(February 8, 2013) CHICAGO — Performance is the theme at Nissan's display for the 2013 Chicago Auto Show. NISMO, Nissan's performance arm, will be center stage with the U.S. debuts of the new 2013 Juke NISMO — the complete performance makeover of the popular Juke crossover — and the 2014 370Z NISMO. The two NISMO models are part of an expansion of the NISMO brand worldwide.

Also making its first U.S. appearance is an even higher-performance version of the 2014 Nissan GT-R, the limited-production GT-R Track Edition.

The new performance vehicles share the spotlight with the production debut of the all-new 2013 Nissan NV200 cargo van, the third entry in Nissan's Commercial Vehicle line-up.

"NISMO brings a new level of performance to the Nissan brand, reinforced by its heritage as the racing heartbeat of the company," said Simon Sproule, Nissan's Corporate Vice President, Global Marketing Communications. "With the global expansion of NISMO-branded products like the new Juke NISMO and 370Z NISMO, we want to make NISMO the most recognized and respected performance brand from Japan."



NISMO vehicles are designed to be the most forward-looking expression of Nissan, offering cutting-edge performance, technology and aerodynamics, and the new Juke NISMO is set to go on sale at Nissan dealers nationwide beginning in March 2013. It is offered in all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive models in three exterior colors - white, black and silver.

The Juke NISMO model, pictured below, features nearly 100 individual revised components, including a NISMO-tuned 197-horsepower 1.6-liter DIG turbo engine, NISMO-tuned suspension, bold aerodynamic styling with a 37 percent improvement in downforce (versus non-NISMO models), NISMO interior with deeply bolstered front seats and red accents and lightweight 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels.

The 2014 370Z NISMO, (pictured above) which goes on sale this summer, features a number of exterior and interior enhancements that follow the global NISMO red-accented design theme. It is powered by an advanced 350-horsepower 3.7-liter DOHC V6 engine.

Completing Nissan's performance lineup in Chicago is the new Nissan GT-R Track Edition, the third and most exclusive model in the 2014 GT-R lineup with just 150 units to be offered for sale in the U.S.

Designed to take Nissan's legendary 545-horsepower street supercar even closer to a pure motorsports competition machine, it features a firmer suspension, special brake cooling guides, front spoiler with carbon fiber air ducts and a lightweight quilted cloth mat where the rear seats usually reside. It is set to go on sale at select GT-R certified Nissan dealerships nationwide beginning in May 2013.

Also announced is an extension of the popular Nissan "Project 370Z," a group-sourced custom-built version of Nissan's popular sports car. Introduced at the Chicago show in 2012, the project's goal was to utilize the passion and knowledge of Nissan Z fans online to help direct the creation of a unique, one-off Nissan 370Z utilizing readily available aftermarket parts and accessories.

Fans voted on potential modifications and followed along with the project's progress online. Now, a 500-horsepower 370Z has emerged, and in phase two, social media followers will select a privately owned Nissan Z to compete against Project 370Z in a showdown at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in mid-March in conjunction with Motor Trend magazine.  Details are available at https://www.facebook.com/NissanPerformance.

In addition to the array of performance vehicles revealed at the show, the all-new 2013 Nissan NV200 cargo van brings a new level of affordability and low cost of ownership to fleet and small business owners.

With a best-in-class starting price of $19,990 and segment-leading fuel economy of 24 miles per gallon City, the NV200 offers a large, 122.7-cubic foot cargo capacity within a compact overall exterior footprint.

Said Nissan Commercial Vehicles Vice President Joe Castelli: "For business owners who have been making do with larger, more costly vans and pickups than they really need, or re-purposing passenger vehicles, we're providing relief with this all-new ‘right-sized' Nissan NV200. Here in North America we're projecting the compact van segment to nearly double in size in the next few years. The Nissan NV200 will be a major part of that growth."

The NV200 goes on sale at 300 Nissan Commercial Vehicle dealers nationwide in April.