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Nissan’s rather unhinged SpecV GT-R will go on sale in Europe for more than double its sibling’s price early next year.
How do they justify that?
A very limited number of SpecVs will be sold in Europe for 2010, and at £124,900, compared to the stock GT-R’s £58,100, it’s awfully challenging to not dismiss SpecV as a hugely cynical marketing exercise.
Ostensibly the 40 cars allocated for Europe are to celebrate the 40th anniversary of GT-R badged Nissan products in EU…
Really expensive brakes
So what do you get for double the price of a stock GT-R?
Distressingly, not much.
Peak power remains at 357kW, yet Nissan claims engine performance improves courtesy of a high-gear boost device which spools up the twin-turbos to optimal operational speed in a shorter amount of time.
The new titanium exhaust should shore up the car's acoustic signature too...
SpecV’s suspension gains revised springs and new fixed-rate dampers at each wheel corner, whilst a set of carbon-ceramic brakes (specifically made by Brembo for the SpecV) tally nearly one-third of the price increase over a stock GT-R.
Those rotors might look dirty, but the cost as much as a Porsche Cayman...
Heroically pointless or just heinously overpriced?
The SpecV adds carbon-fibre weaving to the aft spoiler, grille and brake ducts to melt down the car’s mass.
Forged alloy wheels from NISMO round off the car’s styling signature (although the stock GT-R's Rays wheels are probably prettier) and trim a few grams from each wheel corner too.
All things considered though, SpecV is only 60kg lighter than a GT-R, which is less than a passenger…
Plainly impossible to justify, the SpecV will undoubtedly find 40 very willing (and disturbed) owners, who’ll happily pay double for a negligible increase in performance over the stock GT-R.
Considering the GT-R's only real weakness is track-day abused brake fade, if you’re a keen weekend helmet-and-driving-gloves type, those £40 000 Brembo’s are a bargain as part of the SpecV deal.
How do they justify that?
A very limited number of SpecVs will be sold in Europe for 2010, and at £124,900, compared to the stock GT-R’s £58,100, it’s awfully challenging to not dismiss SpecV as a hugely cynical marketing exercise.
Ostensibly the 40 cars allocated for Europe are to celebrate the 40th anniversary of GT-R badged Nissan products in EU…
Really expensive brakes
So what do you get for double the price of a stock GT-R?
Distressingly, not much.
Peak power remains at 357kW, yet Nissan claims engine performance improves courtesy of a high-gear boost device which spools up the twin-turbos to optimal operational speed in a shorter amount of time.
The new titanium exhaust should shore up the car's acoustic signature too...
SpecV’s suspension gains revised springs and new fixed-rate dampers at each wheel corner, whilst a set of carbon-ceramic brakes (specifically made by Brembo for the SpecV) tally nearly one-third of the price increase over a stock GT-R.
Those rotors might look dirty, but the cost as much as a Porsche Cayman...
Heroically pointless or just heinously overpriced?
The SpecV adds carbon-fibre weaving to the aft spoiler, grille and brake ducts to melt down the car’s mass.
Forged alloy wheels from NISMO round off the car’s styling signature (although the stock GT-R's Rays wheels are probably prettier) and trim a few grams from each wheel corner too.
All things considered though, SpecV is only 60kg lighter than a GT-R, which is less than a passenger…
Plainly impossible to justify, the SpecV will undoubtedly find 40 very willing (and disturbed) owners, who’ll happily pay double for a negligible increase in performance over the stock GT-R.
Considering the GT-R's only real weakness is track-day abused brake fade, if you’re a keen weekend helmet-and-driving-gloves type, those £40 000 Brembo’s are a bargain as part of the SpecV deal.
