Nissan GT-R Official Details
October 1, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
Nissan GT-R officially on sale from next week
-David Twomey
Nissan Australia will begin taking pre-orders for its iconic supercar, the Nissan GT-R, from the opening day of the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, next Thursday.
In a press conference today the Managing Director of Nissan Australia, Mr Dan Thompson, ended the speculation about just how much the GT-R will cost Australian buyers, announcing that their would be two grades of GT-R
The Nissan GT-R will cost $148,800 and the Nissan GT-R Premium will cost $152,800.
He said these would be the only versions of the GT-R to be imported into Australia and they would be sold through 11 Australia-wide Nissan High Performance Dealers, which he said would have 200 cars to sell next year.
Mr Thompson admitted that demand for the GT-R was expected to be much greater but that number was “supply constrained”.
He said the Australian vehicle would be on display at the Sydney Motor Show and described today as a “very exciting day for Nissan in Australia.”
He said that although Nissan was building 1000 GT-Rs a month, there was unprecedented demand for the vehicle in Japan and the United States, adding that European sales would be launched at the same time as Australia.
Although the GT-R will be on pre-sale from next week actual deliveries in Australia will not commence until April 2009.
Mr Thompson said that the 11 dealers would be required to have dedicated sales and service personnel to deal with Nissan GT-R customers “ so that the whole GT-R experience is something special.”
He added that Nissan would in no way be supporting “grey market” imports of the GT-R and he said buyers of these cars would not be able to obtain parts, service or support from the Nissan dealer network.
Asked how it was expected these imports would impact on official sales National Marketing Manager, Ross Booth, said that indications were that as few at five or six cars had been brought into the country and these cars would receive no support from Nissan.
Mr Booth also responded to recent claims by Porsche that the GT-R’s official Nurburgring sub seven minutes 30 second lap time was not accurate by saying that Nissan stood by the vehicle and its performance at the Nurburgring.
“We are not going to comment on what other manufacturers claim our cars can or cannot do,” he said.
Mr Booth also told CarAdvice that there was no chance the suggested V-Spec model would be officially sold in Australia, adding that Nissan expected the majority of sales to be the GT-R Premium.
The Premium model adds black forged 20-inch aluminium wheels, Nitrogen-filled Bridgestone Potenza Run-Flat tyres, BOSE audio system and front black leather sports seats with red leather inserts.
All models have a rear wing and carbon fibre rear diffuser, and a dark grey front grille.
The standard equipment list features leather-wrapped sports steering wheel, adjustable steering column, high-back driver’s sports seats, with six-way power adjustment for the driver and four-way power adjustment for passenger. Front seats are heated and there are aluminium interior trim accents.
An intelligent key system allows access to the car and integrates with the push-button for engine start and stop.
Safety equipment includes ABS with EBD, dual front, side and curtain airbags, while the sports-oriented dynamic stability system, VDC-R, is adjustable through Circuit, Normal and Off settings, selectable by the driver to suit prevailing conditions.
Mr Thompson said that no adjustments had been made to the GT-R suspensions for Australia, adding that the level of adjustability that was built in meant that drivers would be able to achieve an ideal suspension setting for Australian conditions.
There will be a choice of six colours, Super Silver, Vibrant Red, Gun Metallic, Black Obsidian, Titanium, and Ivory Pearl.
The supercar will feature true luxury performance equipment including a driver configurable Multi-Function Meter, which can display lateral G-forces plus acceleration and braking performance among 11 data screens available.
The GT-R is powered by a hand-built twin-turbo VR38DETT 3.8-litre V6 engine delivering a mighty 353kW and 588Nm across a wide mid-range expanse from 3200rpm to 5200rpm.
It also introduces the world’s first independent rear transaxle all-wheel drive system.
The GR6 sequential six-speed has paddle shift control for the dual clutch rear transaxle, while drive to the wheels is via the electronically-controlled ATTESA E-TS all-wheel-drive system.
Brembo Sports brakes are fitted all round, with six pistons in the front callipers and four at the rear. There are full-floating drilled rotors clamped by low steel high stiffness brake pads.
A Bilstein DampTronic suspension control system gives three selectable settings: Circuit, Normal and Comfort.
The 20-inch front wheels are shod with 255/40ZF 20 tyres while the rears are fitted with 285/35ZF 20s, with all tyre pressures monitored electronically.
An advanced hybrid body construction melds steel, die-cast aluminium and carbon fibre for strength, lightness and durability. The GT-R has a super low coefficient of drag of 0.27, while achieving high front and rear downforce.
The Nissan High Performance Centres, where the GT-R will be exclusively available, are spread strategically around the country to maximise service delivery.
They are located at:
- NSW , Campbelltown, Brookvale
- VIC Ferntree Gully, Werribee
- SA Nailsworth
- WA Melville, Wangara
- QLD Moorooka, Southport, Mackay
- TAS Hobart
Each of the 11 dealers had to meet exacting standards including the allocation of dedicated GT-R sales and service staff: installing specific technical service monitors to communicate with the GT-R “black-box” data recorder and stocking nitrogen to maintain tyres.
Print it: 
Around 150k. What happen to the price of around 100-110k that most punters were boasting about?
Such an amazing car. I’d love one. Unfortunately I don’t have $150,000 :(.
“An intelligent key system allows access to the car…”, hahaha, you don’t say. Not sure what my key does then.
The $150k price tag makes sense, only earlier today Caradvice posted prices of sports cars and the comparative price in the US, huge difference. Australia is a low volume market. In fact we’re lucky they’re even selling it here given the massive demand in the US.
In a few years time there won’t be a bunch of these things on the road. When you see a Skyline on the road it’s just a plain old non-GTR (at the very least not a special edition GT-R, cars made in equivalent volume to the R35). The R35 is not being produced in high numbers, immediately limiting the number available in the future; add to that the fact that Nissan is heavily discouraging grey imports, don’t count on these things being everywhere.
The comment about Euros being rarer, well yes. Euros are, wait for it, LHD. Meaning an import has to be converted, $$$. Jap imports are cheap and easy, explaining the number on our roads.
I don’t get the reference to a touring car series? This thing would be more likely competing in the GT championship if anything, not the V8 Supercars.
As for dealership locations, I don’t know about down south, but here in QLD the choices seem fairly logical. Morooka: hub of car dealers. Southport: lots of cashed up “business men”. Mackay: the mining boom.
Don’t ever underestimate what you think is a bogan area. I heard a story from Bundaberg: shirtless guy walks into a Subaru dealership, the salesmen tell the rookie of two days to talk to the guy expecting him to be a joyrider, the shirtless guy buys a STi in cash within 5 minutes, no discussion, options it out.
150k is great for those wanting the peak of performance, nothing comes close for that price, all this talk about euros, really its veering into a different market segment. those who want this are all into performance and tuning, nobody looks at this car for its elegance, comfort merits.
“Then look at something with a different badge (usually European) – not necessarily a ‘better’ car but it will still turn heads” err not at all cases, an e46 m3 is easily mistaken for a 318ic through the eyes of average joe, same goes with teh Audi Rs’s. At least a skyline stands on its own, theres no cut down version of this car ala a to ber with looks. As for value its debatable, a 1998 R34 GTR is worth around 50-60k a same era E36 M3 is worth like… 30k tops, value depends on how flooded a market is with the car.
As for the W427, the only thing going for it is the value of the car after a several years to come, because its a limited edition/build, it would arise to a collectors value, which of course a Standard GTR won’t.
I agree with C-Reds’ post.
Also out of general curiousity what JDM car do you drive ? (I’m just assuming from the C-Red nick )
Cheerz
on topic, I can’t wait to see a GTR at the traffic lights smoke some pommy syndrome suffering waste of human flesh and organs :)
For this price you could import one plus another R34 to keep you happy.
But that’s like going out now and buying a PS2 on special, when you and all your friends know the PS3 is better and not that much more expensive.
Regarding the demographics of the chosen dealer location, well, who cares really? The market for this car isn’t going to be kicking tyres at a dealer, it’ll most likely be purchased through a broker or something, if not pre-ordered over the phone/net/whatever. So, that pretty much dissolves the argument of where the dealer is located.
Booking flights to SYD to view and lay down deposit. I’ll take white thank you with black forged 20″.
They can afford to sell it for 80K in US because of the higher volumes and projected sales.
Here they’d be lucky to sell 2000 in 5 years.
In the states, they get 2000 in 6 months.
Hence they can justify “less” profit per car, but overall, the sales/volume is higher.
tax contributes too, as AUS has it bad, but as someone said, its not just tax… its economics… high sales vs low sales, Nissan can afford to sell it considerably cheaper with a higher sales.
These days though, I hate to say it, but its always going to be just a niche in the Oz market…. I love this car and will hopefully own one in the near future, but most likely as a personal import… if I have to live in Japan for a bit I’d do it so I can bring one back, they sell second hand roughly 10K kms for about 70~80K AUD now… well according to the emails I get anyways. :-)
Spam, what point are you exactly trying to make?
Gents,
At least in Campbelltown we will have many opportunities to test the car’s security system. We suggest that Nissan install equipment used in some of the James Bond cars such as rocket launchers and grenades. You’ll need them to repel all of the bogans in Campbelltown.
You’ll also see how effective sat tracking and datadots are.
Cheers
Why oh WHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYYYY do people get worked up about the price stuff sells in America for.
Ask yourselves if you’d like to pay Italian prices for fuel and French prices for coffee and stop whining.
Toyota calling for a “real touring car series”… why? I mean they don’t have a what you would call a real touring car that would realistically be able to compete against the GT-Rs 911s BMW M3s etc..
Because what would happen is that their TRD Aurion would get its a–e kicked by the GT-R and they would end up wanting their more powerful high tech rivals to be penalised with extra weight etc…. and maybe even banned sound familiar?
Because for the last couple of years Toyota have been calling for the rules and regulations of Australias premier motorsport category V8 Supercars;to be changed inorder to suit them yet they were happy to accept the rules and regulations of F1..
Yet because AVESCO haven’t given in to Toyota’s demands and basically told em to “fit in or f–k off” Toyota have tried to make it appear as though they weren’t interested in competing in V8s anyway even though they and their fans claim they have the money resources and technology etc to dominate the category…. if so why not enter?
That is a sweet ride. I will love it when a northern or eastern surburb silvertail pulls up beside one in a 911 or a M3 or M5…The bogan will blow it away …..
Any word on what sort of security system this thing has?
The main reason that the rules and regulations were changed back in 1992 after the crashed GTR won Bathurst was in an attempt to reduce or cap costs.
Even freddie Gibson – the man who ran the Winfield Racing Nissan GTRs has said that the governing bodies made the right decision because he was finding it extremely hard to find sponsorship dollars needed to keep the GT-Rs on the track and his team were dominanting the category.
He was having so much trouble that he doubted even if the rules weren’t changed he would be able to race the GTR’s after 92
Yet F1 made similar changes to their rules and regulations a couple of years ago whereby they reduced the size of the engine; the number of computerised drivers aids etc and no-one ever said it was done to bring an end to Ferrari’s dominance.
it’s the same thing isn’t it?
C-Red… colour is always the hardest decision to make when buying a car as only certain colours suit particular style cars.
For example “Atomic” looks good on the VE Ute not so good on the Sedan and Absolute crap on the VE Sportwagon
However; from the photos I’ve seen the GT-R looks good in Black Red White and Silver mainly because of its flowing lines etc which should make the decision a little easier
A colleague at work just ordered one. Went for the premium.
$170k on road.
Very expensive for a Nissan. I think it will be worth about 100k within a year which is when I will strike!
The only thing that will initially retain the value in these is the demand. Once the supply starts to meet the demand all hell will break loose with the depreciation.
This sort of hype quite often happens – but at the end of the day – it takes a true Nissan lover or someone with many other exotics looking for another toy to pay $170k for a Nissan badge!
For $170k I would buy a Porsche. Sure it wont have nearly half of the tricky readouts and systems nor the performance of the GTR – but it is a 911!
Say to a chick “I own a Nissan GTR”, or say to a chick “I own a Porsche 911″. Which one will get the chick? bahahaha
Also – look at the Mercedes Benz AMG C63. That is a LOT of benz for the money. Similar performance around the city drag races too. Sure it wont do the nurburg in 7 mins 30…..but when was the last time you cut laps at the nurburg in your daily driver? Errr?!!!!!!
Antony
Antony – I’ve never used a car to pull a girl, but then I have looks and personality.
Wheelnut – Red on Black Premium for me…
C-Red – me neither as I am also blessed with the above – but my statement was hypothetical.
One is a nissan, one is a porsche.
I still have a soft spot for the last of the r34 series GTR
because of the inline 2.6 6cyl and proper 6 speed manual!! not that keen on auto/manual transmissions with no clutch or gear lever…
Nissan pick the dealerships for delivery based on a number of criteria, which include:
Are they Nissan Platinum?
Are they Stand Alone Nissan dealers (no other brand on site)?
Can the dealership afford the support requirements?
Like i said at the start.. Political.
None of the above has much to do with the customer.. With a fat ‘gross cow’ like the GTR waiting to milked things get ugly.
Customer satisfaction standing for the last year should be included..
its nissan 15 minutes of fame time with the gtr,danman.what,your jealous because it ain’t got the big T badge?.ring nissan up,and tell them which dealer ain’t worthy…..
R34 Gt-R V-spec is a great example, 145K in 2000 and now you can pick it up for 45-50K. Gotta love Nissan’s for their depreciation, and with the new R35 there will be more of them to go around, much more than there ever was of a R34. Wait till all the rich CEO’s and upper managers finsh off their leases and it will be bargain galore.
Wow how good is this car and i still cant belive its cheaper than a commondore w427. And the gtr hold there value very well too its all those grey import gtrs that lose there value. Ive been trying to get a original aussie gtr and the price of them is going though the roof if you can find one of cause there plenty of grey import ones around
Quote [C-Red]:Antony – I’ve never used a car to pull a girl, but then I have looks and personality.
Wheelnut – Red on Black Premium for me…
hahaha C-RED……..I just want your car…………give me a ride,snicker snicker!!!!Cum on Jeff !!
Anon, only a fool will buy a performance car because of brand name and you’ll look like a pretentious try hard – especially when the chick you’re trying to pick up knows that you could’ve gotten a GTR which will annihilate your overpriced Porsche for much less money. Hahaha. Do you know that more girls know about the GTR than you think? Also, if you really want to pick up chicks – get a Ferrari. A Ferrari IS a Ferrari, whereas a Porsche is JUST a Porsche. Besides, most chicks hate the look of a Porche anyway.HAHAHA
^ I meant Antony, not Anon.
“Yet because AVESCO haven’t given in to Toyota’s demands and basically told em to “fit in or f–k off” Toyota have tried to make it appear as though they weren’t interested in competing in V8s anyway even though they and their fans claim they have the money resources and technology etc to dominate the category…. if so why not enter?” Simple – No benefit whatsoever as Toyota have no v8’s sedans in its stable, so cost vs benefit is pretty much not good. whereas F1 its all about the brand.
And yes picking up chicks with a car can be pretty lame especially you soley depend on it, like those clowns on the road with their fake ‘for sale’ stickers in an attempt to pull girls to give them a call hhahaa. Anyways if you can splash money on a Porsche or GTR, you would have no problem splashing money on a nice designer suite, makeover, sunnies and ‘drinks-on-me-all-night’ to some chick to woo her over…
Eddy The Expert…
yeh you’re such an expert, because campbelltown is absolutely FULL of bogans.
i am absolutely sick of the stereotype generalising people from ctown as bogans!
for crying out loud, there is housing commision in surry hills and rose bay, and they are more bogan than any resident of campbelltown!
all these stereotypes bring people like myself and my family and friends down, bacuse WE DONT FIT THE STEREOTYPE! we have a beautiufl home, nice cars and a great income! and on top of that, we love campbelltown because it has given us this great life!
and the nissan dealership in campbelltown has just been knocked down and rebuilt… so yeh, maybe thats why.
STILL! u are no expert, and neither is anyone else on this site who has a generalisation that all people from western burbs are bogans!
SERIOSULY WHO GIVES A SHIT IF THE NEW GTR IS GONNA BE SOLD IN CAMBELLTOWN OR BROOKVALE, IF YOU REALLY WANT ONE YOU LL GO THERE AND GET IT, this is not just a nissan its a freakin GTR. r 32 GTR was banned from racin internationally in early 1990s cos it won every single race beacuse of its allwheel drive system and the power it put to the ground. this new one is a car in its own league, for 150 000 nothin in the world comes close to it. audi R8 $259 000, 4.6 secs to 100. now why pay $260 000 for audi?? so a lightly tuned up rexi can eat u off lights?? or simply because u wanna have a sexy lookin car whose looks are way above its performance potential. BMW M3 $150 000 0-100 in 4.8 . why not just get a fuckin BMW 135 for $74 000 i and u can beat a New M3 with it, BMW really stuffed up with this new M3. more grunt and less weight then previous model but why create a 135 i twin turbo when in cold weather it ll eat it , nissan GTR does 3.5 and been tested 3.3 in perfect cold conditiions, not even gonna mention the quarter mile times, why do they call it a baby veyron cos nothin else comes close to bugatti then this. its got the worlds most advanced all wheel drive system . these are not just stats. they re facts. why pay 400 000 for lamborguini gallardo when its slower, after all u want a car that eats anythin on the road if u are a real enthusiast. to put the nissan s performance in perspective lets compare it with r 34 GTR which is 206 Kws some versions just over 220 kws, r 34 GTR would have to have over 400 kws in the engine bay to even be a competitor for a 353 Kws R 35 GTR. now someone tell me that japanese engineers havent come long way with their technology. anyone thinking this car is too expensive cos they cant afford it is completely normal, but then again they cant afford anythin else that costs 4 times as much. it costs a lot but its worth it, now kevin rudd’s tax hikes wont get him a vote at next elections at least not from car enthusiasts,
Godzilla = raw power, M3 = raw fun, W427 = raw crap.
Bought mine few months back,too bad that I can only drive on racetracks, would look awesome on the streets.