NISSAN 370Z NISMO ROADSTER CONCEPT MAKES WORLD DEBUT AT 2015 CHICAGO AUTO SHOW

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  • Combines legendary NISMO performance, style and technology with Nissan 370Z Roadster open-air motoring excitement
  • One-off design study created to gauge market interest in an ultimate factory Z® Roadster
  • Offers unique engine, suspension, exterior and interior features versus standard Nissan 370Z Roadster models – including 350-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 and NISMO-tuned suspension
  • Would join current Nissan 370Z NISMO coupe model, expanding NISMO lineup to five models

As the heart and soul of Nissan performance for both the track and on the street, NISMO continues to set the standard for straight-from-the-factory enthusiast vehicles. The lineup of NISMO production models for 2015 includes the GT-R NISMO, 370Z NISMO, JUKE NISMO and JUKE NISMO RS.

Yet as the popularity of NISMO models continues to grow – the 2015 GT-R NISMO is sold out, the 370Z NISMO accounts for 20 percent of total sales and JUKE NISMO models for about 15 percent – one group of performance enthusiast remains left out: Open-air sports car lovers. Enter the Nissan 370Z NISMO Roadster Concept, which makes its world debut at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show. The custom vehicle combines the long list of 370Z NISMO Coupe performance equipment with a modified 370Z Roadster body and interior.

“The idea of adding NISMO levels of look, feel and performance to a Nissan 370Z Roadster is one that we’ve been considering for a long time,” said Pierre Loing, vice president, Product Planning, Nissan North America, Inc. “The creation of the Nissan 370Z NISMO Roadster Concept brings that idea to life and lets us judge consumer reaction – which we predict is going to be outstanding.”

The Nissan 370Z NISMO Roadster Concept’s striking visual presence starts with the addition of its GT-R-inspired functional and fully integrated aerodynamic body pieces. In front, the deep front fascia with Hyper LED Daytime Running Lights, black headlight bezels, NISMO emblem and signature NISMO red stripe accents set the tone.

On the sides of the vehicle, the NISMO red accents and red sideview mirror covers continue the NISMO theme, adding a touch of flair to the dramatic top-down profile. In the middle of the vehicle, the fixed headrest bars are leather-wrapped with red accents. The rear is highlighted by a custom carbon-fiber rear spoiler created exclusively use on the 370Z NISMO Roadster Concept.

The convertible top itself, though it is expected to be rare that it is in the closed position, is a cloth power-folding roof with fabric inner liner design. It includes a single action top operation with automatic roof lock, steel tonneau cover and fixed glass wind deflector – just like every 2015 Nissan 370Z Roadster.

The dramatic exterior appearance is topped by an aggressive stance provided by the wide 19-inch NISMO super-lightweight forged aluminum-alloy wheels by RAYS (19×9.5-inch front, 19×10.5-inch rear), which receive a special custom finishing. Y-rated Bridgestone Potenza S001 245/40R19 front and 285/35R19 rear tires complete the package.

“With as much attention as the exterior modifications are expected to attract, we knew the interior had to be just as special, especially since with the convertible top in the down position everything is in plain sight,” said Loing. “It doesn’t disappoint.”

The NISMO-styled interior is anchored by black Recaro® leather-appointed seats with red stitching and stain-repellent, off-white premium Ultrasuede® inserts – chosen to resist heat build-up when parked in open sunlight. The interior features custom red stitching with NISMO logo, an Alcantara®-appointed leather-wrapped 3-spoke steering wheel and NISMO red tachometer.

The 370Z NISMO Roadster Concept’s suite of technology includes Nissan Navigation System with 7.0-inch VGA touch-sensitive display, RearView Monitor and Bose® Premium Audio System with six speakers and dual subwoofers to provide a clear soundtrack, even with the top down.

Even more than racing-inspired aerodynamic bodies and driver-oriented cockpit-style interiors, at its core NISMO is all about performance. To that end, the 370Z NISMO Roadster Concept is conceived to incorporate most of the engine and suspension modifications (versus non-NISMO 370Z models) of the 370Z NISMO coupe. This includes its potent 350-horsepower 3.7-liter DOHC V6 engine with Variable Valve Event and Lift Control (VVEL). The 370Z NISMO’s enhanced engine power and acceleration (versus non-NISMO 370Zs) is provided through use of an exclusive H-configured exhaust system design and muffler tuning, along with optimized ECM (Engine Control Module) calibration, to help create 18 horsepower more than a standard 370Z. Torque is rated at 276 lb-ft.

The 370Z NISMO Roadster Concept utilizes Nissan’s refined 7-speed automatic transmission with Downshift Rev Matching (DRM), Adaptive Shift Control and manual shift mode with paddle shifters. “The majority of 370Z Roadster buyers prefer the automatic transmission, which with Downshift Rev Matching and paddle shifters comes close to the performance of a 6-speed manual – so that’s how we specified the 370Z NISMO Roadster Concept,” said Loing. “Matched with the NISMO-tuned engine, suspension and steering, it is a great combination, perfect for long open-top drives along the shoreline or mountain roads alike.”

The 370Z NISMO Roadster Concept adds a NISMO-branded strut town brace under the hood, along with a red engine cover. The NISMO-tuned 4-wheel independent suspension includes special springs and stabilizer bars. Large Nissan Sport Brakes and a Viscous Limited-Slip Differential (VLSD) – with a shorter final drive ratio for better acceleration feel – are also included.

“While it is only a design study at this point, we think the 370Z NISMO Roaster Concept would be a tremendous addition to the long and distinguished history of Z® sports cars,” said Loing. “There’s still nothing better than an open top and an open road ahead of you, especially when there’s a NISMO badge on the bumper.”

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NISMO TAKES NEXT LEAP WITH 370Z NISMO ROADSTER CONCEPT AND GT-R LM NISMO RACE CAR

– On display at the Chicago Auto Show, full lineup of NISMO machines for the track, the street and potentially the future –

NISMO, Nissan’s performance arm, is poised to become an even greater force in the North American marketplace with its latest “takeover” at the Chicago Auto Show – four different NISMO models on sale now, two concepts and a racing machine that is ready to take on the world.

For more than 30 years NISMO has been a powerful part of Nissan, but only in recent years has the brand expanded in the United States on Nissan vehicles – first on the Z® sports car, then in 2013 on the JUKE NISMO, 2014 on the JUKE NISMO RS and most recently the mighty 600-horsepower 2015 GT-R NISMO.

NISMO is always looking to expand on the brand. At the 2015 Chicago Auto Show, the 370Z NISMO Roadster Concept was unveiled, a one-off design study created to gauge market interest in an ultimate factory Z® Roadster. Designed to provide the best of two worlds – the open-air driving exhilaration of a standard 370Z Roadster and the racing-inspired style and performance of a 370Z NISMO Coupe – it features unique engine, suspension, exterior and interior features versus standard Nissan 370Z Roadster models, including a 350-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 and NISMO-tuned suspension.

The new Z Concept sits side-by-side with the 240-plus horsepower Sentra NISMO Concept, first seen in 2013 at the Los Angeles International Auto Show.

“NISMO is the ultimate expression of Nissan’s ‘Innovation and Excitement’ as a performance and personalization brand,” said Pierre Loing, vice president, Product Planning, Nissan North America. “With its highly credible motorsport heritage and passionate attitude in pursuing victories and continuous performance improvement, the NISMO name is not to be taken lightly, nor are Nissans that wear the NISMO badge. This lineup helps reinforce NISMO’s goal of becoming the most recognized and respected performance brand from Japan.”

Taking On The World, One Le Mans At A Time The latest project for the NISMO team is the Le Mans P1-class Nissan GT-R LM NISMO – the ultimate Nissan GT-R, created to take on formidable competition on the highest levels. A global effort, the GT-R has been designed, engineered, built and tested by a team of carefully selected experts in Japan, the United States and Europe. Unlike other LM P1 cars, the GT-R’s V6 3.0-liter twin-turbo gasoline engine sits in the front of the front-wheel-drive car, while the hybrid power is harvested from the front driveline to augment acceleration.

This is the first time in 16 years that Nissan will be competing at the top class at Le Mans, but it has been a tour-de-force as an engine supplier in the LM P2 class with three wins over the past four years. Nissan has been also a major factor in the “Garage 56” at Le Mans, a unique program set up by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) that is reserved for innovative technology that falls outside of normal regulations, with vehicles such as the ZEOD RC, which competed in 2014.

“LM P1 cars are the most extreme sports cars in racing today and for Nissan and NISMO, the opportunity to innovate at the highest level cannot be missed,” said Darren Cox, Global Head of Brand, Marketing & Sales, NISMO. “We are excited to be going head-to-head with the best sports car racing manufacturers in the world, representing the pinnacle of current racing technology, with energy recovery systems, fuel-efficient engines and innovative aerodynamics that will be transferable to Nissan road cars of the future.”

For more information about the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO, please visit www.nissan-motorsports.com.

Nissan GT-R LM NISMO
Nissan GT-R LM NISMO

About NISMO: Nissan’s Global Motorsports and Performance Car Brand

  • Performance brand of Nissan Motor Company, responsible for motorsports activities and specialty performance cars
  • Founded in 1984 and has produced out-of-the-box factory performance and design variants of Nissan models as well as parts and accessories for more than 30 years

Nissan Motorsports International Co., Ltd. (NISMO) was founded in September 1984 as a specialty company to support all motorsports activities of Nissan Motor Company (Nissan). As Nissan’s performance and enthusiast image leader, the NISMO mission is to achieve success in motorsports using Nissan vehicles, Nissan engines, and components. NISMO also is responsible for developing and marketing base vehicles and parts for competition, supporting the motorsports clientele that has grown globally over the past several years.

In February 2013, NISMO relocated its headquarters and R&D center to Tsurumi Operations Center, near Nissan’s Yokohama Plant Area No.3. The new headquarters centralized all the functions of the company into one building, co-locating engineers, designers, planners and business development professionals with the goal of accelerating the global expansion of the brand. Within the new headquarters, teams involved in activities such as motorsports engineering provide direct feedback from racing experiences and technology to teams involved in production car and parts development.

The headquarters building is home to 180 employees, including a single-floor layout of staff working in the race car maintenance center, engineering workshop, grinding room, carbon parts autoclave and a parts warehouse.

NISMO is an integral part of Nissan’s development process for future cars, as well as the prime player in the company’s motorsports strategy. As Nissan’s halo performance division, NISMO strives to solidify its role in the company in the years to come.

The spirit of NISMO is built on its motorsports heritage and creative engineering philosophy. High performance and bold-yet-intelligent design are the key ways it demonstrates this spirit, in both its race machines and road cars.

“NISMO’s high-performance sports models possess technology and performance garnered from decades of motorsports activities,” said Cox. “NISMO’s standard DNA of high quality, high performance, unique styling and dynamic sports-handling are injected into each product.”

Corporate Profile

Company Name : Nissan Motorsports International Co., Ltd.
President/CEO : Shoichi Miyatani
Address : 6-1 Daikoku-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa 230-0053
Established : September 17, 1984
Capitalization : ¥494.8 million (100% investment by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
Sales : ¥6.539 billion (FY2013)
Employees : 189

Major business activities

– Design and development of race and rally cars; entry into domestic and international races and championships; the gathering of feedback on the racing results
– Promotion and management of domestic and international racing activities
– Planning, development and sales of competition parts for production vehicles
– Vehicle servicing, repair, modification and sales

History

1984 September: Establishment of Nissan Motorsports International Co., Ltd.
Inauguration of 1st president: Yasuharu Namba
October: Start of business activities
1985 February: Development and sale of NISMO original automobile parts begins
1987 September: NISMO Headquarters showroom given name NISMO Paddock
1988 January: NISMO Motorsports Europe (NME) established
NISMO Paddock in Kobe (the first Paddock store) opens
1989 June: NISMO Oppama Engineering Center established
1993 March: NISMO Oppama Engineering Center integrated into Omori Headquarters
April: Nissan Motorsports Europe transferred to Nissan Europe
1994 July: Merger with Mobility Park
Inauguration of 2nd president: Jiro Adachi
1995 February: Inauguration of Club Le Mans, Nissan/NISMO motorsports fan club
1997 May: NISMO Paddock changes its name to ‘Omori Factory’
November: First NISMO FESTIVAL
2002 July: Inauguration of 3rd president: Kenichi Sasaki
2004 April: Inauguration of 4th president: Yuichi Sanada
Club Le Mans changes its name to Club NISMO
2006 March: NISMO Engine development center opens
October: Administration of Mobility Park transferred to Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
2008 August: New Organization of NISMO Expert Shop and NISMO Service Center starts
2010 April: Inauguration of 5th President: Shoichi Miyatani
2012 December: HQ Relocation to Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama city
2013 January: Start of operation at new HQ
March: Showroom opens
2014 July: New Organization of NISMO Performance Center starts
The Nissan GT-R LM NISMO is the ultimate Nissan GT-R, the purest expression of innovation that excites. Competing in LM P1, the premier class of world sports car racing, Nissan's Le Mans car is like no other car before it. A truly global effort, the GT-R has been created by a team of carefully selected experts in Japan, the U.S. and Europe. Unlike other LM P1 cars, the GT-R's V6 3.0-liter twin turbo gasoline engine sits in the front of the front-wheel-drive car, while the hybrid power is harvested from the front driveline to augment acceleration.
The Nissan GT-R LM NISMO is the ultimate Nissan GT-R, the purest expression of innovation that excites. Competing in LM P1, the premier class of world sports car racing, Nissan’s Le Mans car is like no other car before it. A truly global effort, the GT-R has been created by a team of carefully selected experts in Japan, the U.S. and Europe. Unlike other LM P1 cars, the GT-R’s V6 3.0-liter twin turbo gasoline engine sits in the front of the front-wheel-drive car, while the hybrid power is harvested from the front driveline to augment acceleration.

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