A new and rather aggressive advertising campaign regarding the Nissan 370Z and GT-R sports cars has kicked off in Britain. The company launched a series of poster and print adverts highlighting the fact that both sports cars are better in terms of performance yet cost less than their equivalent German rivals.
And mind you, Nissan isn't being polite as the automaker is using tongue-in-cheek phrases in the ads such as "The Winner Hans Down," "The Germans Came Off Wurst," "Kaisers Chiefed" and "Deutschland Deutschland Über-Rated".
To further frustrate its German adversaries, the Japanese company took an Audi TTS bearing the slogan "More expensive, slower and less powerful than a Nissan 370Z" around the streets of London. It was joined by a Porsche Cayman adorned with the words "I dream of being as fast as a Nissan 370Z". Ouch...
"It simply challenges the convention of German sportscars being the only benchmark for performance and quality," says Steve McLennan, Nissan Marketing Director.
"Nissan is confident in the ability of 370Z and GT-R to eclipse our comparable German rivals in terms of outright performance and accessibility and it's now time to shout about it."
We still haven't seen the ads on the GT-R, but the 370Z print campaign, which will appear in key men's lifestyle and motoring magazines, plus outdoor poster sites across the UK over the next six months, includes other cars as well such as the BMW Z4 and the Porsche Boxster.
The first outdoor poster concerning the 370Z went on display on the huge 360-degree 47ft tall BFI IMAX billboard at Waterloo, London.
And just in case you're not aware of the 370Z's performance specs and how it compares against the German competition, below are two charts with the basic details, courtesy of Nissan.
______________________________________________________________
58 Comments:
Nissan 370? Probably just a race track car, uncomfortable, no ride quality, zero everyday convenience.
An utter lack of respect. Porsche, Audi, and BMW have demonstrated millions of times that they can do a brutal car whenever they want to. Tons of racing victories support this. In fact, I want to hear those nissan marketing people reading the list of Le Mans champions. 917K, 911 GT-1, RS-Spyder. R8. R10. R15+. R390 What? R92 huh? Nissan what?
Nissan, you might produce some great cars but you're a total nobody when compared with german über-cars, I'm sorry but it's true.
Yes you're right, the german marques do have a more established heritage in terms of competitive racing, but the issue here is in terms of street cars on the consumer level.
You've listed a lot of legendary racing cars, but the prices that are being charged by these brands aren't for those cars, see? In essence, you're paying for a car which you hope will be associated with this racing heritage. I think that's the point that the Nissan campaign is trying to make. What they're saying is, look, here's a car for you that is cheaper, faster and more powerful than your German alternatives. And we're not yakking about competition victories and all that jazz. This is the car, period. You drive it and you see for yourself.
Just so you know, my heart still beats for cars like Porsche and BMW. I'm just saying, man. You can't always look at things through tinted glasses.
So clearly arrogant german car enthusiasts dominate the commenting sections of carscoop. If you are talking trash about Nissan; then you probably have never rode in one. And to the second Anon; all I have to say is the NISSAN SKYLINE. The RB26DETT is a 2.6L that can handle a little over 600 hp on STOCK INTERNALS. Nissan's ride amazingly smooth, and if they do ride rough, it's because they are MADE for the track. Some people enjoy a rough ride. Nuff said.
, nissan GT-R is 70K, it can beat 120K porsche 911 turbo, if nissan wants to build a 120K sport car , i dont think bmw , audi , benz , porsche have any chances to compare , nissan is way better than toyota , dont put them on same level.
yeah nissan gt-r is 70k but look at the service pricing too tires brakes etc crazy markup prices and if you launch your car alot then they dont cover the warranty tranny replacement is 22k us , plus i want too see somebody drive 1000 miles in a nissan and a audi and i think theres a big difference in ride quality, so alot these people who could afford a nissan and never rode in a audi are just jealous they cant afford a nicer product and all you nissan wannabe tuners say skyline skyline skyline !
and what do you rather get into a accident with a nissan or audi??????
yeah if we are arrogant then you are poor!!! who cant afford a very nice car, plus try going in a nissan on the autobahn at higher speeds everything shakes and flaps.
These German car lovers seem to have their butts in a twit. True is true! Nissan has offers better cars for the money. Just get over it.
yeah so if you had the money you rather buy a aero ssc over a veyron because aero has similar performance as a veyron, and how is nissan leather better than audi leather?
I am always JDM fans. Perhaps, Nissan should think why people are willing to pay a premium over slower and less powerful car. If cars are only about fast and BHP, how boring? and how difficult to make a fast car?
The only thing you buy in a german car is the brand name. With the 370Z, you get the performance, which is a main factor you want to buy a sports car. Hands down to the 370Z because it's practically affordable and costing $3000-4000 cheaper, what more if you spend it on modifications?
An utter lack of respect. Porsche, Audi, and BMW have demonstrated millions of times that they can do a brutal car whenever they want to. Tons of racing victories support this. In fact, I want to hear those nissan marketing people reading the list of Le Mans champions. 917K, 911 GT-1, RS-Spyder. R8. R10. R15+. R390 What? R92 huh? Nissan what?------- Do you see any of those in the road? We're talking about an everyday car, not a track car.
Still nissan cars with quality and germans rivals just badge and you afraid to take a ride german car because they can broke down every second
@ anonymous #1 :
"Nissan 370? Probably just a race track car, uncomfortable, no ride quality, zero everyday convenience."
you clearly don't know what you are talking of...
getting personal....I like it.
Considering that the 370 needs about 60 more horsepower to be a fraction of a second faster.. It just shows how inefficient its design really is to its 'counterparts'.
Nissan 370z sounds like cement mixer according to Edmunds (cheap sound insulation), has almost no rear visibility and its brakes are poorly engineered (C&D driver almost got killed because of that). Nissan should shut up because they have a long way to go.
So what ? Nissan GT-R & Nissan 370Z ? A Toyota Corolla is better than you , I can bring 4 adult , I can save so much fuel , I can run fast as well (only disadvantage is , it might crash) !
Why would anyone want a V6 over a Flat or Straight 6?
It is a pity that Europe does not have Far East nearby to utilize under aged kids for 12 hours straight for peanuts a day in their sweatshops. May be if the car manufacturers too start doing what clothing industry of Europe and North America does, their car's superior design, beauty, and practicality wins over the competition who even acquire the designs from some sketchy methods.
But I think these ads are desperate measures to win back the business from Koreans who are making nicer and better cars than their neighbor. A Porsche is a statement of status. What is a Nissan?
What a brilliant Ads Campaign!!
When a Japanese car company like Nissan gets aggressive...all German brand stickers get uncomfortable. It was good eh.. when they churned out quality after quality giving utmost value to consumers with thier heads down...It was good then...well not now....there is no match for cars like 370z and the GT-R in thier classes.
Some of the comments above....ridiculous...Nissan on the autobhan shakes and flaps...autobahn has one of the best road surfaces in the world, its not the place where you take cars to test thier stability. On such roads any car does well on high speeds. These Nissan cars do well on most of the lesser roads leave alone the autobahn. Unshakeable.
I'm no Japanese / German fanboy but iam a true auto lover and i know how to pick out the best.
Numbers do not tell the whole story. I have only owned one German car and it was a Volkswagen GTI. However, I did test drive the 370Z, and have driven and and ridden in many Audi's, Porsches and BMW's. There are many intangibles that make a vehicle feel "right". Why do you think BMW's and Porsches often come out on top in comparison to other vehicles in their categories? Sure, there are performance bargains out there, and many are good cars, but they often fall short in some categories. To get back to the 370Z; it is quick, it handles well, and it is a relative bargain for performance. However, it is noisy, the engine note is raspy and less than desirable, and the interior (at least in my humble opinion) does not quite meet the quality or design of the others mentioned. It is not always about stoplight to stoplight racing. I unfortunately have never had the pleasure of driving a GTR, but it seems to be a monster performance bargain. I'll have rely on expert reviews until I have a chance to get behind the wheel. Nissan has done a commendable job on their vehicles, but if I can get into a Porsche or a BMW for a few thousand more than a Nissan (Try and find a Nissan for the base prices listed; a 370Z roadster for 30k pounds, good luck!) I'll spend the extra scratch on the Germans and lose a few stoplight drags to the Nissans.
Alot of fools talking crap cause they don't really know what they are talking about. Must have bought overpriced german cars that got beat up by jdm cars for less money.
Great ad campaign!!
Yea, but the TT looks better, is better made with better materials and better design and will have better resale value.
they see me rollin, they hatin...
370Z is Cheaper because it's Made out of cheaper materials.
Every Nissan/Infinity I've had the experience of driving in the last five or six years (and I test drive a lot of cars) hasnt had the feel of quality as any other car out there! DODGES FEEL MORE WELL PUT TOGETHER!!! And I don't care for American cars as much as Japanese or German cars. And when Car & Driver magazine here in the states decided to test the Nissan GT-R, they decided to put the car against a Porsche 911 Turbo4 and a BMW M3... the car they picked as the car they would rather own... sure was the BMW M3...
and the legal department from audi/porsche/bmw is happy with this kind of advertising? see you in court nissan!!!
Cayman vs 370z?
how about cayman S vs 370z. now we are talking
we see you rollin with your cheap nissan and im hatin those spinners rims.
The funny thing is "Top Gear" did several reports on the Nissan 350Z as well as 370Z and even compared in one video to the Audi TT....and guess what? the Nissan was their all time favorite car they have EVER driven. You might want to check out the You tube vids.
This is a time waster. Nissan 370z or GT-R any day for me. Nissan is getting more coveted by the day, but if you want brand name just buy the Audi TT or Cayman and live with it thereafter. You cannot change anything later unless you are rich enough to change your mind.
Having driven both the Nissan & a handful of Audis ie S3, TTS I'd like to shed a little light on the subject. Nissan 370z is a great enthusiast car for the street and the track and does come with many extra features which do provide good value for money. However when comparing with Audi and Porsche, the advertising by Nissan is missing out on a big point - they're LUXURY PERFORMANCE. The design, interior ambience, overall refinement is far above and beyond what Nissan have shown thus far. What people pay for are the things I've mentioned above plus the exlusivity. It's comparing apples with oranges.
As for the "slower & less powerful" on the side of a Audi TTS, yes the TTS has a smaller displacement engine, thus less power but is lighter and in fact faster than a 370Z thanks to ASF, AWD & DSG. :P
Some of the comments above....ridiculous...Nissan on the autobhan shakes and flaps...autobahn has one of the best road surfaces in the world, its not the place where you take cars to test thier stability. On such roads any car does well on high speeds. These Nissan cars do well on most of the lesser roads leave alone the autobahn. Unshakeable.
I'm no Japanese / German fanboy but iam a true auto lover and i know how to pick out the best.
So you are sayin that a nissan at higher speeds is very stable at 150 mph and a nissan is better then a audi on the twisty roads of europe?
so you know how to pick out the best and all could come up with is nissan ? go to europe for a month or two and drive on the roads there then you should talk
The funny thing is "Top Gear" did several reports on the Nissan 350Z as well as 370Z and even compared in one video to the Audi TT....and guess what? the Nissan was their all time favorite car they have EVER driven. You might want to check out the You tube vids.
yeah they also like the datsia sondero, audi tt not audi tts there is a big difference between the two do some research first
A Nissan 370Z faster and better than an Audi TTS? Please...
Jeez... what's the big deal? Japanese cars have always been a better value for the money. I really don't see Audi and Porsche lowering the price of their cars to match the Z. And I don't see most people choosing a Z if they are able to afford a Porsche or Audi. What Nissan has done is make people who can't quite afford the German cars take Notice of the Z. And that's perfectly okay in my book.
@ anon 39
That situation is not going remain the same. Premium Japanese cars are on thier way and when its Premium and its Japanese its a whole new level altogether.
Mostly senseless arguments here.
All of the cars have something to offer, depending on individual preferences, ego, and pocket book.
I have driven all of these cars numerous times and the Cayman and 'Z' are the most capable and fun to drive.
I like to get a lot for my money so my pick would be the 'Bad Boy' 370Z. It just has that hard to define fun factor missing in the others(Think Miata with Power!) and is an out right bargain here in the NW US where a new one can be picked up for around $28.000.
When you factor in the options and maintenance costs, plus the reliability of the 'Z', it's the most common sense way to go for my performance/fun money.
Bottom line is, that most buyers can't even begin to explore the capabilities of any of these vehicles so they are wasted on the average new driver/purchaser and are really purchased for ego.
Most of these cars don't reach the true enthusiast until purchased second or third hand.
With the 'Z', that typical enthusiast second or third hand purchaser can step up to new at the end of the model year or over stock sales.
Without the competent competition from the far East these past few decades, we would all be driving fare lesser vehicles. So all enthusiasts should take a bow towards the setting sun.
ROFLMFAO at Nissan, comparing the Nissans with the German counterparts is like comparing a Kia Soul with a Mini Cooper, same gas milage but which one would your rather drive if you had a choice? No brainer, so the price premium is justified. The 2010 370Z is a nice car and is on par with a 2001 BMW M3, regarding performance, and doesn't even come close aesthetically...the 370Z is a nice car but nothing our of the ordinary, it's cheap for a reason...German Engineering FTW, epic fail for Nissan trying to discredit the competition which, in fact, is better...
??? What's going on in 'Comments'?
* This car is freekin sweet. I was thinking of makin... - 11/16/2008 - Anonymous
* It's all about preferences and how big your wallet... - 11/16/2008 - Anonymous
* I think I like the look of the new 370Z yet I have... - 11/16/2008 - JB
* That is one hideous looking centre stack on the ba... - 11/16/2008 - Anonymous
* BBBAAAAHHHH Why not go and bye a real car in the f... - 11/16/2008 - Anonymous
Silly people! Yes, german cars have a good history, but lets come back to today.
Audi and other German carmakers need to up their game. I'm not paying an uber-premium just for a badge, that's bad for me as a consumer.
Hyundai's doing things right these days; value for money. They have a bad history, but have learned and offer the best deals AND cars, win:win for them and the consumer.
The Nissan advertising is brilliant and hilarious, you German car lovers need to stop showing prejudice and think as reasonable consumers.
timex and rolex...
Only thing Nissan doesn't tell are the running costs and the value of the car when you want to resell it after a few years.
Nissan has some nice engines nowadays, but they use more fuel then the German engines consume. And since fuel economy is so important these days, put those in the tabel and see what's the better car.
Secondly, if I want to resell my car after a few years, I'd reckon I get more money for a German car than for a Nissan. And now you can say that those are more expensive than the Nissan to begin with, but I mean in percentage of the orginal price.
And I still prefer saying I drive a BMW, Audi or Porsche instead of having to say 'I drive a Nissan, BUT it's a 370Z/GT-R!' Just my opinion though ;)
German ad campaign:
Nissan 370Z: I dream of being a Porsche.
Timex versus Rolex...depends on what you are looking to accomplish. If you want to impress your friends, and maybe have a little help landing that girl for the night..the Rolex is the winner as everyone will assume you have lots of money, never mind you are making payments on it.
If you want something to submerge, hit, drop, beat, works in hot or cold for year on end without being wound or on the rocker while not being so much as a second off in time...Timex.
I think the same applies to cars. Nissan just gets the job done...period. May not impress your friends or help with your small penis size...but for not a lot of money you will run with and sometimes outperform cars costing 2-3 times as much.
Anonymous said on July 27th-
"Mostly senseless arguments here.
All of the cars have something to offer, depending on individual preferences, ego, and pocket book."
While I disagree with whether "ego" necessarily has to do with it,(I'm sure some of these 'first owners' are enthusiasts), I think his assessment is spot-on.
I just had the cash to use the (now 2nd owner) Cayman S for my performance/fun money best value. And just like Car&Driver found the Porsche to be the car they would choose at twice the price of the 370Z, I would choose my car. I did.
We have a 240sx in the driveway that got me through the lean years as my go-kart; now we have a new, better one, too. But I still enjoy driving the 240 every time I get in it.
I think it's a very easy question.
You rich, you buy a porsche
you poor, you buy a nissan
For people always say Porsche, BMW, Audi overpriced, That's when you are still poor. After you become rich, you won't even think about buying a nissan. (except the GTR)
Nissan thinks they place 370Z in the same market as Caymon, Z4 etc... but actually no...If you talk about actual market. they have completely different buyers. You can tell 370Z is obviously sport>luxury, and the others are sports=luxury, especially Z4 is luxury>sports.
And for that ad, Since the 370Z is already cheaper than the other cars there, whey don't you make the contrast even bigger by comparing Caymon S, Z4 35is, TT-RS. Oh right, because otherwise 370Z will be cheaper, slower and less powerful, and everything makes sense again.
Wow SO many haters ... Just admit Nissan is putting affordable High caliber performance in the hands of the masses and thats what counts.
Period! Not only can i run with the big boys but for a lot less money i can dominate them on track day!
End of story.
Well... round about every blog posts online don't have much originality as I found on yours.. Just keep updating much useful information so that reader like me would come back over and over again.
How to seduce a woman
why would you spend a few thousands more in a slower car?
you dont wanna buy a race car to go to work everyday. I drive 10 miles to work, traffic sucks and mostlikely its about 5 or 10 miles per hour..... why the heck would i buy a cheap car, if i can afford a nice, better looking one, which is gonna make me happier?
test drive a nissan sentra, then a nissan maxima fully loaded.... THAT is how i feel driving my BMW compared to a nissan.
sure they're faster, but why you want a really fast car, if here (at least in Beverly Hills) you cannot drive as fast as you want?
you wanna buy a car that meets your personal requirements. the thing is.... if you dont know what it is, then you dont need it..... same here, if you havent tried one, then you cannot compare those cars.
JDM, modified turbo'd civics, subaru wrx sti, mitsubishi evos, nissan silvia, skyline, suppras, old american cars, whatever your junk is.
if those would be better than new expensive cars, ppl would buy those instead of others.
brake system, security, ergonomic, engines and transmissions made to feel like soft air touching your skin, shifts are great on expensive cars.....the list goes on...
but honestly.... trying to make you guys see what the difference is, is a waste of time. i am NOT, by any mean, saying Nissan or Toyota are bad cars. their durability is really good. why? they're rustic. and rustic ppl buy them too.
i bet all you nissan lovers have dirty nails, bad jobs, live in a bad neighordhood and all that getto crap.....
oh well.... too bad. keep buying those "cheap race cars".....
nissan will get a kick in the face for doing this and destroying a bmw!!!!!!!!!!
It's interesting to read the thread of comments. If only all concerned could look at the 370Z and the GTR as performance cars and measure them accordingly. Both cars are products of advanced performance engineering (made by top technicians in the trade and not sweat shop kids!). I own both cars and I reckon that on a value-performance measure, both cars are kings in their respective category. Before you start lambasting these performance products from Nissan Motors, go check out the cars on any road surface and be objective and not coloured in your observations. Give credit where credit is due. The Japanese have got their act together and it's only going to get better. Mike Sebastian - Singapore
Comments on this blog are too biased towards German cars. All I would say is keep an open mind and be thankful for competition! I respect all these cars but own a 370Z because it's the best value for money. I can afford a Porsche or Audi and definitely considered them but the premium price tag is ridiculous. I may as well flush my money down the toilet. It wasn't a hard final decision to make when I found myself comparing a Cayman S with a 370Z. The Cayman S is more than double the price (here in Australia, we get screwed on price). I understand there is more to it than 0-62mph times but taking everything into consideration the 370Z is the sensible choice. I personally think the 370Z interior is very nice and luxurious. Nissan tech in the cars is impressive and Nissan as a brand deserve much more respect than they get!
"It
simply challenges the convention of German sportscars being the only
benchmark for performance and quality," says Steve McLennan, Nissan
Marketing Director.
tablet pc
Just so you know, my heart still beats for cars like Porsche and BMW.
I'm just saying, man. You can't always look at things through tinted
glasses.
hefty trash cans
Post a Comment