Nissan recently invited us out to Tennessee so that we could sample, well, pretty much everything in the automaker’s current lineup. This included everything from the not-for-US consumption Micra to the not-for-US consumption Qashqai diesel. It also included a host of the automaker’s sportscars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles that are available here in the States. Additionally, the menu was also filled up with a few heritage vehicles. Guess which ones we drove first? 1965 Datsun 320 My notes say “slow” and “awesome”, and that perfectly describes the driving experience of this little pickup. And it is little, as I was barely able to squeeze my frame into the cab. Still, once inside I was thrilled to find the spartan yet delightfully classic dashboard greeting me, as well as the long gear selector that linked to four non-syncro’d forward cogs. I once got the truck up to around 60-65 miles per hour (indicated) on a downhill section of road… and that was more than fast enough. Oddly though, the speedo goes up to 120 miles per hour. I’m not sure the 320 could go that fast even if dropped out of the back of a plane. Either way, I love it. 1972 Datsun 240Z I didn’t need to take notes with this one. You know that Diddy song “Coming Home”? I was singing that to myself as I slid into the drivers seat of this wonderfully maintained 240Z. For those of you who may not know, I once drove a 240Z of similar vintage across the country, so I’m familiar with the cabin space and driving experience such a car presents. This particular Z is actually one of the vehicles that Nissan offered up for sale in 1997. These were factory restored examples with delicious asking prices. Sadly, the program didn’t sell well, and by the time the last few were being picked up, the asking price had dipped into the high teens. Feel free to kick yourself at this moment if you didn’t pick one up. Nissan Micra I wasn’t there just to ogle classic iron, despite the fact that I could’ve driven the older stuff all day long. Instead, I wandered over to the area containing the modern machines. It was a pleasure to see some forbidden fruit, even if this particular fruit isn’t immediately appealing in its country of origin. The Nissan Micra is infinitely more appealing, however, than our Versa despite being a bit smaller. The interior is nicer, and the driving experience is more interesting in that the cars small size helps take full advantage of the peppy mill mounted under the hood. Were I tasked with choosing between the roomier Versa Note and a Micra for my own car, I’d opt for the Micra and be quite happy with my choice. The Versa feels like your stuck with a choice you’ve made, while the Micra rewards you for buying a very affordable yet well equipped car. There’s a huge difference between the two. Nissan Qashqai Diesel Somewhere between the Rogue and the Murano lies the Qashqai. This is a rather handsome crossover that feels nicer than either of its American counterparts, and drives well to boot. The diesel engine is paired with a true automatic gearbox rather than a CVT, and that goes a long way in adding to the overall positive experience I had while taking the Qashqai for a drive. The gearbox is smooth, and pairs well with the quiet diesel engine. Inside, the Qashqai is extremely well equipped and also quite quiet. There’s little road noise, and the entire affair feels very buttoned up. It would be extremely expensive to bring this over as a Nissan, and it would make a new hole in between the Rogue and the Murano. I think Nissan should consider killing the EX35 (or whatever it may be called now), and offering up the Qashqai with Infiniti badges mounted front and rear. Price it against the Q5 diesel, and Infiniti could have something special in the segment. Nissan GT-R NISMO You knew I’d get here eventually. I’ve been a GT-R fan since day one, so a chance to spend time with the latest and greatest is not to be passed up. The latest king of the Godzilla hill is the NISMO-tuned GT-R, which ratchets the car up farther along its ascent to the top of Mount Olympus. The style is pushed more aggressively into the realm of the race car with the large GT3-esque wing out back. The upgraded seats are incredibly impressive in the way they hold me in tight yet don’t cause any discomfort. Additionally, the car now produces the appropriate level of noise. From the whine of the gearbox to the turbos and on to the actual barking exhaust note, the GT-R finally sounds like the street-legal race car that it is. Couple the power with the incredibly quick steering, and you’ve got a car thats price is actually low when you consider that it’s capable of beating almost every other car on the planet. Nissan 370Z NISMO This event in Tennessee is the first time Nissan has handed over the keys to its new 370Z NISMO. There’s no change under the hood, compared to the prior version of the hopped-up Z car. There is, however, upgrades to the exterior and overall feel of the car. On the outside, the NISMO Z wears the same white and red paint scheme as its GT-R bigger brother. The LED daytime lamps are integrated perfectly into the aggressive front fascia, and the large wheels and tires fill up the flared fenders quite nicely. Inside, the 370Z has upgraded buckets that help hold me in place. The steering wheel is thick and offers a great grab point, which is necessary when you’re able to fling the car in the manner that the Z allows for. The steering is quick, which is good because the car does feel a bit on the heavy side. Perhaps driving a 240Z then a 370Z is a bad idea, but the 370Z certainly makes for a fun toy that’s eager to play sideways if you’re up for it. Still, I can’t help but pine for a new version of the car. I’ve been a Z car fan for decades, starting with my own 1985 300ZX I had back in college up through the 240Z I mentioned earlier. The 370Z was a massive leap forward over the 350Z, so I hope a similar generational leap can be had in the future. Nissan self-cleaning paint It wasn’t just about driving the cars at this event. Nissan had a special trick up its sleeve, and it involves a car that the automaker is calling the cleanest car ever. This is a Nissan Leaf, which is a zero emissions vehicle, but it’s not just the all-electric powertrain that has the automaker thinking clean. This car wears a special super-hydrophobic and oleophobic paint that actually repels dirt, water, and oil. I’m not joking… the car can clean itself. That’s chocolate syrup applied to a hood that’s been treated with the special paint. The sticky stuff can’t grab a hold of the hood, and slides off keeping the painted panel clean. It’s only available in this white color at the moment, but the company (Ultra-Tech) is working on expanding the colors and the applications. It’s pretty awesome to see in person, so I hope the above GIF at least gives you a bit of an idea of how impressive this stuff is. —— So that was a sample of the products I took in during this Nissan Product Day. I drove a few more items, but I figured you’d find the above stuff the most interesting. The new stuff was fun, but the old stuff captured my heart… which is how it should be. [Disclaimer: Nissan flew me to Tennessee and then we went out and partied in downtown Nashville. That is one hell of a town if you like live music.] Images copyright 2014 Hooniverse/Jeff Glucker