the new GTR specs for the us?

Question

US SPEC INFORMATION: The 2009 Nissan GT-R will go on sale in the United States in June of 2008 with a base price of $69,850. The premium model will sell for $71,900, and will include a Bose sound system, side airbags, and heated seats. The Bose system consists of 11 speakers mounted in rigid aluminum diecast panels. The car's pre-order program, available through select US dealers, will begin in January.


2009 Nissan GT-R: Awesome From Afar


The 2009 Nissan GT-R has broken cover. Or rather, several well-known automotive media outlets have blown its cover! When the December 2007 cover of Motor Trend got leaked (or swiped) from the printer, press embargoes were tossed aside, along with it the thin veil of secrecy the GT-R was still hiding. Namely its off-the-chart performance numbers: 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds, 11.7-second quarter mile, and top speed of 193 mph. Better still, the supercar is expected to be in the amazingly affordable $70-80K range.



Unveiled at Last



The black covers that hid the GT-R’s nose are gone and reveal a chiseled carbon fiber nose piece, flanked on both sides by small canards molded into the bumper itself. Look closely, and you can see how the deep front splitter directs air to the radiator and around the car. The sleek shape of the new R35 is a commendably slick 0.27 Cd (co-efficient of drag). Twin NACA ducts in the hood channel air directly to the small IHI turbos located underneath. They’re not the only low-drag aero devices used on the car, either. The front fenders have functional air ducts that sweep back from the sides of the car, drawing heat away from the engine compartment. One detail not readily apparent is the rear carbon-fiber splitter that uses airflow under the chassis to develop downforce. While standard practice for LeMans prototypes, these types of details are reserved for only a few road-going machines. Nissan engineers knew the enormous performance envelope for this car would require every (aero) trick in the book! Rear styling of the R35 features the iconic twin round taillights of the GT-R series. All in all, Nissan stylists have created a modern, functional shape that pays appropriate homage to the legendary line.



V-6 Power First for GT-R



Looking under the hood of the new PM (Prime Midship) chassis reveals the front-mounted engine is mounted far back for better weight distribution. But there’s no blown straight six for this thoroughly modern supercar. The new twin turbocharged 3.8 liter V-6 is named the VR38 and puts out 473 hp at 6,400 rpm and 433 lb-ft of torque at 5,200 rpm in its initial state of tune. No doubt Nissan will have more on tap for the future, but all appearances suggest that this is the engine to be federalized for North American use. Expect the compact IHI turbos to have little to none of the dreaded turbo lag of years past. An extremely clean turbo installation utilizes separate plenums and tuned intake runners for each bank of the engine. Expect to hear more details on this amazing powerplant in the near future.

Meanwhile, a carbon fiber prop shaft transfers power to the rear- mounted transaxle. Utilizing a six-speed, direct-drive semi-automatic gearbox, Nissan’s latest AWD creation can vary power delivery from 50/50 (front/rear) to 2/98 for heavy acceleration. By utilizing the paddle shifters, GT-R pilots may sample full-throttle, no lift upshifts, and computer-guided downshifts with full rev matching. The GT-R’s suspension is more familiar, with twin wishbones up front and a five-link rear. The dampers are electronically controlled, with three separate programs (race, sport and comfort) available at the touch of a button. More extreme are the 20” alloy wheels with massive six-piston Brembo (front) and four-piston (rear) calipers with equally enormous 15.2” rotors. You’ll need that kind of stopping power, as the latest R35 is expected to tip the scales at a touch over 3,792 pounds.



Silken Hammer


Inside the cockpit, it’s luxury blended with pure performance. Racing-style leather seats with large side bolsters will hold you (and your passengers) in place, although I’m not sure anyone really wants to be tossed around in the smallish 2+2 seats in back! A beautifully sculpted instrument panel features a center-mounted tach (with a 7K redline) and a smaller speedo on the left. The instruments move up and down with the steering wheel, so each driver can find the perfect position. Nissan continues their superb job in blending traditional control surfaces with cutting edge technology. A good example is the center stack with traditional HVAC controls in the center and a large video screen just above this. Toggling through this display provides such diverse information as turbo boost, g-loadings, engine performance parameters and which of the really hot girls is lusting for a ride in your new GT-R. OK, I made that last one up. Step into the new R35 and you’ll find everybody wants a ride!

Answer 1

Bad ***. I've wanted one since i saw the nurburgring shots 2 years ago. Nissan knows how to build it. Finally, godzilla in the us.

Answer 2

Only six production cars had a faster time around the 'Ring than the GT-R and all of those cars cost in excess of $400k. This car is built to be one helluva machine. Edmunds has already done personal tests and gotten it to go 0-60 in 3.3 seconds and the quarter mile in 11.6 and that wasn't even in ideal conditions.

The GT-R does smoke most of what Porsche has out there right now, the lone exception being the Porsche Carrera GT with is a $500k car. Nissan bought and tested a Porsche 911 Turbo along side the development of the GT-R and as a result it is a car that is faster, handles better, and beats its price by tens of thousands of dollars.

Of course, it will remain to be seen how this car holds up. The engine is basically brand new (extreme evolution of the VQ motor), rear-mounted tranny has rarely ever been done before, AWD... theres a lot of stuff to potentially break. But if they did their homework, like I believe they did, I think car will earn its place among the exotics.

Btw, first year, don't expect to pick one of these up for less than $90-100k. Mark-up is going to be ridiculous.

Answer 3

I will let you know how I feel about GTR when I go to Nissan School early spring. Rumors had a select few technicians going to the factory in Japan for four weeks. Dealers already strapped for cash so Nissan is having GTR specific technicians learn in the US. This is a huge gamble and expensive for Nissan Dealerships that have to purchase special tools special alignment racks and GTR super tech training. I think this should put Nissan back into the performance arena.

Answer 4

they say this is gonna thrash every porsche around but they are WRONG!!!!!!!the porsche 911 GT2 comes out soon and there is the 2010 GT1 coming out its gonna be the fastest production car in the world when it comes out oyeah and at the nurburgring the carrera GT monstered the GT-R
but it is much more affordable than most porsches
isay its a very good car but never be as good as a porsche

Answer 5

i agree john paul .. lets hope they did some serious research and development with the transmissions.. the 350z/g35 coupe didn't do to well in that department.. Ive lost count on transmissions and clutches since '03 but the G37 tranny is outstandingly better ..