When it comes to iconic sportscars, there are not all that many that have endured the test of time, but the Nissan GT-R (formerly known as the Nissan Skyline GT-R) is one such car.
Most of us may still remember the original Skyline GT-R, or the R32 GT-R as it’s generally referred to, but the history of the badge goes much further back than that. All the way back to 1969 in fact with the PGC10 (the original Nissan GT-R) followed by the KPGC110 (pictured below).
Nissan is now without a doubt manufacturing the best Japanese affordable supercar, but it once had to contest with the likes of Honda and Mitsubishi (NSX, GTO-GT3000). These days it appears as though its Japanese rivals have all but bowed in defeat (excluding the Lexus LFA which is considerably more expensive).
Before we get started, it’s worth taking a quick look at the GT-R’s recent history. Back in 1999 Nissan was in serious financial trouble and it took no other than Carlos Ghosn to turn the company around. Initially the restructuring plan saw thousands of jobs cut and factories closed down, it also meant an end to the GT-R project. Fast-forward a decade and it was Ghosn himself who gave the green light to the new R35 Nissan GT-R.
Nissan decided to build the new GT-R in a time when its Japanese rivals were focusing on volume rather than branding and the gamble proved to be a major success, lifting the Nissan brand to an entirely new level amongst car enthusiasts. Nissan’s ambitions to beat Porsche around it’s own test track at Nurburgring proved to be the clincher. 7:27.7 is the claimed lap time (one which has been disputed by Porsche).
Despite what Porsche likes to claim, since its introduction over two years ago the Nissan GT-R has won 66 awards, a lot more than there is space here to list. Some notable awards include car of the year by Top Gear, Automobile Magazine, Evo Magazine, Motor Trend and more.
It has also beaten pretty much every supercar in numerous independent tests around numerous race tracks. So then, what does Nissan Australia do to celebrate the model year 2010 of the famous GT-R. Book out Phillip Island and bring over the GT-R’s grandfather and chief engineer, Kazutoshi Mizuno and the man who set the Nurburgring record, Nissan’s main test driver and ‘Ring expert, Toshio Suzuki. What a day!
The event was open to current Nissan GT-R owners (R35) and selected Media. Some owners had travelled all the way from Perth just to meet Mr Mizuno.
Before we began, Mr Mizuno went through the history and development of the current model GT-R.
The Grandfather of the Nissan GT-R believes that his car must “grow up every year” to evolve and keep ahead of the competition. The chief engineer has had many years developing and building Group C racing cars and applies his extensive knowledge to the GT-R project.
According to Mizuno the most important factor of the GT-R development was tyre grip force. So much so that the GT-R was first conceptualised without a specific type of engine so the engineers could work out maximum tyre grip load. Only once that was determined was engine specification finalised. Mr Mizuno says he can’t understand why some supercar makers decide on the engine first, then work out the rest.
When asked why the Nissan GT-R is “so heavy”? The former racing driver said the car was developed as a customer car, not a professional racing driver car. The idea being to make a supercar for “anywhere, anytime, anyone”. He believes if they GT-R was any lighter it would not be as easy to drive for everyone.
Coordinating the day was TopGear Australia host (and former Porsche driving instructor) Steve Pizzati alongside numerous current V8 supercar drivers and other skilled instructors.
Stage one of the day involved a warm up exercise around Phillip Island accompanied by an instructor.
This meant accelerating out of pitlane, conducting a braking exercise before turn one and hammering through a series of witches hats before pulling back in. The idea? Getting used to the car.
When you first step into a GT-R it may take a few seconds to get used to the cabin design. Previous GT-Rs have always been known for being a bit ‘geeky’ in complexity and the R35 is no different. The central computer allows you to pretty change any setting in the car from boost to the driving feel and everything in between. Of course you can just simply get in, select a mode and drive.
Driving a Nissan GT-R is similar to driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution or Subaru WRX STI, except that it’s powered by a 3.8-litre twin turbo V6 VR38DETT engine delivering (a ridiculous) 357kW and 588Nm of torque. That means it goes significantly faster than its cheaper Japanese rivals but also handles better (figure that one out). What really sets it apart is the 0-100km/h time of around the 3.5 second mark (can go down as low as 3.2 seconds with the risk of damaging the transmission) – this puts the GT-R in the same league as Ferraris, Lamborghinis and other European supercars worth considerably more coin.
For those of you wondering how a 3.8-litre twin turbo V6 can get such impressive figures, one of the secret is high combustion temperature. Mr Mizuno said whilst most cars have a combustion temperature of 800-850 degrees, the Nissan GT-R is around the 1,110 degree mark. “High temperature, small space, big bang“. The engine is able to take the higher combustion temperatures thanks to a plasma coating technique.
There are only 12 engine development platforms at the Nissan GT-R assembly plant in Tochigi, Japan. Each one builds the entire engine from the ground up. Currently the Japanese company can only produce about 1,000 units per month.That also helps make the GT-R as exclusive as a mass produced Nissan can be.
If you’ve never seen a new R35 GT-R on the road before, the pictures simply don’t do it any justice. The car stands out like a robot from the Gundam series and exudes that “wow” factor. Not because it’s beautiful like an Italian supercar, or because it sounds like an Aston Martin V8 Vantage, more so because it doesn’t need to. Everyone that knows anything about cars, knows the GT-R as the king of the road.
V8s tremble in fear, the likes of Evolutions and STIs quickly shy away and Porsche drivers all of sudden feel the need to prove themselves (when they’ve never had to in the past).
Despite being the king of the road, the GT-R is arguably also the king of the racetrack. Having attended numerous track days with Stokell motorsport, I can tell you that out of all the exotic cars that show up (including Gallardos, 911 GT3 RS, 911 Turbo, F430s etc..) the new Nissan GT-Rs are the ones pushing the hardest.
Talking to Porsche 911 Turbo and GT3 RS owners and those that own new Nissan GT-Rs, it doesn’t take long to realise both groups are a happy bunch of owners. Some Porsche owners have defected whilst the purists have stayed and can argue with you all-day-long why spending two times (or more) the cash on an equivalent Porsche is the way to go (and for them, they may be right).
Speaking to numerous GT-R owners, the downside to the GT-R’s extremely good performance on the track appears to be the maintenance costs. Be it transmission oil, brake rotors, pads, or God forbid the infamous transmission issues (which seem to have all been resolved). The GT-R is a supercar for the everyday driver which when pushed to its limits, requires some TLC.
Although the Nissan GT-R is factory-guaranteed for 100,000 km, Mr Mizuno believes that the transmission, clutch and engine should all last to around 200,000 km. Unlike previous Nissan Skyline GT-Rs that have been relatively easy to work on, one has to wonder in 10 years time how your local mechanic can perform an engine rebuild, plasma coating and all?
If you’re looking at buying one, don’t spend your time thinking about “what-ifs” because that’s not the point. The fact of the matter is, the Nissan GT-R is by all means the best bang-for-your-buck supercar in history.
Despite the tremendous effort the folks at Nissan Australia put into setting up the day, the weather-God blessed us with heavy rain and freezing temperatures. Not that it was going to stop us from conquering Phillip Island in the best supercar Japan has to offer. So then, it was time.
A quick hello to the instructor was followed by a minor adjustment to the driver’s seat.The transmission was engaged and we were away. It’s hard to feel as though you’re in a car that can beat a Lamborghini Gallardo or Ferrari F430 around a track, because it’s so damn easy to drive.
Flatten the accelerator and the GT-R forces you back into the seat, but it’s much quicker than it feels. The rain had made Phillip Island race circuit so wet that keeping your foot on the accelerator into a corner was essential to maintain grip. The potential for a massive overstear was painfully evident around each turn.
Having driven a Gallardo Superleggera, F430 Scuderia and numerous Porsches, the experience behind the wheel of a GT-R is far more conventional compared to its European rivals. It’s relatively similar to playing Gran Turismon 5, except if anything goes wrong there is no replay function. Turn the wheel, point and the GT-R will simply follow your command, when Mr Mizuno said the car was made for anyone, anywhere, anytime, he wasn’t kidding.
If left on, the GT-R’s traction control system is quick to kick in and be somewhat intrusive on a wet race track (but a life saver in every other on-road scenario). Once turned off the GT-R turns into the animal that it really is. It will comfortably slide out around corners and can perform some truly inspiring power slides.
Despite its easiness to drive and its ability to make a regular joe look like Lewis Hamilton, the GT-R does respond well when driven hard by a skilled driver. For that, we handed the keys over to Nissan’s tamed racing driver. Some say he beat Porsche’s lap record around the Nurburgring in a Nissan GT-R, all we know is, he is called Toshio Suzuki.
It’s interesting when you get into a supercar with a famous racing-driver who’s wearing a full racesuit, fire-retardent gear and every other safety equipment you can think of, whilst you’re sitting there in your wet jeans and a t-shirt with the only safety gear being a borrowed helmet. Frankly, it didn’t matter, I would’ve sat in the passenger seat in my boxers holding on to a live grenade, if that’s what it took to get a hotlap with Toshio Suzuki.
My first words to him were “Hi, it’s an honour to meet you, please don’t hesitate to go quickly – I am all in” – he looked across and smiled “no problem“. From then on it was a case of holding on to my seat and thinking “Dear God, how can you possibly go around this corner at this speed in torrential rain“. It always takes a proper ex-Formula 1 racing driver to remind you just how pathetic you really are as a race-driver.
On our first lap Mr Suzuki hammered along at full pace, taking corners beautifully and smoothly. From this I gained the realisation that the GT-R is an absolutely ridiculous car in the wet. It will hold on to the road and defy all laws of physics in the right hands. I would love to put the transport minister of every state next to Mr Suzuki for a hotlap.
Second lap was yet another surprise, given Phillip Island had turned into a skid pan, some drifting was in order. Perhaps some of you read my recent Drift School article (conducted in Nissan 200SX), but appreciating the art in a Nissan GT-R was a little different. Given its all-wheel-drive system the GT-R doesn’t so much as drift as it power slides. Going around turns at Phillip Island sideways is an experience worth remembering.
Coming out of turn two, Suzuki managed to hold his GT-R sliding sideways for what seemed a good five seconds. Very quickly the most depressing feeling set in, because despite going sideways, he was still going quicker around the track than any one of us trying to go fast.
It’s actually rather hard to criticize the GT-R. Porsche’s claim to fame has always been creating practical cars that are also track weapons. The 911 turbo is the perfect example, quick as hell, but also capable of long journeys and trips to the supermarket, but so is the Nissan GT-R – but it’s quicker.
It goes like a supercar, it handles like a supercar, it performs like a supercar, yet it’s as comfortable as a normal everyday car to take to the shops. It has enough boot space to easily fit the week’s groceries and it’s comfortable enough to drive all the way from Brisbane to Sydney. Really, what’s not to like?
You may think I am simply praising the GT-R because I can, or because I like Nissan. Not so. There are not many cars that I would consider owning, but the GT-R is certainly one of them. It’s truly, for a lack of a better word, epic.
For the new 2010-2011 model year revisions. The Nissan GT-R has gained a revised navigation system, retuned suspension settings (a more quality ride but still hard enough for track usage) and an improved-flow catalyst.
The suspension updates mean the damping force of the shock absorbers (rebound stroke and spring rate) have been adjusted for better steering stability and ride comfort.
The rear suspension radius rod bushings has been strengthened and the GT-R has undergone a new wheel alignment settings.
In more detail, the satellite navigation system is now HDD-based, meaning it will come through the 7-inch digital display. It also includes a new data logging function (Nissan’s famous GPS based speed limiter system that will disable the speed limiter when you’re at a racetrack is not available in Australia as all Nissan delivered GT-Rs are not speed limited here).
Additional new features include automatic headlamps and speed-sensing windscreen wipers as well as Bluetooth audio connectivity and a USB port with iPod/iPhone/iPad support.
Nissan says the rear diffusers now comes with cooling ducts, a feature previously available only on the GT-R SpecV (not offered in Australia) whilst the 2010 Nissan GT-R benefits from improved low-and mid-range engine response as a result of new hexagonal meshed catalyst cells which help reduce airflow resistance within the twin system exhaust. To improve transmission cooling, a larger-diameter coolant pipe has also been installed.
If I had to sum it all up in once sentence. The Nissan GT-R is the best affordable supercar in the world.
Great car, love these things on the road. My favourite Japanese car.
“plasma coating and all’ – please CA, plasma coatings and similarly named proprietary coatings have been used om sportsbikes like Yamaha R1 and Suzki GSX-R series for 10+ years, I’m pretty sure nobody will have issues with rebuilding VR38DETT in 10 years time, it will be just another old engine that needs a stroker kit and more boost to refresh it ;)
Great article, I really enjoyed it.
What a truly awe-inspiring car.
Going for a drive with the gtr test driver would be a absalute hoot.Whish i could have gone, gee whish i could buy one full stop
Great Article AF. One question…. Was there any lap time set on the Phillip Island track by the test drivers?
Thanks. As the weather was so bad, any lap times set weren’t really accurate representation of the car’s ability.
It may be affordable to buy but I heard that it is very expensive to run. I believe servicing,tyres and parts are horrendously expensive? Can you tell us what the cost for a owner over a couple of years? What is the depreciation on these cars?
Supercar performance, supercar upkeep. Although I wouldn’t be surprised that after all the hype dies away it’s just like working on a Pulsar, just another car, but parts and lubricants will cost a fortune though, plus insurance.
With the plasma lined cylinder heads, unlikely. A pulsar is a very cheap, very basic vehicle, this will always have a extremely expensive (and fragile) gearbox, and it will always have active yaw sensors that control the awd system to determine which wheel has the most torque, and it will always have a twin turbocharged engine with an ECU that is programmed to stop you modifying it and put the car into lockdown mode.
The r35 will never take common modifying scene like the 32-34 did.
Fragile gearbox?? I can bet any production car with AWD & 1800kg, putting out that torque and with an aggressive launch control like the Gtr originally had would have had the same issues with the gearbox or burnt clutches!
911 turbo’s wern’t voiding warranties for launch control. Porsche encourages people to use launch control on the twin clutch gearbox’s (which will run 0-100kmh in 2.9 seconds on the MY11 911 turbos)
That extra $150k saving on the Gtr can buy you all the extra warranty and performance work to blitz the MY11 Porsche too, couldn’t it?
Ps: Where does “Porsche encourage people to use launch control”? The Gtr has had its launch control recalibrated with no more issues! The old system did not cater for idiot rich boys with no idea about mechanical sympathy!
2.9secs is a bit exaggerated isn’t it? I thought it was around 3.3sec?
GT-R is just another car – plasma coatings is nothing new, as I said it has been used on many models of cars and motorbikes over the last 10+ years, no magic about it. MY10 and MY11 have new sequence for launching from the line – and they do not void warranties so just stop spilling junk on these pages and learn a thing or two about the car TomJ.
Falcon Driver, oh no doubt its very expensive to run. This isn’t a car for people who are trying to live beyond their means, if thats the case, stick to the HSV and FPV products, this is a car that is almost as fast as a 911 turbo for half the coin.
I must admin, when the GTR first came out i hated it. Mostly because i felt the need to counter act the immense hype. Now, the styling grown on me, like anything with a quick rise to fame, the haters have come out to bash it, and i really don’t mind the car. When you see it in person it looks great, its incredibly fast and most of us might have a chance one day if luck goes our way of actually affording one.
Good job Nissan, i wish more Japanese manufacturers were like you (im looking at you Honda and Toyota).
Great article, so the great car
If you have had one much you at the lights, and have been fortunate enough to have your window down at the time, you will understand the hype. I somehow always pull up next to a red one as i get to the Train station, and it sounds, looks, and feels awesome. Some people say a car cannot have a soul, but this one has the soul of a samurai. You just fell that if it dishonored you by doing something as stupid rolling in corners, it would pick up a katana and commit Sepuku.
Long Live the GTR, King of the ‘Ring
Huge rep and the ability to back it up. Proven cred.
I respect this car as a technical masterpiece, an engineering achievement and a win for automotive ingenuity. But I would still save my money for a Porsche or an Italian supercar. Soul, that indefatigable x factor cannot be ignored.
The “it doesn’t have the soul of an Aston/Porsche/Ferrari” line is invariably the putdown for the GTR, although it usually comes from people who don’t have the money to own either. I *have* heard it from a couple of people who *do* own Porsches, but them I put down to protecting the mystique of their expensive cars :) Most auto journos I respect give the GTR a big wrap, and that’s good enough for me.
The other line tends to be that it’s too easy and composed to drive compared to a Ferrari or whatnot. Speaking as someone who doesn’t pretend to be an F1 driver, I don’t think there’s any marks in making it easier for me to lose control at speed on a wet road… have the same thought every time a top-handling sports car gets marked down by people for handling being TOO composed. And that’s coming from someone who would buy an Elise ahead of a 370Z…
I want to hate this car but just can’t…It does nothing wrong.
Wouldn’t you just love to see these cars back at Bathurst and the other major tracks, making our local V8′s look like what they really are – souped up taxis?
Nothing wrong with taxi racing – except when you throw a real car amongst ‘em.
Nice review guys, I’m jealous. C’mon, what was the lap time?
Just a quick correction, the history actually goes back a bit further than the KPGC110, there was a model before it, the PGC10 and KPGC10 or ‘hakosuka’ (boxy skyline) Google it, an amazing car that felled the all-conquering Porsches when they tried to conquest Japan in the late ’60s and early ’70s. The Nissan V Porsche battle goes back a lot further than the ’90s.
Fantastic cars, I just wish they sounded a bit better! Last year at the targa west (won by a gtr) was the fisrt time I got to see one driven in anger. It flew round the corner we were spectating from like it was on rails, but all that called be heard was a very quiet, rather uninspiring drone. Two cars later, a 911 gt3 came screaming past. It may have been slower, but it certainly looked like a lot more fun!
Lets hope nissan give this supercar a true supercar soundtrack for the next update.
An awe-inspiring car that one can sit around talking about for ages :D What a Beast!!
Thanks for the great article ;)
Fantastic article, thank you. The Nissan GTR just keeps getting better and many of us knew that, but this new car is spectacular!
So Mr. Fallah, I’m surprised you know about Gundams!
Can i offer a counter opinion for sakes sake?
Too big heavy and fast for the street, you will never use the potential of this car on the street. Yet it is too heavy for a track car, it huge weight will run through tires and brake pads very quickly, especially compared to something like a Corvette ZR1, or a 911 GT2…
Can i also offer a counter argument to your counter argument. Will not the ZR1 immense torque chew up those rear tires, and wont it drink fuel at double the rate of the GTR. And also the Safety of AWD in this car. As for the Porsche, it is a very suitable track car, but where will you get to use its potential speed on the road. I am not criticising you or the cars in question, just saying that the GTR has proved itself time and time again, Weight, tires and size taken into account.
Lets not forget a ZR1 is a 620hp car compared to the Nissans 480hp. Its a significantly more powerful engine. And actually, i would be willing to bet a Z06 Corvette would use less fuel in the real world than a GTR, you can get sub 10L/100km on the highway out of those things.
And no, if controlled on a race track a ZR1′s will not destroy its rear tires, are you really trying to point out the fact the Chevrolet has significantly more power as a negative point?
Ill tell you one thing, its carbon ceramic breaks wont fade and overheat as fast as the Nissans will, especially considering the latter is carrying an extra 400kg of weight.
I never mentioned power. I said the torque would, and i also mentioned fuel consumption. As stated before, the Nissan can do all that the Porsche and Corvette can do with significantly less power, and much more wight on board. And i can truthfully state that a GTR is very easy to handle on a track. I ask you have you seen all the reviews of a ZR1 on a track. Even with all the “controls” on it still slides out of control. I know if i had to choose i would take a ZR1 because i am a GM fan, but im just trying to say no matter how much you criticise the GTR it can do well and above its weight.
Well said Shak, its just that the Porsche boys cannot give credit where it is due!
TomJ, I know of a certain Porsche owner that drives on street and track days with replacement regular brakes because of the cost of wearing out the carbon ceramic brakes will buy him a brand new daily car!
Do you have any proof that the Nissans brakes cannot hold their weight against the carbon ceramics? The Gtr brakes are pretty serious gear as well!
i remember this one time i saw one so i followed it (in a yaris) and it went through this round about so quickly for suck a big and heavy car, i was just like bs! i go through this round about all the time and i thought it was pretty much impossible to go through it in such a big, long heavy car.
then the driver pulled over and i was like crap what do i do now… so i just kept driving
had my 5 minutes in gtr.
fantastic sounds.deep exhaust note,whirring transmission/driveline sounds.great seats.then bang,head smashes into head restraint,1st,2nd,3rd.couldn’t pry my head off it.think 4 times more force than most aussie v8′s.insane cornering speeds.brakes make your eyeballs fall out.i know my the guy from top gear didn’t last a lap in it…
I always thought it looked uninspiring and ugly from photos but I saw one the other day parked outside a hotel next to insane porsches and a merc drop top…and the GTR (in black) definitely looked the most Darth Vader outta them all.
I was surprised at how mean and aggressive it looked it real life. And it’s huge too! Alot bigger to what I imagined, but in a good way.
The supercar for the rest of us. Robotic in appearance, familiar with the well-to-do playstation generation.
Saw one out at the Scenic Rim (south west of Brisbane) last year, was the first time I’d admired a Datsun, that’s how much respect this car has earned.
Great article! love the car so much. R34 and R35 GTR both are my fav’car of all time…
Very excellent Nissan GT
Wish I could have this one
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Now all it needs is a dedicated chassis, awd, rear mounted dual clutch gearbox, better brakes, active dampers, active chassis control, aluminium jig welded chassis with aluminium doors, bonnet, boot and lap the ring in 7:29sec
I do not think that just the 265mm rubber would help no matter how sticky they were!
F6 a great car for the price, great engine too but way out of its league here as an all round package!
*correction* jig welded steel chassis!
These are great cars and the fact the dealerships are only allowed to sell 10 a year makes them all the more exclusive.I saw a few of these at my local Nissan dealership the other day while looking at Micras as a work car.