If you read “The Next Nissan GT-R: What Should We Expect?” we gave some insights into the final days of the R35 GT-R. Before a new era of hybrid Ferrari thumping is ushered in with the R36, they wanted to create the best performing GT-R to date, which, as you probably know, is quite a daunting task considering its current performance specs. So they handed it over to their in house tuning company, NISMO (NISsan MOtorsports.)
With a little help from Usain Bolt at the L.A. Auto Show, they debuted the revamped monster along with the nifty Juke NISMO RS with the 1.6L turbo boosted up to 215 hp (18 more than standard), and “sharper” handling (aka a rough ride for a crossover,) as well as a NISMO Sentra concept that would boast a 240+ hp 1.6L turbo 4-cyl engine.
Back to the Nissan GT-R Nismo, here are the details on the new Mega-Godzilla:
Specs
- The same 3.8 liter V6 as the 2014 GT-R
- Larger high-capacity turbos
- 600 hp
- 481 foot lbs. of torque
- Nismo tuned suspension
- Redesigned aerodynamics
- Available carbon fiber trunk lid
- Carbon fiber side skirts and bumpers
- Carbon fiber rear spoiler
- Lighter Recaro bucket seats
- Revamped LED headlights
So those are just words…what does it all add up to?
The Results
“Godzilla on steroids” said the Nissan spokesperson at the L.A. show debut about the Nissan GT-R Nismo. While official performance specs have not been released by Nissan, this car will absolutely murder supercars.
600 hp and 481 foot pounds of asphalt-crumbling torque to rip you past anything on the road…and rumored to get you from 0-60 in under 2 seconds. Any faster and you’d have to peel your passengers out of their seat.
Here’s what we do know: It blasted the Nurburgring record for all volume production cars with a 7:08.679.
That, my friend, is an average speed of 108.56 mph! A mere 11 seconds short of the Porsche 918 Spyder – a car that’s nearly $700,000 more expensive! In America this will go on sale mid-2014. I urge you, if you have $160,000, to buy this car!
You can quote me on this in future years: this will be the last great sports car. This IS the last of the greats! There will be no more like it, no more bad to the bone, born to be fast, hardcore sports cars.
The last of the cars not completely choked by emission and mpg regulations. Purely powered by internal combustion and built from the passion of speed. From now on the greats will be forced into use of hybrid systems and KERS-inspired innovations. Manufacturers will no longer be able to create purely towards the ultimate goal of performance like this, but will be forced to engineer around legislation in hopes to attain their desired figures.
All things considered, nothing can ever…will ever, hope to touch it. What would happen if the only competition was yourself? It’s to become a legend, an icon, to be truly great.
The Nismo GT-R is the last great pure sports car, and boy…what a way to usher out an era.
