Importers get jump on GT-R

This follows an exclusive report in Carsguide last week that a private importer is set to sell the new GT-R ahead of Nissan Australia.

Nissan says it is now concerned by reports that some private import GT-Rs have been used to offer prospective buyers test drives using restricted trade-plate registration.

“It is a concern that there may be cases where the rules are being broken,” a Nissan spokesman says. “Trade plates should only be used to transport a vehicle from place to place ... not to provide test drives.”

The Nissan spokesman declined to comment on counter allegations that the company has approached the import licensing body, DOTARS (Department Of Transport And Regional Services), about the imports.

“We really have nothing to say,” the spokesman says. Nissan Australia is expected to be able to offer manufacturer imported GT-Rs early next year with specification and pricing likely to be announced at the Sydney International Motor Show in October.

However, before the first of the “official” cars arrive there is a window for private importers to bring in up to 25 cars a year for each licence under the New Low Volume scheme. As revealed last week, Melbourne-based Kamikaze Motors is advertising the availability of GT-Rs as the company is in the process of obtaining a DOTARS certification. Kamikaze principal Shui Mir says the plan to import the new GT-R is being done by the book.

“We have had to register our interest with DOTARs and apply for import approval for a test and evaluation vehicle,” Mir says.

“When that car is approved it becomes the first customer car, No.1 out of 25. We certainly wouldn't be putting any extra kilometres on it by offering test drives.

“Our test and evaluation vehicle is in Queensland where it has been passed for emissions and we are in the process of finalising a report. At this stage we are estimating we will have our licence by July.”

Mir says that under the low import scheme there are concessions when homologating the vehicle but all major Australian Design Rule regulations must be met. “As far as crash testing is concerned we do not have to crash a car, they (DOTARS) will accept that the Japanese standard meets Australian requirements,” he says.

The initial investment, according to Mir, is in the order of $100,000 over and above the costs of holding the assessment vehicle for up to eight months during the homologation process.

Mir concedes that the plan to beat the manufacturer-imported vehicles into the Australian market is bringing pressure.

“There has been terrific interest from people not wanting to wait another 12 months ... but we also are coming under pressure from sources keen to see us not proceed,” he says.

“I don't understand Nissan's reaction to this.

I really don't think we are in a position to sell more than 25 cars and at the end of the day they are still sales to Nissan whether that is Nissan Japan or Nissan Australia.”

Mir also confirmed that any of the cars imported by Kamikaze Motors would be new off the showroom floor.

“We are not buying any cars from auction — if they have even 100km on them we can not import them,” he says. “They are all from showrooms ... brand new. In fact I haven't purchased any vehicles other than the one we are using to get government certification and the import licence.

“We are taking orders specific to customers because that way they will get what they want.”

Kamikaze Motors is advertising the GT-R at $160,000, about $10,000 over the expected recommended retail price of official imports, but the drive-away price with luxury tax, stamp duty and registration will be closer to $190,000.

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