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Don’t call it a Skyline, though the bloodline is evident with those hot-plate rear-light clusters. This is the GT-R. Nissan South Africa will be retailing them locally in 2009 - should make your expensive German performance car rather redundant.
Nissan has confirmed its most notorious car yet, the GT-R, will be available locally next year.
Perhaps the most speculated about car to be launched in South African since 1994 by a major manufacturer, the GT-R will revolutionise Nissan’s brand image by usurping practically all other medium volume performance cars when it arrives.
Months of rumours revolving around preferential deposits and service centre infrastructure issues have now been allayed. GT-R acolytes can see the most redoubtable performance car currently exported from Japan at JIMS later this month too.
Man with a plan
Nissan general manager Wilhelm Baard (the man who brought restricted 'display-only' R34s to South Africa nearly a decade ago to show what could have been) must be cherishing the opportunity to finally see derestricted top-line Nissan performance machinery on local roads. “The new Nissan GT-R is an extraordinary car, a showcase for Nissan’s engineering talents and a technological flagship that demonstrates our passion for cars.”
Final specification is still to finalised – not to mention pricing, which is beyond conjecture in the current, extraordinarily volatile currency market – but expect the 3.8l twin-turbo V6 engine to be on spec, producing Nissan’s modestly claimed 353kW and 588Nm outputs.
Those interested in petulant performance figures will not be disappointed, GT-R dispatches the 0-100km sprint in the low 3 second threshold, and powers on to a 315km/h top speed thanks to its slippery 0.27 CD drag coefficient.
Only dealers with deep pockets need apply
For the rest it’s a precious blend of driver biased Star Trek technology, with an independent, transaxle all-wheel drive system, nearly infinite damper and toque distribution adjustability and quintessentially stark Japanese street racer styling and proportions.
How Nissan has managed to mate a six-speed, dual-clutch transmission to an engine twisting 588Nm worth of torque through the drivetrain only they’ll know…
Expect an extremely limited number of Nissan dealers able to service GT-Rs locally when they do arrive, the trick tyre balancing, fitment and alignment equipment alone costs the wrong side of a new 350Z.
With only 127mm of front spoiler clearance available, dealerships are recommended to have in-floor alignment lifts – not cheap. A nitrogen supply is required for the tyres, and plenty of other neat tools for adjusting the Brembo callipers plus a biblical amount of software for diagnostic purposes.
Despite the current impasse with Porsche concerning the GT-R’s 911 shattering Nurburgring lap times, GT-R’s arrival next year will unquestionably be the automotive event of 2009 locally.
Perhaps the most speculated about car to be launched in South African since 1994 by a major manufacturer, the GT-R will revolutionise Nissan’s brand image by usurping practically all other medium volume performance cars when it arrives.
Months of rumours revolving around preferential deposits and service centre infrastructure issues have now been allayed. GT-R acolytes can see the most redoubtable performance car currently exported from Japan at JIMS later this month too.
Man with a plan
Nissan general manager Wilhelm Baard (the man who brought restricted 'display-only' R34s to South Africa nearly a decade ago to show what could have been) must be cherishing the opportunity to finally see derestricted top-line Nissan performance machinery on local roads. “The new Nissan GT-R is an extraordinary car, a showcase for Nissan’s engineering talents and a technological flagship that demonstrates our passion for cars.”
Final specification is still to finalised – not to mention pricing, which is beyond conjecture in the current, extraordinarily volatile currency market – but expect the 3.8l twin-turbo V6 engine to be on spec, producing Nissan’s modestly claimed 353kW and 588Nm outputs.
Those interested in petulant performance figures will not be disappointed, GT-R dispatches the 0-100km sprint in the low 3 second threshold, and powers on to a 315km/h top speed thanks to its slippery 0.27 CD drag coefficient.
Only dealers with deep pockets need apply
For the rest it’s a precious blend of driver biased Star Trek technology, with an independent, transaxle all-wheel drive system, nearly infinite damper and toque distribution adjustability and quintessentially stark Japanese street racer styling and proportions.
How Nissan has managed to mate a six-speed, dual-clutch transmission to an engine twisting 588Nm worth of torque through the drivetrain only they’ll know…
Expect an extremely limited number of Nissan dealers able to service GT-Rs locally when they do arrive, the trick tyre balancing, fitment and alignment equipment alone costs the wrong side of a new 350Z.
With only 127mm of front spoiler clearance available, dealerships are recommended to have in-floor alignment lifts – not cheap. A nitrogen supply is required for the tyres, and plenty of other neat tools for adjusting the Brembo callipers plus a biblical amount of software for diagnostic purposes.
Despite the current impasse with Porsche concerning the GT-R’s 911 shattering Nurburgring lap times, GT-R’s arrival next year will unquestionably be the automotive event of 2009 locally.
