2014 MY Nissan GT-R Bows at LA Auto Show, Goes on Sale in January [w/Video]

After the major upgrade it received for the 2013 model year, it would be logical to assume that Nissan’s GT-R would remain mostly unchanged this year.

Nissan’s dedicated Team GT-R, though, led by Kazutoshi Mizuno, has a philosophy of constant improvement. Therefore, the 2014MY GT-R, which will make its world debut today at the LA Auto Show, may look identical to the previous model but it features a number of significant changes dictated by the data Team GT-R collected after entering a stock car in this year’s 24 Hours of Nürburgring endurance race.

“With the entry into an actual 24-hour racing competition, GT-R’s unique development process not only took an incredible step into a new dimension, it did so under the eyes of 100,000-plus spectators”, said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager of Nissan North America.

“The development of a super high performance vehicle demands testing your own limits as well as the vehicle’s, as was the case at Nürburgring, and will certainly pay off in our GT-R customers’ enhanced driving enjoyment,” he added.

Power and torque output remains the same, at 545HP and 463 lb-ft respectively, but new fuel injectors allow for enhanced torque between 4,500-6,000 rpm and improved throttle response in mid and high revs while a baffle in the oil pan stabilizes oil behavior and pressure and new relief valves for the turbochargers’ bypass helps sustain instant throttle response.

Moreover, Nissan decided to add an aluminum nameplate with the name of the specially trained engineered who, as has been the case since the current GT-R’s inception, single-handedly assembled that unit.

In the chassis department, the 2014 GT-R features reinforcements to the dash panel bar and instrument panel member in order to improve rigidity. Additionally, the front suspension has been thoroughly revised with changes to the dampers, springs and anti-roll bar lowering the center of gravity and improving stability when cornering.

All those changes enabled Nissan’s revamped supercar to post a 7’18’’6 lap time at the Nürburgring, improving upon the 2013MY car’s 7’21’’.

The new GT-R will be available in the U.S. from January in two versions: the GT-R Premium, which will feature a navigation system, a custom-designed Bose audio system with 11 speakers, premium near-black finish wheels and heated front seats, and the GT-R Black Edition that adds black Rays forged alloys, a two-tone interior in red and black with Recaro leather seats and a dark headliner and a dry carbon fiber rear wing.

Customers will be able to choose between Deep Blue Pearl, Jet Black, Solid Red, Gun Metallic, Pearl White and a limited production 4-stage metallic Super Silver paint, and two optional packages.

The Cold Weather package includes Dunlop all-season tires and a unique coolant/water ratio and the Premium Interior package sports semi-aniline leather, hand-stitching on the front seates and red accents on the steering wheel, gear lever and instruments and door panels.

You can watch Road & Track’s preview of the 2014 Nissan GT-R in the video that follows right after the break.

By Andrew Tsaousis

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