The 2017 Nissan GT-R is now on-sale in New Zealand, showing the most significant update to the R35 model since its global unveil in 2007, with a new look both inside and out, as well as receiving major driving performance enhancements in key areas, which include a significantly reinforced chassis and more power from its twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre 24-valve V6.

The new GT-R is also more comfortable than before, with a new sense of elegance and civility that one would rarely find in such a high-performance super sports car.

For the first time in New Zealand, Nissan will offer a more circuit-focussed grade of GT-R, the Nissan GT-R Track Edition Engineered by Nismo. This grade is based on the Premium Edition, but with the addition of elements of both the Black Edition grade (no longer available in New Zealand) and Nissan GT-R Nismo.

From the Nissan GT-R Black Edition:

• Dry carbon fibre rear spoiler
• Black and red Recaro seats
• Black leather interior treatment with red stitching (steering wheel, gear shifter, dashboard, door trims)

From the Nissan GT-R Nismo:

• Bonding body (adhesive bonding on spot welding makes GT-R body shell more rigid, producing more precise suspension response under extreme loads)
• Front and rear suspension (springs, dampers, stabilisers, upper links)
• Six-spoke aluminium forged lightweight 20-inch RAYS wheels with black finish
• Front guards (allowing room for GT-R Nismo front suspension and wheels. Wheel width is 10 inches for Track Edition Engineered by Nismo vs 9.5 inches wide for Premium Edition)The Track Edition Engineered by Nismo is 5 kilograms lighter and has 10 millimetres wider front track width than the Premium Edition. It can also be identified by a badge on the centre console.

The new GT-R has a refreshed exterior look, with a redesigned bonnet, front bumpers, daytime running lights (DRL) and a new matte chrome finish grille.

This distinctive grille has been enlarged to increase airflow to cool the engine without causing any additional drag, and the refined shape blends smoothly with a new bonnet, whose structural rigidity has been increased.

By essentially eliminating bonnet deformation, testing has shown that the new bonnet design greatly improves aerodynamic performance at the front of the vehicle at high speed (200 km/h or more).

In fact, nearly all of the visual changes made to the GT-R’s exterior were intended to improve aerodynamic performance; more specifically, enhanced aerodynamic efficiency in three key areas: downforce generation, drag reduction and improved cooling of vital vehicle systems.

The goal was to maximise cooling airflow, while at the same time keeping aerodynamic drag in check (i.e. not increase drag in one area of the vehicle as a result of improving cooling performance/airflow in another).

In addition to the new grille and bonnet, the curving profile of the front under spoiler has been slightly extended and lowered by a few millimetres to improve airflow at the its lower edge (ground clearance of the previous model has been maintained).

Also, by reshaping the sill lip along the lower portions of the sides of the car, the amount of air being drawn underneath has been reduced, countering vehicle lift and improving stability.

The C-pillars have also been redesigned, with the upper portion now shaped to deliver better airflow management by preventing the generation of a smaller vortex.

The rear of the new GT-R continues to be defined by its iconic round taillights, but look closely and you’ll notice a silver-finish diffuser and new side air vents that have been incorporated next to the quad titanium exhaust tips to improve the car’s aerodynamics.

Also, the belt line that separates the lower black section from the body panel has been heightened to make the car look wider and more aggressive. The rear bumper section now incorporates the same design featured on the GT-R Nismo for better routing of air at the lower portion of the rear of the vehicle. This has also led to less interference between the exhaust gases exiting the tailpipes and airflow along the rear side portions of the bumper for improved heat evacuation.

Inside the new cabin is more luxurious and upscale, with the dashboard wrapped in one continuous sheet of Nappa leather (available on Premium Edition with Luxury Trim).

The centre dashboard layout has been improved and simplified, with the number of integrated navigation and audio controls reduced from 27 switches in the previous model to only 11 in the 2017 version.

Also, the paddle shifters have now been mounted directly to the newly designed steering wheel (as opposed to the steering column), which allows the driver to select gears of the six-speed dual clutch transmission without having to take his hands off the wheel during mid-turn.

Output for the GT-R’s award-winning 3.8-litre V6 24-valve twin-turbocharged engine has been increased by 15kW compared to the previous MY15 model. It now delivers 419kW at 6,800rpm, thanks in part to an increase in boost pressure and an ignition-timing system that is controlled at each individual cylinder — technology previously reserved for the GT-R Nismo.

The new changes result in improved acceleration in the mid-range (3,200rpm and above) with maximum torque output available across a wider range of the power band.

Also new is a titanium exhaust system that better manages the high temperatures of the exhaust gas from the engine. The system includes a NACA duct on the vehicle’s undertray just forward of the silencer, which guides air into the rear diffuser section to help cool the muffler and evacuate hot air from within this section of the vehicle.

The transmission shift management control of the sequential six-speed dual clutch transmission has been updated for better refinement and performance in a variety of driving situations.

What’s more, the exhaust note is noticeably quieter for a more pleasant experience during normal every day driving.

Engine power is transferred to all four wheels of the GT-R via the world’s first independent rear transaxle called the Attesa E-TS all-wheel drive system. During normal driving, the GT-R behaves like a rear-drive vehicle, with the torque split set at 0:100, but it can be adjusted up to 50:50 depending on speed, lateral acceleration, steering angle, tyre slip, road surface and yaw rate.

For 2017, the handling capabilities and athletic performance of the new GT-R has been taken to another level, thanks to a refined suspension system and a more rigid body structure that results in improved handling and better overall vehicle stability.

Prices
Premium Edition  $205,000
Premium Edition luxury  $211,000
Nismo Track Edition  $240,000