Nissan has given the Note Aura NISMO a darker look. The new Black Limited swaps the model's signature red accents for black — and separately, every updated Aura NISMO now rides on Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tires.
The changes arrived with an August 24 update to the whole Note range. Nissan simultaneously introduced Black Edition versions of the standard Note and Note Aura, which black out the front grille, door mirrors, wheel covers and the brand logo emblem, with a black-based interior.
The NISMO version goes further. Per Nissan's own equipment listing, the Black Limited blacks out the LED headlamps, door mirrors, badges, bumpers, side sills, seatbelts and the NISMO-specific 17×7J alloy wheels, and adds model-specific decals outside and exclusive emblems inside. On a NISMO, where red has been the identifying accent colour since the sub-brand's modern revival, removing it entirely is a bigger visual decision than it sounds.
The part that isn't cosmetic
The most significant mechanical change in the update applies to the Aura NISMO across the board, not just the Black Limited: a switch to Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tires. For a 1.2-liter series-hybrid hatchback whose NISMO treatment has always been about chassis tuning rather than power, the tire spec matters more than most line items.
Elsewhere the update is housekeeping. On most Note and Aura variants — but explicitly not the Aura NISMO — the leather-wrapped steering wheel is replaced by Nissan's TailorFit synthetic material. Two-wheel-drive Aura and Aura NISMO models gain a heated steering wheel and heated front seats as standard.
Prices
| Grade | Drivetrain | Price (incl. tax) |
|---|---|---|
| Note Black Edition | 2WD | ¥2,499,200 |
| Note Black Edition | 4WD | ¥2,785,200 |
| Note Aura Black Edition | 2WD | ¥3,271,400 |
| Note Aura Black Edition | 4WD | ¥3,518,900 |
| Note Aura NISMO Black Limited | 2WD | ¥3,644,300 |
| Note Aura NISMO tuned e-POWER 4WD Black Limited | 4WD | ¥4,011,700 |
The standard Note also received a price revision, now starting at ¥2,399,100, which Nissan attributes to rising logistics and material costs. Nissan has not announced a production cap or an end date for the Black Limited.
Why a blacked-out supermini matters outside Japan
The Note Aura NISMO is not sold in the United States and never has been, which is exactly why it holds interest for the JDM audience: it is the current, living example of NISMO applied to an ordinary Japanese car rather than to a halo model. The R35 GT-R finished production in August 2025, and the Z NISMO sits at the expensive end of the lineup. The Aura NISMO is where the badge still means "the sharper version of the car in the next parking space."
For US import purposes this is a long way off. A car built in August 2026 would reach the NHTSA's 25-year threshold in August 2051, counted from its individual build date rather than its model year — and EPA and state-level requirements apply separately in any case.