Waiting game for GT-R

Australian GT-R shoppers may be waiting until well into 2009 before being able to get their hands on Nissan's 'affordable' supercar, but anyone with a gaming console and a little imagination can get down and dirty with the iconic street racer right now.

As part of the new GT-R's launch at the recent Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan licensed two companies; Sony and EA to incorporate the virtual GT-R in their respective video games, Gran Turismo 5 and Need For Speed.

“They're two slightly different approaches, but both are extremely popular games and it was one of the ways we'd decided early in the GT-R process would be an effective way of getting the GT-R out there,” Nissan vice-president for global communications Simon Sproule says.

Handing over secret design and engineering data for one of the world's most highly anticipated (and closely guarded) new cars months ahead of its public unveiling was an enormous act of trust, Sproule says.

“We delivered the CAD (computer-aided design) data about June this year, along with some pretty comprehensive confidentiality agreements.

“They then photographed the car from all angles and, armed with that and the CAD data, set about introducing it into their games.”

Sproule says the experience in Gran Turismo is the more lifelike of the two.

“As a simulation of driving the GT-R,the Sony game is a bit more real-life; they took a deeper level of information; things like suspension settings, steering calibrations and engine data.”

With demand for the GT-R far outstripping supply and markets around the world clamouring to get the car, it's inevitable some will have to be patient.

“The GT-R is on sale in Japan now, with US sales beginning around the middle of next year." "The Middle East will follow a few months after that, then the other markets; Europe, Britain and Australia,” Sproule says.

He concedes this extended roll-out will allow grey imports to reach the streets in some countries before official Nissan retailers can get the GT-R in stock.

“It's not desirable, but we're going to have to be realistic and concede that in some instances the grey imports will be the first available.”

Nissan Australia believes it can block non-official imports to this country despite being unlikely to be able to offer a car for sale until well into 2009.

“Because we've clearly stated our intention to import the car, there'll be no opportunity for any 'grey importers' to bring the GT-R to Australia,” Nissan Australia's Karl Gheling says.

Although Nissan Australia is not taking official orders; “We don't have a delivery date, specification level or pricing” Gheling says some dealers are holding substantial deposits.

“It's not something we're encouraging, because we don't even know yet, which dealers will be allocated cars.”

Sproule says there are no plans to increase production to meet demand.

“The ideal is to build one less car than there's demand for,” he says.

“We've set production at 1000 cars a month, and that's the limit."

“We plan a six- or seven-year program for the GT-R, and that won't be the end of the car."

“There'll be a more powerful track version and other possible directions.”

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