2007 Tokyo Motor Show: Nissan GT-R

• Competes with: Corvette Z06, Ford Mustang GT 500, Porsche 911
• Looks like: A 13-year-old’s doodlings during algebra class
• Drivetrain: 473-hp, twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V-6 with dual-clutch transmission; all-wheel drive
• Hits dealerships: In Japan, December 2007; in U.S., first half of 2008

The worst-kept secret in automotive history finally got its public introduction today in Tokyo. Nissan has unveiled its “supercar,” named GT-R. A famed Japanese nameplate, this beast will be unleashed on U.S. roads early in 2008 at a price tag close to $80,000. For that money, you get a demonic-looking sports car that can hit 62 mph in 3.5 seconds and has a top speed of 193 mph.

The GT-R is not meant for the faint of heart, although it does have seating for four and a trunk, so maybe Nissan expects you to take it on trips with friends. We don’t know about that, but owners will undoubtedly be taking trips to every stoplight they can find with this thing.

Only a select number of Nissan dealerships will be certified to sell and maintain the GT-R, and the company says it will take care of all “adjustments” to keep the car running at optimum levels for the first three years of ownership. That sounds like this might be one particularly hard-to-tame animal. We’ll follow the GT-R as it gets closer to its U.S. release and official prices and dealers are announced. Of course, you can get on a mailing list now through Nissan’s U.S. website. We’d also suggest getting your name on a waiting list if you don’t mind sight-un-driven impulse buys. As always, more photos below.

Comments

Come on guys, got to get the facts right. Dave needs a coffee?

It is not a 2.8L but a 3.8L with not 473hp but 480hp.

BTW, just a side note, please don't compare this to the Z06. No one will cross shop between the 2 anyway. \=~=/

And why in the world they have to put that big P on the instrument panel to remind you it is an automatic?

And why in the world they have to put that big P on the instrument panel to remind you it is an automatic?

Thanks J. Just a typo.
fixed now. Diet coke is in hand.

Zero to 60 in 3.4 seconds? That flabbergasts me. It blows past traditional supercars: MotorWeek clocked the Ferrari 599 GTB at 3.7 seconds and the Lamborghini Murcielago at 3.9 seconds; both cars cost some $300K. The bargain-priced Corvette ZO6 does 3.8 seconds, according to MW. Shaving off fractions of a second in the 3-4 second range is no small feat -- think about the laws of physics, and you'll realize why it isn't like taking a 7.0-second car down to 6.8. This car packs serious acceleration, and with the AWD and dual-clutch transmission, any idiot can experience it.

For those of you who don't know much 'bou the "real-history" of the GT-R...now I ain't saying that it's also gonna happen in this generation of GT-R, but this "version" of GT-R will be the "weakest" of this generation :)

You see, Nissan has, for every generation in the past, produced better handling and faster versions in year 2 and beyond, such as
V-Spec
V-Spec II
M-Spec
N-Spec
This isn't even counting the "Nismo" version like
R-Tune
S-Tune
and the ultimate
Z-Tune.

So paying $80K for the "weakest" of the peck, or paying a bit more a year or 2 later for better version...?

Wait til if they will bring back the V-spec II Nür.

I want one,,, but the closest I'll get to driving it will be Project Gotham 5,,,

What do you mean that won't play on the 1st Gen X-box? And we're only up to PGR4?!

*sigh*

Throws pennies into jar. 1,,,,2,,,,,3,,,,4,,,

I read that 0-60 is 3.7s. The car has more than 3,800 pounds (3825 as far as I remeber, all wheel drive that shares with G35x... re-bored G35 engine with twin turbo on it and unfavorable weight distribution (2 cylinders hang over front axis), chassis is the same as new G37 - all steel.

I am not telling that the car is bad but Gosh is not called cost savings killer for nothing.

I would wait for official testing (Z06 vs. 911 Turbo.....).

Also I read that the price will be closer to $85,000 (might be wrong) and they plan to sell 1,000 units per month (good luck with that).

Illja, it's clear to me that you just have no clue on the GT-R. Yes, it does share a common platform - FM - with the G37, but seriously, that's pretty much 'bou it! It's not even a cost saving killer because it's built by hand. More importantly - try to mod a G37 to the level of GT-R...As to 1000 units/month...PIECE OF CAKE. You know, this is a WORLD CAR. Right now, countries of oil-rich, i.e. Middle East, are ordering the GT-R 20 to 30 cars PER ORDER. It is a different breed of car than the Supra, NSX, 350Z, etc. You really need to know the history and hertiage of the GT-R in order to appreciate the greatness of this vehicle.

P.S. A Spec-V has been announced for 2010 (I think it should be called V-Spec, so the site that's reporting this could be wrong). Man, this is getting Juicer...if only there's a hybrid version of it :)

This car is nice and all but it really screams 350z and just reminds me of a hopped up version of said car. Id rather have an R34. Still though nothing changes the fact that this is still a nice, and powerful, car.

Amuro Ray,

I read a lot about GT-R but I am not blinded with brand name as some people. I look into specs and buy cars base on performance not on name and heritage. Sorry man I am not a sucker to pay lot of money for a badge/heritage. Also at my previous job I use to consult for Subaru (in fact we helped them tune combustion process using laser diagnostic systems in cylinder) / Leksus and spent some time in Ford laboratory for advance injection systems (Dearborn - Michigan). I know people from "inside" and GT-R IS a rebadged version of G37 regardless of Nissan marketing that many people, including you Amuro Ray, fall for. It is highly tuned version and I would wait for final testing results done by unbiased and independent party. Look into Car&Driver lightining lap test (VIR) or smth similar (Laguna Seca for example). And to be honest I don't care if some oil rich guys are ordering 20 - 30 cars per order so what!!! They have plenty of money that they got out of the sand I work for my money hard here in USA so they are in no case role model for me. Heritage, Sorry buddy heritage does not mean that I am ready to shell my hard earned money just to have GT-R on my steering wheel.

Once I am ready to buy new car I will test lighter version that has stick shift and rear wheel drive (they say it is coming....) but after test driving elise and exige S I am poised with light weight cars.

Yep, getting the R34 is a great idea, only if you live where the Kangaroo, or Onsen, or Beckingham Palace is located. Because you cannot use any drive through in US.

Does anyone know why Nissan didn't call it the Skyline GTR?

how come they didn't keep the stunning front end of the concept and went for this bug-eyed late-Mercury Cougar look? i don't know, if ever one day i had $80+k to spend, just that look would turn me off. the R34 still looks best to me.

and speaking of PGR ... i tried to play Forza2 and the stupid XBox360 died. then i found out it's a cheaply made machine with an inadequate heat sink. going back to my GT4 on my PS2 now. ugh. anybody have that problem? driving the GTR concept on Gran Turismo certainly is FUN

Personally I'm very intrigued by the GT-R - it looks to be one of the best upcoming supercars out there, especially given its suggested list price. And I happen to like the styling - to me it has a unique high performance look without being too "rice-y". It also seats 4 (although I imagine the rear seats aren't that comfortable), has a useable trunk, and it probably gets decent gas mileage at cruising speeds too. I've always looked highly upon cars that can offer astounding performance while still being useable on a real-world basis. Of course, whether or not regular production GT-Rs are as fast as the test mules remains to be seen.

I certainly won't be joining the mad scramble to get on the GT-R waiting list. It makes more sense to wait a little while as there could certainly be some bugs for Nissan to work out. Plus, if the car is in such high demand then prices will be inflated anyway. You can bet that a lot of people already on the waitlist are resellers who will immediately flip their cars for ridiculous prices, and there will be no shortage of people willing to pay those prices.

So you can choose to pay a high price for an early production model that may or may not have teething problems, or you can wait a year or two and pick up an upgraded model for a much more reasonable price. If you're still dead set on getting one as soon as possible, the other thing you could do is keep your eyes open for the first used ones when they start surfacing in late 2008/early 2009 - but you'll have to be quick on the draw, you'll probably still pay an inflated price, and you won't be able to custom-order the car to your liking. To each his or her own!

As far as the GT-R being a rebadged G37 goes, that's really irrelevant if the engineering is good and the car performs to the level that it's supposed to in all categories. Some of the fastest and best cars in history have been built from very tame underpinnings.

At this point the GT-R looks like it will be a giant killer, especially once tuners get hold of it. Speaking of tuners, that reminds me of an important point: I hope Nissan has assumed that many GT-R owners won't leave their cars stock for long. In my opinion, from the factory this car should have the capability to reliably handle at least 600-700 hp on the stock long block and drivetrain components. Cars like the MkIV Toyota Supra and older Skylines are that strong and the new GT-R should be too. I doubt it will be a problem; 650 hp is only 170 more than the GT-R's stock output, for example. The engine is based on the VQ series but it's supposedly been completely re-engineered with many strength-adding features. Judging by the strength of the previous-generation Skylines, Nissan has probably done their homework with this car too.

That being the case, the only other thing I have to say is that I'm looking forward to mid-2008!