On December 6, 2007, Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn proudly unveiled the all-new GT-R during the Tokyo Motor Show. Design chief Shiro Nakamura proudly stated that Japan’s supercar reflected the country’s culture. However it’s not the styling but what’s underneath that aggressive bodywork that has made it humiliate supercars worth double its price – or more…
Kazutoshi Mizuno, though, who heads the GT-R development team, is apparently a very difficult man to please. That’s evident from the modifications he has constantly made to his creation, the latest being the one unveiled today, which will be known as a 2014MY in North America, and as a 2013 model for the rest of the world.
When the GT-R was launched, its 3.8-liter VR38DETT twin-turbo V6 pumped out 480HP. A year later, it gained 5HP but it wasn’t until 2011MY when its output jumped considerably, to 530HP.
One would think that this would be enough. Mizuno didn’t: that’s why he upped the V6’s output just a year later to 542HP and then, in 2011, to 545HP for the North American market version.
All these power hikes were accompanied by changes to the chassis resulting in a car, which five years from launch, may look almost identical but is improved in each and every way.
With 2012 coming to an end, Mizuno thought that it was time for yet another revamp so he revealed the 2014MY. You’d be hard pressed to distinguish it from its predecessor, since the bodywork is the same.
Once again, though, Nissan‘s Team GT-R has made subtle modifications, most of them derived from the lessons learned after competing with a stock car at this year’s 24 Hours of Nürburgring endurance race.
These include lowering the car’s roll center by tuning the front suspension to increase high-speed stability. Additionally, while the engine’s output remains the same, there’s now greater engine response between 4,000-6,000 rpm and the 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) time has dropped by 0.1 seconds, to 2.7.
According to the company, the 2014MY GT-R laps the Nürburgring at 7’18’’6. That makes it a startling 20 seconds faster than the original 2007 version around the daunting track! For the record, the outgoing 2013MY (for N.A.) or 2012 model (the rest of the world) is capable of turning the ‘Ring in 7min 21 seconds.
Nissan said it will release further technical details as well as a sales date for all regions in the coming weeks.
You can watch Mizuno-san explain all the changes made and why the GT-R will always be honed at the ‘Ring as well as the first driving impressions in Japan’s Sugo circuit in the videos that follow right after the jump.
By Andrew Tsaousis
Updates for the New Model Year
Engine
- New high-output injectors more concisely control fuel injection to improve mid-range and high-rpm response.
- A new relief valve for the turbocharger bypass suppresses the rapid decrease of forced injection pressure, again helping to sustain response.
- A new oil pan baffle helps maintain more stable oil pressure and reduces rotational friction especially during high-performance driving.
Chassis
- After measuring the roll centre of the GT-R when cornering and taking deflection of the bushes and tyres into account, engineers have updated the suspension set-up with revisions to the dampers, springs and front anti-roll bar to lower the centre of gravity.
- New cam bolts have been installed on the front suspension to improve camber accuracy and stability when cornering.
- The torque carrying capacity of the driveshafts to the hub bearings has been increased to improve reliability in high-stress situations, such as track driving.
Body
- Reinforcements have been added to the dash panel bar and instrument panel member resulting in increased body rigidity and better suspension control.
PHOTO GALLERY
