2014 Nissan 370Z NISMO Preview: Chicago Auto Show

The 2014 Nissan 370Z NISMO continues to fine-tune the factory-backed high performance edition of the already potent standard edition of the 370Z.  Although Nissan hasn’t made any changes to the 370Z NISMO’s drivetrain, extra attention has been paid to shaping how the two-seater moves through the air, and a few other small details have been altered in order to give the 2014 model its own air of exclusivity compared to the NISMO that preceded it.  Nissan has vowed to spread the NISMO brand across a wider swath of its lineup, with the 370Z NISMO being joined this year by the very first Juke NISMO crossover.

What’s New for the 2014 Nissan 370Z NISMO:

• Massaged body shape

• New colors and interior trim changes

New 2014 Nissan 370Z NISMO: Styling and Design

It’s not immediately obvious when first looking at the car, but the 2014 Nissan 370Z NISMO is just a bit more than six inches longer than any other factory-built 370Z.  Much of this extended body work can be found up front, where NISMO designers have added a chin spoiler and stretched the front fascia in order to improve the automobile’s stability.  A NISMO-specific rear bumper and a rear spoiler also do their part to improve the coupe’s aerodynamics.  The passenger compartment of the automobile includes numerous shout-outs to the NISMO brand in the form of badges and stitched logos, and Nissan also makes available a Bose stereo upgrade as the 370Z NISMO’s only option.

New 2014 Nissan 370Z NISMO: What’s Under the Hood

The 2014 Nissan 370 NISMO is mechanically identical to the 2013 model, which means that it is motivated by a 3.7-liter V-6 engine that churns out 350 horsepower and 276 lb-ft of torque.  A six-speed manual transmission remains the sole gearbox offered with the car, and it comes with the SynchroRev Match feature that automatically blips the throttle when the clutch pedal is depressed so as to smooth out each shift and not upset the NISMO when traveling at speed.

New 2014 Nissan 370Z NISMO: Features and Technology

Handling is a highlight of the 2014 Nissan 370Z NISMO, which comes with stiffer shocks and springs, a strut brace to tighten up the rear of the chassis, and special 19-inch forged wheels sourced from aftermarket manufacturer RAYS.  High performance summer rubber (Bridgestone Potenza S001 tires) is wrapped around these lightweight rims, which adds considerably to the amount of grip offered by the coupe.  NISMO brakes – 14-inches up front and nearly as big at the rear wheels – address the need to haul the 370Z NISMO down from triple-digit speeds.

New 2014 Nissan 370Z NISMO: What Autobytel Thinks

We would have liked to have seen a more powerful engine sitting between the 2014 Nissan 370Z NISMO’s front fenders here in Chicago, as the vehicle’s platform offers so much potential to build on its current track-day thrills.  An entertaining car to be sure, but we can’t help but think that Nissan missed an opportunity with the NISMO to go after Corvette fans with a tempting combination of handling and high horsepower.  We might be looking at the apex of what the company’s motorsports engineers can safely achieve in terms of output from the current-generation VQ six-cylinder motor.

 Photos by Megan Green