Nissan GT-R and 370Z Capture Edmunds' Inside Line '2009 Readers' Most Wanted(SM) Awards'

FRANKLIN, Tenn., June 22 -- Two all-new Nissan sports cars, the Nissan GT-R and Nissan 370Z, have been named to "Edmunds' Inside Line 2009 Readers' Most Wanted(SM) Awards" list. The GT-R and 370Z were the only double winners, taking two categories each in the poll of readers' favorites in 15 vehicle categories designated by vehicle type and price range. The GT-R was previously named an "Instant Classic" in the "Edmunds' Inside Line Editors' Most Wanted(SM) Awards" in November 2008 (the 2009 Nissan 370Z was not available at that time). Edmunds' Inside Line is an online magazine for automotive enthusiasts produced and hosted by Edmunds.com. Results of the poll were announced earlier this week.

The Nissan GT-R supercar was named "most wanted" in the categories "Speed over $30,000" and "Instant Classic Over $30,000." Reader comments included praise such as:

  --  One word: GODZILLA.
  --  Hands down the most performance you can get for the money.
  --  King of all cars.
  --  Engineering at its best.

The Nissan GT-R, first introduced in the United States in July 2008, has earned near universal acclaim, including being named Motor Trend "2009 Car of the Year," Automobile magazine's 2009 "Automobile of the Year" and winning a "2009 Best Resale Value Award" from Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com. It features a 485-horsepower 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, an advanced paddle-shifted, dual clutch rear transmission and a world's first independent rear transaxle ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive system. The 2010 Nissan GT-R has a starting MSRP* of $80,790.

The Nissan 370Z was the top vote getter in the "Speed Under $30,000" and "Instant Classic Under $30,000" categories. Comments included:

  --  Beautiful car with incredible performance and low price = instant
      classic.
  --  Still a TRUE sports car. Nothing comes close.
  --  Best Z ever produced...period.
  --  Killer looks, super strong engine, and the rev-matching system makes
      any regular Joe seem like a seasoned track vet.

The 2009 Nissan 370Z Coupe went on sale in December 2008 with a starting MSRP* of $29,930. The dramatically styled new Z offers a standard 332-horsepower 3.7-liter DOHC V6 engine with Variable Valve Event and Lift Control (VVEL), available 6-speed close-ratio manual transmission with SynchroRev Match (the world's first synchronized downshift rev matching manual transmission), a refined 4-wheel independent suspension and a long list of available technology features. An all-new 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster is scheduled to go on sale at Nissan dealers nationwide in late summer.