Nissan 370Z Nismo Roadster Concept Looks Showroom Ready

Luke Vandezande
by Luke Vandezande

Nissan is using the 2015 Chicago Auto Show to display a concept car that looks completely ready for dealer showrooms.

For now, Nissan says it’s a one-off preview of what a convertible sibling to the 370Z Nismo coupe would look like, offering similar performance capability to the 370Z Nismo Coupe minus the roof.

That includes the 350-hp version of the 3.7-liter V6 that powers the Nismo-tuned Z coupe along with upgraded suspension components and a more aggressive body kit. The concept car is equipped with a seven-speed automatic that comes with paddle shifters, rev-matched downshifts and a limited-slip rear end, but Nissan tells us the production version – if it ever arrives – would also be offered with a manual.

2015 Chicago Auto Show Coverage

Some of the other cool go-fast bits include lightweight RAYS 19-inch wheels, a more aggressive final drive ratio than the standard 370Z and a Nismo-tuned exhaust with an H-pipe configuration and wider pipes.

The interior gets Recaro seats trimmed in black leather with “Ultrasuede” off-white inserts, an Alcantara wrapped steering wheel, suede door panels and a Nismo-branded tachometer among other touches.

If the company decides there is demand for such a model, it could come with a price tag close between $52,000 and $57,000. Nissan charges a premium of about $10,000 to jump from the automatic 370Z coupe to the convertible. The Nismo Z coupe costs somewhere between roughly $42,000 to just under $47,000.

GALLERY: Nissan 370Z Nismo Roadster Concept

Discuss this story at our Nissan 370Z forum

Luke Vandezande
Luke Vandezande

Luke is an energetic automotive journalist who spends his time covering industry news and crawling the internet for the latest breaking story. When he isn't in the office, Luke can be found obsessively browsing used car listings, drinking scotch at his favorite bar and dreaming of what to drive next, though the list grows a lot faster than his bank account. He's always on <A title="@lukevandezande on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/lukevandezande">Twitter</A> looking for a good car conversation. Find Luke on <A title="@lukevandezande on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/lukevandezande">Twitter</A> and <A title="Luke on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/112531385961538774338?rel=author">Google+</A>.

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 2 comments
  • Alex Kozovski Alex Kozovski on Feb 12, 2015

    Dear Nissan: this would have been cool 5 years ago.

  • Mark S Mark S on Feb 13, 2015

    Lot of hate in some forums on this Z, but Nissan has managed to wring out every last cent and this change will continue this $ squeezing. High time though that the Z got a new lighter platform. They are edging towards Cayman, 4C, C7, etc. prices with this latest facelift.

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