Nissan has fitted the Sentra Spec-V Concept with a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine rated at 300 wheel horsepower (whp) on the company’s build sheet, plus a six-speed manual for its SEMA Show appearance. Announced on 28 October 2026, the concept revisits the Sentra SE-R, which arrived in North America in 1991, 35 years earlier. Nissan presents it as a tribute to the model’s sport-compact heritage, not as a confirmed production programme.
The concept wears a widened BOMEX body kit, with extended bumpers and flared arches. Nissan reshaped the grille to improve cooling and added a sports intercooler. A redesigned bonnet and rear wing, both inspired by the R35-generation Nissan GT-R Nismo, complete the changes. The car also gets a custom side-exit exhaust and red detailing, along with 19-inch NISMO LM-RS1 forged wheels fitted with Advan Neova AD09 tyres.
Under the bonnet, the MR20DD 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine gains a Garrett G25-550 turbocharger and upgraded internals, including new connecting rods and pistons. Nissan has also changed the fuel system, including its injectors. The company’s build sheet specifies 300 whp; Car and Driver reports that the regular naturally aspirated Sentra is rated at 149 horsepower. The upgraded six-speed manual comes from the Nissan Juke NISMO RS and is paired with a helical limited-slip differential, sending power to the front wheels. Revised front dampers and stiffer springs work with new anti-roll bars; Brembo brakes from the GT-R Nismo provide the stopping power.
Inside, Recaro seats from the GT-R Nismo are paired with a NISMO steering wheel. A roll cage and safety harnesses complete the cabin changes. The Spec-V name has appeared on earlier performance Sentras: the 2002 SE-R Spec V used a 2.5-litre engine rated at 175 horsepower and 180 lb-ft, paired with a six-speed manual and helical limited-slip differential. Nissan later sold a 200-horsepower Sentra 2.5 Spec V in Canada. The new car is a show-car announcement, not a confirmed retail model, unlike the Zeekr 9X's Spanish debut.
The Sentra Spec-V is one of three Nissan vehicles scheduled for the 2026 SEMA Show. The other two are a Datsun S30 concept and a Project NAT2 SCCA Touring 2 Z. The cars are due to appear at booth No. 21521 in the Basic Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center from 3 to 6 November. The Sentra SE-R’s sportiest variant was last produced in 2012, information from Kelley Blue Book. Nissan has not announced a production version of the concept.
