias is a seasoned automotive journalist and passionate fanatic with over 15 years of expertise immersed on the earth of automobiles. Whether or not it’s exploring the most recent developments in automotive know-how or conserving a detailed pulse on breaking business information, Lloyd brings a pointy perspective and a deep appreciation for all issues automotive. His writing blends technical perception with real-world enthusiasm, making his contributions each informative and interesting for readers who share his love for the drive. When he’s not behind the keyboard or underneath the hood, Lloyd enjoys take a look at driving the most recent fashions and staying forward of the curve in an ever-evolving automotive panorama.
