Nissan GT-R 2015 News

Nissan will add a new Black Edition to its giant-killing GT-R lineup next month, sitting atop the local range with a price tag of $182,500.Joining the existing $170,800 Premium and $5000 greater luxury option, the new Black Edition is distinguished visually by its 20 inch Rays forged wheels and carbon fibre rear spoiler.These Nismo parts-bin exterior details are shared with the track-focused Nissan GT-R Spec V that was offered in Japan in 2009, and bring a marginal weight reduction over existing items.On the inside, the Black Edition features specific Recaro front seats with red leather accents that continue on the steering wheel, gear selector, and door trims.“The GT-R Black Edition has already proved popular in other markets, so we are pleased to introduce this exciting model to Australia,” Nissan Australia’s Managing Director and CEO William Peffer said.The Black Edition is otherwise identical to the existing revised-for-2013 GT-R, including its 404kW/628Nm outputs, and its capability to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 2.7 seconds.This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn 

In the world of supercars, there are battles and then there are “battles.” This is one of the latter. In this rather dry and yet superficial look at the Nissan GT-R's snow-driving capabilities, Nissan sets up one heck of a straw man--or snow man, as it were. Testing slalom, acceleration, and braking ability in the snow (skip to 3:50)--on a common set of Dunlop tires, to make it fair--Nissan pits the GT-R against an Infiniti FX and a Nissan 370Z. Yeah, that makes sense... It seems Nissan is trying to show how practical the GT-R is with this video, even in the hands of a young staffer. The woman tasked with driving the GT-R to provide a “normal driver's” perspective owns a Cube, but only drives once or twice per year. Total. Yeah, that makes even more sense... The video gets even funnier when snowy hill starts are attempted on a 20% grade. As you might expect, the GT-R annihilates the competition. The poor 370Z rolls back down the hill, front and rear wheels spinning in opposite directions. To be fair to Nissan and the GT-R, the twin-turbo supercoupe proves its snow-driving mettle. The GT-R's balanced weight, low centre of gravity, and all-wheel drive system make for a capable snow car. Of course, the Audi R8, Lamborghini Gallardo (but maybe not the Aventador), and Ferrari FF--even the Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible--are, too. Not to mention the Subaru WRX STI, E63 AMG all-wheel drive, and a horde of other all-wheel drive performance cars that might have made a better comparison point. Or, say, attempting a top-speed record for a stock production car on an icy lake. That would have made sense. www.motorauthority.com

Bentley's exploits in high-speed ice driving are well-known--and officially recognized. But for Nissan of Europe, the official Guinness certification apparently wasn't as important as going flat-out on Lake Baikal in a bone-stock GT-R. You see, the claim made with this video is for the unmodified production car ice speed record. Bentley's ice speed record runs were made in a specially-modified "ISR," (Ice Speed Record) Continental Supersports model, in the hands of Finnish rally champ Juha Kankkunen. Top speed: 330 km/h. Not long after, another Finn, Janne Laitninen, piloted an Audi RS6 to a top speed of 331.7 km/h on ice. Now, the Nissan GT-R, in the hands of Roman Rusinov, has crossed Lake Baikal's gorgeous crust of ice at a speed of... 295 km/h. That's not nearly as impressive as the cars modified to hit top speed on ice, but on the other hand, it looked like one hair-rising ride in a showroom-stock street car.  

...developed together with its in-house tuner and motorsports partner Nismo. The first of these have already been revealed in the form of the Nismo 370Z sold in the U.S. and other select markets, and more recently the Juke Nismo, which goes on sale in Europe early next year, followed by the U.S. and Asian markets shortly after. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Nissan is also looking at more serious forms of tuning, particular for its performance models like the 370Z, GT-R supercar and a possible new front-wheel drive sports car. Using the ‘RS’ moniker, an abbreviation for Rennsport, the German word for motorsport, Nissan is thought to preparing a series of packages that will go a step beyond the suspension tune, mild power upgrades and aero aids of the standard Nismo kits. Speaking with Auto Express recently, Nissan’s product planning chief Andy Palmer hinted at RS versions of the GT-R and Juke, as well as the next-generation of the 370Z due in 2014. “The RS cars will be much more track-focused. You’ve seen the Juke-R, so maybe that would be a good place to start,” Palmer said. The latest comments tie in with those of GT-R chief engineer Kazutoshi Mizuno, who recently stated that Nissan’s participation in the 2012 Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race with a stock GT-R was to help further develop the car over the remainder of its life. Mizuno himself hinted at more capable version of the GT-R with his comment, “By changing it to a racing specification to be implemented in the future, no matter what kind of super high performance feature or a new version is developed in the next five years, the durability and reliability in varying conditions can be verified in this race. I would like to make a promise that all this will be reflected in future GT-Rs." Fortunately, we won’t have to wait too long to see the RS-spec GT-R as Nissan is expected to launch the model sometime next year. Stay tuned for an update. Pictured above (and below) is a GT-R fitted with some official tuner parts offered by Nismo. Released in 2008, the parts include adjustable dampers and stiffened springs, racing-style bucket seats, forged alloy wheels by Rays, and a titanium exhaust. www.motorauthority.com  

Priced at $170,800 and due here in March 2012, the new Nissan has more power (404kW), improved economy and lower emissions. It has unusual asymmetric suspension settings and enhanced transmission shift feel. Special race tuned oils are used in differential and the body is strengthened for even greater handling finesse. Inside are new Bose Precision Sound System woofers and a rear view camera now standard. Significant improvements have been made to the engine, chassis and transmission to accentuate the pure performance potential of the GT-R. The latest version is the most efficient yet. It offers even greater performance but this is allied to improved economy and lower emissions to provide further excitement to drivers and passengers. That asymmetric suspension compensates for greater weight on the driver's side in RHD models The engine is capable of 11.8L/100km, while output rises significantly from 390kW to 404kW from 6,400rpm with maximum torque of from 612 to 632Nm from 3,200 to 5,800 rpm. Engine response and torque at mid- and low-speeds, and power at high revolutions, has been significantly improved, mainly due to improved intake efficiency.

The updated Nissan adds 33kW/24Nm on the challenging all-wheel drive coupe that shook the European exotic car makers when launched in Australia 18 months ago. Expected to be priced at around the $170,000 mark, the 2011 model goes even further than its predecessor to put down 390kW/612Nm and pick up improved handling, fuel consumption and better after-sales support. Nissan Australia will market only one GT-R, chopping the previous base model GT-R and aligning price to the existing Premium model's $162,800 and its features with the European-spec GT-R Black. Nissan spokesman Jeff Fisher says pricing is yet to be fixed. He expects a premium on the existing model given added features and upgraded drivetrain specifications. "Japan has some variations on the GT-R theme but we won't do that. There will be one specification only and it will be closest in spec to the European 'Black' model." Mr Fisher says the 2011 GT-R is expected to sell at the rate of 150-200 a year, down on the 260 it did in its first full year. This year to September, Nissan has sold 66. The 2011 model's engine remains at 3.8 litres but gets 390kW at 6400rpm and 612Nm at 3200-6000rpm thanks to more turbo boost, some valve timing revisions and bigger intake and exhaust pipes. Power is up but emissions and fuel consumption are down. Nissan quotes a 12 litres/100km average, down from the current 12.5 l/100km. Externally the 2011 model is identified by a bigger bumper and intake openings that increase downforce by about 10 per cent and reduce the coefficient of drag to 0.26 from 0.27. Chassis changes - including a carbon strut brace under the bonnet and one behind the passenger-side dashboard - result in greater body stability and strength. Inside the GT-R gets a new instrument panel design and sat-nav display, some black-chrome trim to the console and air vents, and seats with more support.

It will be called the Egoist.

There is talk of an electric GT-R coupe sometime in the future but Nissan says it has no plans for a hybrid performance powerhouse to tackle Porsche’s upcoming 918 Spyder.  Andy Palmer says GT-R buyers want and expect their cars to be petrol performance machines. “It’s not really something we’d consider. In the GT-R our customers are looking for performance.”  Palmer says a hybrid would add too much weight. “The GT-R is aimed at one particularly type of customer.”