2011 Nissan GTR

Sunny · Sep 30, 2010

Chrome and LED, 2 things I hate more than broccoli. But I like the updates otherwise, especially the new blue.

And video of the new interior. Looks good, but too luxurious and not in character for GTR imo. It is probably the Spec M.

LaArtist · Sep 30, 2010

^whoa that interior looks GUUD..i mean it was always the GT-R´s weak point..

Merc1 · Sep 30, 2010

Yep the interior looks a lot better, I really like the color on that test car too.

M

donkeykong · Sep 30, 2010

DeDe said:
And they calculated this 2,98 second time from the lower drag coefficient. These guys are masters!

Seriously: 3 seconds seems a bit optimistic to me, even so if it will produce 530 hp as the Turbo S... it's still much heavier.

And nowhere near the traction. still make for some interesting comparisons which i know you'll post when made available.

Laurent T · Oct 1, 2010

I don't like the LEDs at all, at least not on the white car. Must see more pictures of that to become convinced.
Interior looks nice - not sold on the color but its interesting to see some more choice and options for interior, would push up the level.
Looking forward for the full official release now!

Jabba · Oct 1, 2010

It´s a very interesting car, specially regarding the cost-benefit.

Are there already pictures from inside? I remember the actual GTR looks to 2f2f in my opinion

NarutoRamen · Oct 1, 2010

Jabba said:
Are there already pictures from inside? I remember the actual GTR looks to 2f2f in my opinion

You mean all the ricers aka fast and furious crowd copying off the original R34 interior.

K-A · Oct 1, 2010

Damn, a F.L so soon? Or is just year-to-year improvement?

Interior looks shockingly premium and luxurious.

rollo · Oct 1, 2010

Excellent job by Nissan. Love the update. Such a great value this car.

NarutoRamen · Oct 1, 2010

K-A said:
Damn, a F.L so soon? Or is just year-to-year improvement?

Interior looks shockingly premium and luxurious.

Year to year improvements. It seems they have made the JDM market style minor year-over-year updates global now. Companies there have been doing it for a LONG time: Subaru, Mazda, Honda, Toyota, and Nissan.

emve · Oct 12, 2010

First short reviews, very positive :

EVO first drive :

I was privileged to be be invited to a VIP customer sneak preview of the 2011 Nissan GT-R.

The icing on the cake was that it took place at the GT-R's spiritual birthplace, the Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit.
Having just been there for a fantastic track day with www.trackdays.de not two weeks before, I was quite glad that Nissan offered to fly us out on the Saturday.
We were based at the outstanding Lindner hotel in the new Ring village complex (I was actually in the same room I had been in two weeks before!).
It was great fun getting to meet lots of GT-R owners from widely differing backgrounds over an excellent meal and drinks.
Then on Sunday morning we walked the 100 metres to the Nissan High Performance Brand Centre showroom in the Ring Boulevard building.
After a short intro by Nissan Sports Europe Manager Simon Croft, Kazutoshi Mizuno the R35 GT-R's Chief Engineer gave us a detailed presentation with some very interesting insights into the design and ethos of the GT-R.
It was obvious from his passion and excitement, that he truly considers the GT-R his child in all but name.
He also clearly has unprecedented autonomy over the GT-R project, probably more than any other Chief Engineer in the industry, particularly within a corporation as large as Nissan.
Hence he was given the budget to roll out a comprehensive revamp of the already expensive-to-produce GT-R at a time when Nissan is trying to establish its green credentials with its commitment to electric vehicles, lead by the Leaf.
Highlights are:

- Power output will be increased "by more than 40hp", so at least a claimed 530hp or so

- Aero performance has been improved, Cd factor reduced to below 0.27, whilst increasing downforce by 10%

- Gearbox and rear diff cooling improved by aero changes and increasing the volume of gearbox oil in the system

- Bodyshell has been further stiffened torsionally with a carbon strut brace and reinforced bulkhead

- Revised suspension with wider range dampers

- New design and lighter wheels

- Mizuno designed brake discs that are 10mm larger and more crack resistant

- Substantially improved interior materials

- Black Edition cars get electric Recaro seats that offer much greater lateral support

After his fascinating presentation, the covers were whipped off the three 2011 cars in the showroom. Unfortunately, photography was forbidden, but take it from me, the new Aurora Flare Blue Pearl colour (replacing the unpopular Titanium) is simply stunning in the metal.
The interiors are a big leap upwards in quality, with plenty of tasteful gunmetal trim, softer plastics and real carbon fibre trim (including around the HVAC/stereo controls that I was so keen to cover with carbon in my car).

The new Black Edition Recaros are superbly comfortable and very supportive, making the current (already very good) standard seats feel like director's chairs.
Potential buyers coming over from BMW or Porsche will not be able to cite the interior as being a reason not to defect.
I was honoured to be able to ask Mizuno-san some questions about the new car and he was gracious and forthcoming. However, it is clear he is not in favour of tuning his precious progeny! Oops...

After getting both Mizuno-san's and Toshio Suzuki's autographs, I eventually wrenched myself away and headed over to the afternoon's activities, including an exhausting indoor karting session.
That evening was spent enjoying GT-R banter over an obigatory hot rock steak at the world-famous Pistenklause restaurant, and a relatively early night because Monday morning promised to be unforgiving to those with hangovers...

We all had no problem waking up in time to head over to the old pits at the Nordschleife and, despite the fog, could clearly hear some VR38 V6s and screeching Dunlops.
The sight of the four DBA R35 GT-Rs - to give them their full new monikers - was spine-tingling, especially as I knew the blue one was going to be my ride with lap record setting Suzuki-san at the wheel.
Having seen his record lap video, I was expecting his trademark "double feint" approach to most of the corners to be quite violent from the passenger seat.

However, I was pleasantly surprised to find he was supremely smooth despite the rapid and precise steering inputs.
The car impressed with its increased composure, with the ride feeling remarkably unflustered, considering the constant 1g+ cornering, braking and acceleration forces.
The revised brakes seemed utterly unflappable and even the gearchanges seemed smoother.
The most flattering comment I can make about the revised engine is that it did not feel slow at all compared to Purple Zilla's 612hp output, and exhaust sound, which was originally regrettably absent from my April 09 model, was pleasingly more vocal.

Above all, I was stunned by Suzuki-san's unwavering speed and commitment into corners, with precious little concession being made to the fact that parts of the 14 mile circuit were patchily damp.
7 minutes 48 seconds later, we blasted back into the pits and after my profuse thanks had been given, I had to enviously watch as another lucky passenger was strapped in for the ride of his life...
A remarkable car developed by a remarkable team with a remarkable leader. It looks like the "new benchmark" (as Jeremy Clarkson coined it) has been moved several notches further up.
So, will Purple Zilla be making way for Blue Zilla next March? Stay tuned to find out...

rollo · Oct 12, 2010

Excellent review, what a car. Best sports car value on the planet?

Laurent T · Oct 13, 2010

From Autocar

What is it?
The new Nissan GT-R that was first shown to us in late 2007. At the time its chief engineer, Kazutoshi Mizuno, made it clear it would take three further years to refine the concept to a point where the real GT-R would be revealed. And this, apparently, is it.
Doesn’t look much different, does it? But it is. The significant styling changes may run to only some daytime running lights, a wider front grille and a new carbon diffuser at the back, but mechanically the car has been comprehensively updated.
What’s it like?
Tantalisingly enough, Mizuno is remaining coy about the numbers, but we know more boost and tweaked valve timing have raised power from 478bhp to at least 523bhp.
Moreover, there’s now a carbon strut brace across the engine compartment, modified dampers, tyres changed in compound, construction and pattern, bigger front brakes (up 10mm to 390mm), a 10 per cent increase in downforce and, would you believe it, even an improvement in economy and CO2 emissions.
What does this all add up to? Nissan is not saying, at least for now. However, it’s fair to think that a tenth or two may have been felled from its claimed 3.6sec 0-60mph time and its top speed will now be nearer 200mph than 190mph.
As for the Nürburgring lap time by which Nissan sets so much store, its team was going to have a crack the day I drove the car, but the weather precluded the attempt.
Instead, I slithered around the Nordschleife and discovered the extra outright punch to be less significant than the apparent broadening of the torque band. There are, of course, no figures available for this, but the GT-R always felt better one gear higher than first seems natural.
But I’d say the bigger change affects the chassis, which seemed uncannily stable, albeit quite keen to push its nose wide of the apex in what were farcically slippery conditions on the track.
Should I buy one?
Well, the big shock seems to be how much Nissan is going to be charging. Just one version is likely to be sold in the UK, priced at over £70,000, which could easily mean a 10 grand price hike.
And while the GT-R is clearly and comprehensively improved, perhaps more even than this could have been expected for that kind of premium.
Andrew Frankel
Link to Autocar website

Sunny · Oct 13, 2010

Looks like sub 7:45 time with a passenger and partially damp track.

rollo · Oct 13, 2010

Phenomenal, all I can say. A passenger, some light conversation, car looks and sounds rock-solid. :eusa_clap

I say again, name a better sports car for the money. Autocar dings Nissan for an increase in cost for major improvements that still puts the GTR around half the cost of the competition. :t-crazy2:

gdm · Oct 18, 2010

According to a Japan automotive website,NISSAN has released the specs of the 2011 GTR,its max horsepower is 530ps and max torque is 620nm.There are "Pure edition","Black edition","Premium edition","Spec V",sporty "Club track edition" and luxurious "EGOIST" models to be sold in Japan domestic market,here are the pictures.

Premium edition