New Nissan GT-R Update
28 May, 2007
34 Comments 
You can’t compete with the Porsche 911, the ultimate track+road car for the greater part of the last 50 years is showing no sign of giving up its throne anytime soon.However Nissan doesn’t believe this, so for the last 4 years they’ve been working hard making the new Skyline GT-R – the Porsche 911 killer, but have they succeeded?
In October Nissan will put all its dreams and hopes on the line when the new GT-R will go on display at the Tokyo Motorshow. However in the mean time, we can only speculate how the new GT-R will fare against the 911.
Drive reports the new GT-R will come in three flavours, which goes a long way to show that Nissan are serious about making the GT-R a 911 killer, although Porsche currently sell 11 different variants of the 911 and the 911 Carerra – this is a good start for Nissan.
The three specifications and their Porsche equivalent:
- GT-R – Six-speed manual / 360kW / four-piston brakes .vs. Standard 911
- GT-R V-Spec – Six-speed manual or DSG / 360kW / six-piston brakes .vs. 911 Turbo
- GT-R Evolution - Six-speed manual or DSG? / 400kW / carbon-ceramic brakes .vs. 911 GT3
Despite the naming difference, Nissan don’t have the comfort of using a naturally aspirated engine in the GT-R (to compete with the N/A 911), so all three variants will come with a 3.X-litre V6 a twin-turbocharged (the X is there because no one really knows yet, we expect a 3.8, but it might still be a 3.7).
Reports suggest that the standard GT-R and the V-Spec (which will only differ in equipment level, brakes and possible suspension setup) will have around 360kW of power. For the hardcore Nissan fans, the top of the range GT-R Evolution will have a better tune to the sound of 400kW, which is 100kW more power than the 911 GT3, and only about 8kW less than the Pagani Zonda.
Although 400kW is a lot, power isn’t everything when it comes to a fast car and Porsche’s well balanced, tried and tested setup might still outdo the GT-R around the track. Rumours are that Nissan have bought a few 911 GT3s just for development purposes of the GT-R. Don’t believe us? Watch this video.
There is absolutely no word on pricing yet, however UK websites have put the car (in its standard flavour) at around 65,000 pounds, or roughly $160,000 AUD, which is a lot for a Nissan.
The difference in the three models is a little more noticeable than you might think, the 400kW evolution variant will weight 100kg less than the other two models (as its missing its rear seats – while gaining a CarbonFibre bonnet), however all variants, being a GT-R, will be All-Wheel-Drive.
Even so, given that the GT-Rs have always been a big playstation – there will undoubtedly be lots of settings to fiddle with the power distribution as well as well as suspension and other systems.
Much like the new Lancer Evolution X, the GT-Rs will come with a standard six-speed manual transmission as well as a paddleshift DSG as an option on the V-Spec and most probably the top of the range Evolution.
Nissan Australia is still relatively quiet on its plans, although we suspect they have been begging Tokyo to get their hands on the GT-R. Nissan needs a new Halo car, and we couldn’t think of a car better suited to the job than the new GT-R.
Expect more as time gets closer to the Tokyo Motorshow in October, in the mean time check out this video.
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May 28th, 2007 at 6:42 pm
hmmmm, seems the japanese are adept at copying everyone elses technologies and seldom innovating their own….
Vote:May 28th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
How exactly did you come to that conclusion? Couldn’t be further from the truth.
Vote:May 28th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
trying to mimick a porsche’s performance in every way? hardly seems fair, i bet the germs are laughing that they still cant beat them.
about the only meaningful automotive inventions by the japs that i know of is vtec and maybe attesa-ets AWD, although the latter was hardly taken on by anyone else.
DSG? i thought that was patented and jointly owned by the volkswagen group and borgwarner?
sure its a great car, but porsche beater?
well i’ll be waiting with baited breathe come 2008
Vote:May 28th, 2007 at 10:39 pm
There’s a big difference between mimicking and benchmarking…
Vote:May 28th, 2007 at 11:07 pm
mmmm, well i cant see how mimicking and benchmarking can be mutually exclusive, given that they both involve one party copying and therfore enhancing the attributes of the said car.
just have to wait and see what comes out nissan i guess. either way, CONSUMER WINS!
Vote:May 29th, 2007 at 1:50 am
I don’t see why its being underestimated in the claim of being a Porsche beater. If any of you saw the development and track times of the Gtr Z-Tune R-34, it was actually faster than a Ferrari 360CS (the track was in Japan). I wouldn’t be underestimating the Japanese when it comes to the 3 letters GTR.Remember Sam, its the Jap cars that still sell more, if it weren’t for them I’d like to see what standard of cars we’d have (the common man).
Vote:May 29th, 2007 at 3:04 am
yeah, z-tune is decent, very decent.
if any of you know the gentlemens agreement of a max 206KW allowance on all cars you’d know why japan hasnt produced a true world beating supercar, well apart from NSX, but its getting onto 20 years old now.
in the last few years the agreement has been dropped and the japanese car industry is still expanding, believe it or not. i expect some very very serious cars to be coming out of japan in the next 5 years, namely the GTR, new supra, and v10 NSX all of which could be equal or better than porsche and dare i say it, the italians.
scary stuff, someone hold me
Vote:May 29th, 2007 at 8:45 am
Hmmm…I’m confused Sam. One minute the GTR is something that the Germans will laugh at. Then after impressing us all with your knowledge of the Japanese manufacturers ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ (which if you know anything about Evo’s and GTR’s you will know was largely ignored)…you need to be ‘held’ because of all the Japanese supercars (including the GTR) that are on the way that may better Porsche and the Italians… Huh.
Whats unfair about mimicking Porsche? Unfair for who? The 911? I suspect the 911 will get over it.
The R32,33 and 34 GTR were all worthy Porsche competitors. The 33 and 34 held production car lap records at the Nurburgring. I think the 2008 GTR, particularly in light-weight Evo spec will be a force to be reckoned with.
Would I rather have a GT2 (when its released), GT3 or a 911 Turbo. Absolutely, but I’m a little old fashioned! Only a fool makes spurious and confusing claims about a new GTR.
Vote:May 29th, 2007 at 8:56 am
Hey BugEye, that fool would be me (as I was the author of the article).
But like you, I am also old fashioned, I believe the GT-R – while being every teenagers dream car, is no Porsche. It holds a status unlike Porsche, there are infact more 911s on the road than GT-Rs, making the GT-R a more desired car to own.
I don’t believe that Nissan can catch up to Porsche with the new GT-R, Porsche have a 20 year lead on the Japanese and although the gap is closing, a GT-3 Turbo .vs. a Evo spec GT-R? I would love to be there on the race track to find out.
In the mean time, ill stick to my guns, Porsche are not going to lose what they have mastered in the last four decades!
If they do, I’ll eat my hat :)
Vote:May 29th, 2007 at 10:02 am
Why Produce a car like that or cars, that even ford or holden make, as in performance. When the speed limit here is 100km or 110km in some areas.
Vote:Cars of that power can really only give that performance on a race track.
Give it to a teenager, and they may as well have a gun to there heads.
May 29th, 2007 at 10:07 am
Performance cars are meant for the track – but are driven on the street as everyday cars and occasionally tracked – sure they never reach their true potential on the street, but thats besides the point! Not everyone wants to drive a Commodore Omega!
Besides teenager with the right driver training will easily control the power of any car, it comes down to driver training just as much as maturity.
Vote:May 29th, 2007 at 10:14 am
Quote- 1.” Why Produce a car like that or cars” What are you talking about? 2.Quote “that even ford or holden make, as in performance. When the speed limit here is 100km or 110km in some areas” What does this mean? Quote- 3. “Cars of that power can really only give that performance on a race track.
Vote:Give it to a teenager, and they may as well have a gun to there heads”. HUH ? Well in answer to your comments Aussie own i have to say Blo da in be so toe on the got with cars.. May the force be with you !
May 29th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
You guys all forgot about one thing, this GTR will be cheaper (if not significantly cheaper) than an entry level 911 while offering 9/10 (maybe 11/10, who knows) performance of a 911 Turbo. I think it is a fair deal!
Vote:May 29th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
im sorry but a porsche is a porsche and a datsun is a datsun
Vote:May 29th, 2007 at 4:17 pm
Agreed with you Sam. What gets me the makers try to put them up against the big guns in order to gain respect for their product ,the public then are under the impression it will do the same if not better than the big guns. Its cask wine against a bottled here.NOt the same and have too much of the cask ,you will get a headache!!!!
Vote:May 30th, 2007 at 12:37 am
In the mean time, ill stick to my guns, Porsche are not going to lose what they have mastered in the last four decades!
If they do, I’ll eat my hat :)
..
that you shall indeed. I read your reviews Alborz, but I think Jeremy Clarkson has 20+ years on you too, and I’m not sure if you’ve seen him saying the amount of respect he has for GTRs. (also did a video segment where he drove a 1000hp one). What fascinates me is that a slightly modified GTR (r32,r33,r34) can be made to achieve mind boggling HP,KW figures. Lets not forget the 2JZ-Gte one of the most over engineered motors that Toyota made. I don’t know if its some sense of european wannabe thats got to you or something (you dont drive with europlates do u?).. For being almost wiped off maps and evolving as the Japs have, I believe they have a few benchmarks set. I’ll be looking forward to seeing you eat your hat :)
Vote:May 30th, 2007 at 9:42 am
I think for the price and the look and for what they claim this car shits all over the Porsche…. Alborz would you like some sauce with your hat?? LOL
Vote:June 1st, 2007 at 12:20 am
The GTR is a world-class vehicle that stems from real-world racing experience and engineering…yes, engineering. If anyone thinks Porsche hasn’t looked at competing technologies from other manufacturers…they’d be fooling themselves. Every auto manufacturer evaluates competitive platforms, looking for advantages of ideas. “Copying” is one thing, but patent laws help keeping the copying down to a “mimicking.”
Let’s say the car hits the market around $75k (USD)…the local Porsche dealer isn’t going to match a product for at least 40% more in price.
Vote:June 6th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Funny hearing people say that the new GT-R has nothing on Porsche, your right… It doesnt cost a crazy amount of money for a badge and a mid-life crisis quick-fix.
The GT-R is puting down very competitive performance figures (track times, power/handling etc) so who cares if its a little ego booster with a yuppy stereotype attatched(porsche) or a well built, very quick, tough looking nissan.
I know where I would be spending my money regardless of price tag, but clearly the price tag is a big factor between these two cars.
Ive heard a few stories about people who have owned porsches said they need two, one to drive while the other one is at the mechanics getting repaired. I did an amatuer track day in sydney and the first car that had engine problems was a porsche boxter, on the second lap!
yeh its cask wine agaisnt bottle wine…? Stil does the exact same thing, gets you drunk!
Vote:If you really need to pay thousands, even hundreds of thousands more for a badge on your car then maybe you should look at a better and cheaper way to boost your ego or self confidence
June 16th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
Its pretty simple.
Theres no point in buying a car that will break once you start having fun.
So far the GTR skylines have been all round indestructable machines. (providing you respect the engine when its cold)(and yes the 2jz is awesome too)
A ford, or holden will have problems from day one.
A porsche won’t take a thrashing for long before it breaks either.
A GTR however can be thrashed day in, day out, drifted round corners without diffs snapping, and generally be enjoyed without having to worry about breaking something. (which spoils all the fun)
Ive never had 1 problem with my GTR and it gets driven like the clappers day in day out.
Nissan has said when they were building this car that they don’t want any on limit performance.
If only the other manufacturers cold COPY THAT, they might just get the respect that the GTR has.
Exhibit A: nicknamed godzilla. Gee I wonder why.
Porsches are for rich people that don’t know anything about cars and have nothing else better to do than to waist their money on something because everyone else says its the best. (just wanting people to look and say whoooo look at that guy he’s driving a porsche)
Yes they are quicker than the skylines off the floor.
But someone with half a brain would look at the price and say, “hmmm for that price I could get a GTR, make it look better than the porsche, make it perform better, and still have enough change to get a new boat or house”
Now whos getting the whooo’s and aaahhh’s when they drive down the street?
Anyway, thats my 2 cents.
Posches suck. Go the GTR all the way.
I KNOW it will eat up the porsche round the track, and if it doesn’t, just wind up the boost and bye bye Porsche.
And for all the Porsche heads that say, “But it won’t beat a 911?”
Vote:Thats what I was talking about you idiots.
There called 911’s so you fools remember the emergency number to call when the car slides off the road and burst’s into flames because you took the corner too fast trying to keep up with the GTR in front.
July 4th, 2007 at 9:16 am
Sam you can be summed up in one simple word: IGNORANT.
You clearly don’t have a clue when it comes to cars. Nissan has a racing heritage that is just as extensive as Porsche’s, if not more extensive.
Just because the company targets a different AUDIENCE with their cars doesn’t make their cars any better. To properly compare cars you have to compare apples to apples. Porsche’s 911s are fantastic sports cars – no one is arguing that – however they cost $70K+.
Nissan targets a completely different demographic and makes their product to suit that demographic, with that being a more affordable car for the average consumer.
Compare the new GTR that will be priced around $70K to the Porsche’s $70K car (911 Carrera) and there wouldn’t even be a contest.
By the way: The Japanese are extremely innovative and have pioneered many new ideas and trends in the auto industry. Your comment about how they just mimick others makes you look like a complete idiot. Just because they use the 911 Turbo as a benchmark is a sign that they pursue excellence partially in part by learning from others.
Tell me one person, company, entity or idea that has succeeded without looking for input from its competition?
Vote:July 13th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
I dare Sam to go and take an R34 GTR for a test drive (as a starting point) to realise what an exceptional car the GTR is and always has been…
I’ve driven a boxter on the skid pan on the same day as driving my R33 GTR and I almost laughed at how badly the porshce performed when the going got tough…
Vote:July 23rd, 2007 at 10:14 pm
that is the best design yet of the skyline of the two pics up the top i love good work nismo.
Vote:July 23rd, 2007 at 10:16 pm
that is the nicest design of the new skyline GTR the two at hte top of the page nice work nismo.
Vote:August 28th, 2007 at 9:30 am
both my brothers have owned nearly every car porsche sells including the 911 turbo. one of my brothers thrashed his carrera and nothing every bad happened, so i disagree with the ‘whole breaking thing’. however everyone knows porsche boxsters are shit. but anyone the reason i would buy the new gtr is simply cause of affordablilty and age. It is the ultimate street car, plus with the pretty guaranteed fact that it will be rare as on the road. though just like the reason i have not brought a bmw m3 series yet is because their an old mans car.
Vote:September 21st, 2007 at 12:48 am
Japanese set the benchmark for AWD rally cars and have been mimicked by European manufacturers lately. Don’t forget Japanese inovations that set the standard for technology: Mitsubishi – Active Yaw Control AWD. Honda – 4W Steer & VTEC. And they consistently are first with trickling stupidly priced options on Euro cars to mainstream vehicles: ABS. Double overhead Cams. Turbo. Stability control. Remote central locking. etc were only available on mega dollar Euro luxury cars once.
Vote:January 8th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
The difference between mimicking and benchmarking, is, one doing properly, and one not.
Vote:January 8th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Also, whats this yuppy going on about?? My dad owns an M3 and it, like a GTR!!!! is not an old mans car you idiot.
Vote:I suppose “cool” boys drive VW’s? All Fag no action
January 8th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
MMMMMIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOW!!! ROAR ROAR you little minx.
Vote:January 9th, 2008 at 12:01 am
wow this gt-r looks great. modern, yet it stil has that race car look saying that it can tear down the track. none of the gt-rs have been disappointing, and i hope this wil be the best one ever! japanese are catchin up!
Vote:January 31st, 2008 at 2:07 pm
The New GTR has now officially set the fastest time for any production car on the Nurburgh circuit.
7.38.??
This time is faster than any production ferrari, koenigsegg, porsche, bugatti etc.
No other production car has made it into the 7 minutes 30 odd second barrier ever before.
This car is going to absolutley go nuts when it starts entering races an stuff.
Nissan have really pulled out the big guns on this one.
Vote:Anyone else that wants to try and say some other car is better just needs to look up the time it set.
February 8th, 2008 at 7:54 am
hey man those cars stink they are horrible the mustang is even better than those. If you really want to see a hot ride go on to google images and type in cadilliac corvette and there it is and by the way those cars suck ass
Vote:April 10th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Gtr…. 0-100 —- 3,5s……. that´s enought!!!!!!!!!
Vote:April 12th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
this sites got it all wrong lol the gtr was suppose to b a direct competitor to the porsche turbo non of those other carreras and they tested it agnst turbos not gt3’s also this site has no faith in the gtr woo watta machine it is and we are gonna get rippd off hard almost 100k from surrounding sources japan reatils for 80k, estimated 190k in aus ouch
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