With Project 370Z Nissan will allow members of social media to direct modifications to its next project vehicle

Getting all social

If there remain naysayers out there that still doubt the impact of social media on the automotive industry, what was announced by Nissan at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show should put those thoughts to rest.

Day two of media days has been set aside, since the concept was first embraced in 2009, for social media programs at the Chicago Auto Show. As the second scheduled manufacturer’s media presentation, Nissan announced the launch of a new social media alongside the preview of the upcoming 2013 Nissan 370Z.

Project 370Z

Dubbed “Project 370Z”, the goal, according to Nissan, “is 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.”

In other words, sort of an interactive “Pimp my Ride”, but on a smaller scale since the available modifications will all be sourced from the Nissan parts bin.

“Car companies build project vehicles all the time, but we thought it’d be interesting to harness the power of social media to reach out to Z enthusiasts – the people who are doing this to their own cars everyday,” said Jon Brancheau, vice president, Nissan Marketing, NNA.  “Together we’ll create a vehicle that expands on the already outstanding performance and style of the Nissan 370Z with a balance of street and track ready modifications.  Then we’ll share the finished project at upcoming Z car enthusiast gatherings around the country.”

Getting it together

The project will be accomplished in phases with at least the initial three consisting of 1)power, handling, 2)brakes, interior and 3)exterior.

During each phase, Fan Likes, Comments and Wall Posts will be reviewed with the choice(s) with the most support chosen to be added to the build (i.e. voting between a turbocharger and a supercharger during the first “power” phase) with fan involvement until the final design is revealed.

ZDayZ event

That unveiling, by the way, will take place at the annual “ZDayZ” event, an annual soiree attend by Nissan performance car enthusiasts that will take place this year at the Fontana Village Resort, Fontana Dam, North Carolina close to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on May 17th through 20th.

Not coincidentally, the event also takes place close to Tail of the Dragon, a section of highway that sports 318 curves in 11 miles that, on the website tailofthedragon.com, is described as “America’s number one motorcycle and sports car road.”

“We’re excited to see how this group-sourced Z will come out and how it will perform on both the street and track,” said Brancheau. “Social media has become a powerful communications tool and a great way for us to stay connected with our tremendous fan base. Immediacy, like social media itself, is another benefit of Project 370Z – which will be built from start to finish in less than four months.”