Nissan GT-R Nismo: summary
The Nissan GT-R – one of the most iconic sports car models of all time – gets a go-even-faster Nismo version from summer 2014 to take on, and in almost all cases out-gun, the hottest Porsches, Aston Martins and Ferraris.
What: Nissan GT-R Nismo
Where: Sodegaura, Japan
Date: November 2013
Price: £125,000 (est)
Available: summer 2014
Key rivals: Porsche GT3, Aston Martin V12 Vantage S, Audi R8 V10
We like: immense power, speed, capability and brutal left-field looks
We don’t like: interior quality for £125k car, price hike over regular GT-R
Nissan GT-R Nismo: first impressions
Hunkered down in the open-garage pit lane of the Sodegaura Forest Raceway on a bright Japanese morning, the GT-R Nismo looks more than ready for business. While it shares the regular GT-R’s brutal and angular lines, the Nismo version dials those up to about eleven and a half. The quickest signifier that this car is a more powerful GT-R – up to 600hp from 550hp – comes from its slick signature-red Nismo pinstripe detailing around the side sills, strakes and extended front and rear bumpers made of weight-saving carbonfibre.
Teamed with a taller but slimmer carbonfibre rear spoiler, the collective result is 100kg more downforce at 186mph than the recently uprated ‘normal’ 2014 GT-R. New LED daytime running lights better differentiate the front, and at the rear those familiar tail lamps are now more coherent circles of light. The cabin has seen a major upgrade in material quality too – not before time – and the overall package seems visually race-ready and appropriate for its incredible sub 3.0-second 0-62mph performance.
Nissan GT-R Nismo: performance
The message it sends back to the driver is: “Go faster, I can cope.” I do: it can.
Given this is one of the quickest cars on the planet, it was a little strange that Nissan’s top brass wouldn’t quote a 0-62mph time for the Nismo ahead of its summer 2014 UK on-sale date. But as the heavier and less powerful regular GT-R already manages it in 2.8 seconds, while those engineers perhaps try to eke out a bit more performance from the Nismo before publishing an official figure, we can safely expect it to be quicker still. About 2.6 seconds seems a reasonable guess. It certainly felt crazily fast on the few laps of track time we were allotted.
Stats Nissan would disclose about the 3.8-litre V6 were 600hp on tap and 481lb ft of peak torque. A stab of the accelerator and the massive engine roar that follows provides suitable early confirmation of its intent. After a few pulls of the right-hand paddle-shifter working the dual-clutch six-speed gearbox, we’re hurtling down to the first corner. Downshifting a couple of notches is required almost as quickly to keep the car decent before firing through that corner, and the process elicits great-sounding pops and bangs from the exhaust. Turn in and the well-weighted steering feels precise and reassuring. The message it sends back to the driver is: “Go faster, I can cope”. I do: it can. Previously distant horizons get gobbled up and turn into immediate scenery almost as soon as they are spied. Straight-line speed feels staggeringly fast.
Nissan GT-R Nismo: ride and handling
With four-wheel drive underneath and uprated suspension – optimised for the 20-inch front wheels – larger hub bolts for more rigidity and exclusive springs and shock absorbers, the car steams through corners and out the other side without any hint of trouble. You’d really need to be in the completely wrong gear and approach angle to get the rear end wobbling or the front nose deciding its own exit path. It’s an incredible performance car, with a firm – but far from brutal – ride, and it doesn’t seem so track-tuned and one-dimensional that commuting or less demanding drives couldn’t be undertaken without a decent level of comfort. Three suspension modes allow you to choose from varying levels of firmness, although we stayed on the track so we didn't get to experience the full range of the GT-R Nismo's abilities.
Nissan GT-R Nismo: interior
Getting into the Nismo is straightforward, unlike with some more low-slung supercars. The lightweight carbon-backed driver’s bucket seat is surprisingly comfortable, although fore and aft adjustment is manual, unlike the electric knob in the standard GT-R. One issue which did need addressing on the previous GT-R was the poor quality interior for the money. Although it was originally billed as a cut-price Porsche 911 rival, the GT-R has become considerably more expensive over time (the regular GT-R is currently £76,610 and the 2014 model version will be nearer £80k) while Porsche’s cabins have improved, giving two clear reasons for change. The upgrade is good – with better leather, a pleasingly thick Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel and nice red Nismo accents to the seats and gear shifter. For the likely £125k asking price, however, the fit and finish – especially on the gearbox surround and dials – isn't quite up to scratch. The paddle shifters are a bit plasticky too.
Nissan GT-R Nismo: economy and safety
Given Nissan isn’t forthcoming about performance figures, it’s no surprise to learn that fuel economy and CO2 ratings are also absent this early before launch. With the current car clocking a 24.0mpg official combined figure and 279g/km of CO2, the more powerful Nismo is unlikely to do any better, although its lighter carbon parts do reduce kerbweight by up to 30kg to 1,720kg and it is more aerodynamic. Most of the basic safety kit is the same, but additions include custom front and rear Bilstein DampTronic dampers, exclusive Dunlop tyres and a hollow rear anti-roll bar which boosts roll stiffness while reducing weight and makes the whole experience of controlling the car calm and confidence-inspiring, unlike the standard GT-R, which can fishtail if coaxed under heavy braking (as revealed on our slightly longer road test afterwards).
Nissan GT-R Nismo:
Expected to account for up to 30% of the GT-R’s 288 UK sales allocation for 2014, the Nismo version will be a rare beast on British roads. Yes it's expensive, but the GT-R Nismo can beat any Porsche this side of the limited-run £666k 918 Spyder for acceleration, so it represents comparatively decent value. It has the handling to match, and we're also fans of its purposeful looks and zero-badge-snobbery appeal. Owners of notionally more exclusive German, Italian and British supercars may not like it, but they cannot deny the GT-R Nismo’s fully justified place in their company.
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