Nissan used the Chicago Auto Show to pull the veil off the 2014 370Z NISMO, showing off its new exterior design accents and cockpit revisions.

Great cars can’t sell well if the public doesn’t know about them, which is why Nissan wants to make a bigger splash in the U.S. with its NISMO tuner division. Towards that end, Nissan introduced an all new NISMO model in Chicago, the Nissan Juke NISMO) (reviewed in another one of our Chicago Auto Show posts) and also made room on the show floor for the upcoming 2014 370Z NISMO.

The design elements that distinguish NISMO Z models from the standard 370Z are bolder for the new year: A dark gray accent color has been applied to the front and rear fascias, lower side sills, side mirrors and rear spoiler, each (except the side sills) set off with red pinstripes. A new paint color, Solid Red, replaces Magma Red in the Z’s palette of five exterior colors.

Inside the 2014 370Z NISMO is a new steering wheel with Alcantara trim and red stitching. The NISMO red theme is also carried into the gauge panel, as the tachometer now sports a red face. Otherwise the NISMO Z’s interior remains the same, driver-oriented space as it was before, with sport seats, aluminum-trimmed pedals and push-button start.

Mechanically the 370Z NISMO carries over from last year, its 3.7-liter V6 producing 350 horsepower and 276 pound-feet of torque (up from the standard Z’s 332 hp and 270 lb-ft). ECM tuning helps to boost the power, as does a NISMO-exclusive exhaust system with an H-pipe and tuned mufflers. Behind the V6 is a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission with Nissan’s SynchroRev Match system, which automatically controls engine speed -- blipping the throttle, essentially -- to smooth gear changes.

The NISMO touch extends to the Z’s chassis as well. In front the suspension features performance dampers and a strut-tower brace to add rigidity to the front end, while the multi-link rear suspension has also been tuned with higher spring and sway bar rates to increase roll stiffness and firm up response. The 2014 370Z NISMO rides on 19-inch Rays forged aluminum wheels (19x9.5 in front, 19x10.5 in back) shod with Bridgestone Potenza S001 high-performance tires (245/40ZR19 front, 285/35ZR19 rear). Peeking out from behind the alloy rims are NISMO Sport Brakes with four-piston front and two-piston rear aluminum calipers.

The 2014 Nissan 370Z NISMO will be available for sale this summer.

What Others are Saying:

Car and Driver: “The new duds suit the 370Z NISMO well—especially the dark-colored lower-body pieces, which reduce the visual mass of the car’s fairly ridiculous-looking body kit. (Nissan says the extended front bumper with a fully integrated chin spoiler—the NISMO is 6.2 inches longer than a regular Z—improves aerodynamic performance; we think it just looks odd and a bit too Fast and Furious.) The subtle red pinstripes also add a bit of visual pop and convey notions of sportiness.”

Automobile Magazine: “Part of what Nissan is doing to flesh out the Nismo brand is giving the performance-oriented vehicles a raft of their own design cues. Dark grey exterior accents, red detailing, and a red tachometer are now the official Nismo look, and the main changes to the 370Z Nismo. While the upgrades to the Z may seem minor, they're worth noting for Nissan fans - these touches will show up on more Nismo-branded models.”

MotorAuthority.com: “The 2014 Nissan 370Z NISMO carries forward the previous years' refinements on the base 370Z platform, with unique aerodynamic and styling elements, a unique interior, and an uprated 350-horsepower version of the VQ 3.7-liter V-6 engine.”

Motor Trend: “The same performance enhancements that made the last 370Z Nismo a potent sports car return, including the tuned suspension, stiffer stabilizer bars, front strut tower brace, forged 19-inch Rays alloy wheels, and Nismo Sport Brakes. The 370Z Nismo’s lengthened front end and integrated chin spoiler make it 6.2 inches longer than a standard Z, while aero bits like the side sills and sculpted rear bumper help route airflow beneath the car.”