Fans at the annual ZDayZ gathering in North Carolina had a world-class view of the Great Smokey Mountains, and were among the first to see the 2015 Nissan 370Z NISMO.
"This is the most amazing and most beautiful car that I have seen in a very long time. The lines on the car - I love the color accents, the racing seats are perfect, and the steering wheel? That's a very nice touch," said Pamela Robinson, ZDayZ attendee.
This is a gathering of hundreds of Nissan, Datsun and NISMO owners and enthusiasts and, according to Nissan, the perfect setting for the debut of this car.
"ZDayZ draws several hundred of our most passionate and enthusiastic fans, and honestly I can't think of a better audience to reveal this car for. These people are passionate about performance. They are passionate about road cars. We see this vehicle as the perfect balance between street and track. So it is really the perfect place to hold this reveal," said Ty Webb, Nissan Marketing.
The 370Z NISMO is extensively revised for the 2015 model year. It features exterior and performance refinements, an interior with Recaro sport seats, a 7-speed automatic transmission option and a new 370Z NISMO Tech grade.
What's under the hood? A potent 350-horsepower, 3.7-liter double-overhead-cam V6 engine with Variable Valve Event and Lift Control. That engine is matched with an exclusive, tuned, H-configured exhaust system design, muffler tuning and optimized Engine Control Module calibration. That creates 18 more horsepower than a standard 370Z Coupe.
With a fresh new appearance inside and out, enhanced handling, new wheels, more technology and a choice of transmissions, the fans at ZDayZ were delighted with the old sights of Zs past, and a clear view of the future.
"I am like a kid in a candy story. You can't sleep the night before," said Jon Parham, ZDayZ attendee.
"I am an owner of seven Z cars, and I just love the fact that they (Nissan) would bring the 370Z NISMO here to show us. We really are the core, the grass-roots group. We love it," said Chris Myers, ZDayZ attendee.
"The Z is really the essence of the Nissan brand. When I think about Innovation that Excites, it is our most exciting model. It has a history. It has these passionate fans," said Webb. "Honestly to be able to introduce that here, with these fans, I felt honored to be able to do that. As a brand we are all honored to have such a great car."
The 2015 Nissan 370Z NISMO goes on sale at U.S. Nissan dealers in July 2014.
