2015 Nissan 370Z NISMO unveiled, detailed in surprise ZDAYZ event

The annual ZDAYZ event, which brings together Nissan Z-car enthusiasts from around the country and world, had a surprise in store for it today. Nissan unveiled the latest entry into the NISMO family of factory performance-tuned vehicles: the 2015 Nissan 370Z NISMO.

The unveil was teased yesterday afternoon, but Nissan made the announcement to the press with only a small, ambiguous teaser image and a simple one-sentence notification that we should be on hand this afternoon for something special. Well, it's hard to imagine anything more special than this.

Although the GT-R NISMO was a big thing when it unveiled late last year, it's Nissan's 370Z that gets the most attention from Nissan's sport buying enthusiasts on the street. The GT-R is a supercar by every definition, but is also out of reach for most buyers. The 370Z, however, is within the grasp of most sport car lovers and many have fallen in love with the latest in the Fairlady family of Nissan and Datsun sportcars.

For those interested in a quick runoff of the numbers and pertinents on the new 370Z NISMO, we have one at this link. If you want to get more in-depth with the car, read on.

The 2015 Nissan 370Z NISMO in detail
The most obvious change is the new exterior of the car. Inspired by the GT-R, which in turn was inspired by NISMO's racing experience, the 370Z NISMO sees fully-integrated aerodynamic body enhancements that begin at the front fascia and continue back to the tail. The goal was to optimize down force and this comes thanks to a new, deeper front fascia and scoop with smooth LED Hyper Daytime Running Lights, black headlight bezels, and the NISMO emblem and red stripe across the chin spoiler. Redesigned side sills continue the red strip, controlling air flow down the car. A unique NISMO rear spoiler is smaller and more downforce-controlling than the standard 370Z spoiler, completing the look. Signature NISMO colors adorn the car, with choice of Solid Red, Magnetic Black, Brilliant Silver, and Pearl White (shown).

Holding this beautiful body up are four 19-inch NISMO super-lightweight forged aluminum alloy wheels by RAYS. These are in a unique five-spoke design and charcoal gray finish. Under them can be seen the red calipers of the NISMO-tuned braking.

Before we talk about the power plant for this new 2015 370Z NISMO, we must look at the interior with its Recaro seating with Alcantara accents, exclusively designed for this car. They're made for acceleration and cornering, specifically to provide more uniform body pressure and all-direction holding. Red seat trim, stitching, and NISMO logos finish the interior's look to highlight the center of attention: the Alcantara-appointed, leather-wrapped steering wheel and NISMO red tachometer. The Tech model will include in-car technologies such as Nissan Navigation, a larger touch-screen, RearView monitor, and more.

Under the hood, the 2015 Nissan 370Z NISMO is powered by a 3.7-liter DOHC VVEL V6 producing 350 horsepower. This couples to an H-configured, tuned exhaust which add 18 horsepower to the standard 370Z Coupe. Torque output is 276 lb-ft into one of two transmission choices.

The standard is a six-speed manual transmission with SynchroRev Match (the world's first synchronized downshift rev-matching transmission, creating a heel-toe-like downshift). Optionally, a seven-speed automatic with Downshift Rev Matching is also available, which includes manual shift mode with paddle shifting and Adaptive Shift Control.

Keeping the car on the road is a NISMO-tuned chassis featuring four-wheel independent suspension with a NISMO-branded strut tower brace for enhanced rigidity. Performance dampers minimize road-input vibrations along with NISMO-tuned springs and stabilizers. A viscous limited-slip differential (VLSD) and short final drive ratio (3.916 manual, 3.692 auto) complete the package. Steering is speed-responsive.

Nissan has not announced 0-60 times, dyno output, or pricing for the 2015 370Z NISMO as of yet.

"There's much more to love about the 370Z NISMO than ever before – the new appearance inside and out, enhanced handling, new wheels, more technology and a choice of transmissions," says Nissan Chief Planning Officer and Executive Vice President Andy Palmer. "Our fans here at ZDAYZ want only the best and that's what this new 370Z NISMO delivers."

This will definitely be a car to watch. On a personal note, my first time on a race track in a car was in a Nissan 370Z and it is one of the most memorable experiences I've ever had.