The new Nissan Z was the surprise guest of honor at a recent Z car club event in Australia as the carmaker gears up to begin local deliveries.

Nissan Australia parked the 2023 Z – in flagship Proto guise – at the top of the Beaufoy Merlin lookout as part of the Z Car Club of NSW’s annual President’s Run. The new sports car was then used to lead a procession of club members in search of some of the finest driving roads in the local area.

Read More: New Nissan Z Priced From AU$73,300 In Australia Undercutting GR Supra By AU$14,000

“It was an amazing experience, and it was so exciting for our members, who are so passionate about their vehicles and the history of the Z, to see where this iconic model is going next,” Z Car Club of NSW president, John Wakeling said in a statement. “What’s so special about this car is that it blends elements of every historic Z model, but is still very much unique and modern. So for our members to be able to identify design elements from their own cars was amazing. Not only was it a surprise for our members, but I think Nissan might have secured a few extra customers after seeing the new Z in the metal.”

The Z’s participation in the drive comes part of Nissan’s pre-launch plan for the sports car, aimed at building anticipation and excitement for its local launch.

“We know just how passionate the fans of this model are, whether they’re driving the first Datsun 240Z or the Nissan 370Z NISMO, so we were thrilled they could be among the first people in Australia to experience the all-new Z in person,” added Nissan Australia managing director Adam Paterson. “With each new Z comes a new generation of dedicated Z-car devotees, and we look forward to introducing the all-new Z to performance car fans across Australia soon.”

The 2023 Nissan Z starts at AU$73,300 ($52,203) in Australia, meaning it undercuts the Toyota GR Supra by AU$14,000 ($9,970). Pricing for the Z Proto Spec kicks off from AU$80,700 ($57,474).