 |
| The GT-R, already the car of choice for KZN’s fastest quarter milers and SA’s blistering hill climbers, just got better, and its coming to South Africa. (Nissan South Africa) |
THE most respected car unveiled at this week’s New York
International Auto Show is the 2017 Nissan GT-R.
The good news is Nissan South Africa has confirmed the latest
iteration of Godzilla will also come to our showrooms later this year.
General manager of marketing communications Graeme Birch told media
the local distributors are excited to welcome the new GT-R to South Africa.
“We will be announcing more details in the not-so-distant future”,
said Birch.
A decade after its introduction in 2007, the latest GT-R offers the
most significant changes in the
model.
model.
The exterior gets a complete makeover, both to make what Nissan
describes as a sportier-looking car, and to create an aerodynamically efficient
vehicle, with less drag that retains the same amount of downforce as the GT-R in
which Marburg’s Dezzi Gutzeit became King of the Hill at the Simola Hillclimb in
Knysna last year.
Nissan’s executive design director Mamoru Aoki said as the icon of
Nissan’s driving performance, the GT-R continues to evolve.
“With the signature V-Motion grille, the GT-R now possesses the
latest Nissan design language.
“Its exceptional aerodynamic performance and upgraded interior have
given the GT-R a more mature character, which will continue into the future,”
said Aoki.
Beside the new design language, the grille has been enlarged to
provide better engine cooling and now features an updated mesh pattern. A new
hood, which flows flawlessly from the grille, has been significantly reinforced,
contributing to stability during high-speed driving.
And that front spoiler lip below the headlamps generating high
levels of front downforce. The GT-R’s familiar wind-cutting shape defines its
profile, but the side sills have been pushed out to improve air flow.
The rear of the car also received a thorough makeover.
While the GT-R’s hallmark four-ring taillights remain, look closely
and you’ll notice new bodywork to help improve air flow, as well as side air
vents next to the quad exhaust tips.
Inside
We have not yet had the privilege of just
sitting inside the new GT-R, but want to remind readers that the first drive in
2007 resulted in this author offering a kidney for a GT-R.
Nissan’s statement said the cabin greets the driver with a premium
interior “that is befitting a high-performance sports car of this
calibre”.
The entire dashboard and instrument panel are new and covered with
high-quality leather artfully stitched.
The shape of the dashboard adopts a “horizontal flow” that delivers
a sense of increased stability for the car’s front-seat occupants, while the
line from the instrument cluster to the centre console provides a distinct
driver-oriented environment for those behind the steering wheel.
The centre dashboard layout has also been improved and simplified.
Integrated navigation and audio controls reduce the number of switches from 27
in the previous model to only 11 in the 2017 model.
An enlarged eight-inch touch-panel monitor features large icons on
the display screen to make it easy to operate.
A new Display command control on the carbon-fibre centre console
allows easy operation.
The shift paddles are now mounted to the new steering wheel,
allowing drivers to change gears in mid-turn without having to take their hands
off the wheel.
How it goes, reportedly
The GT-R’s award-winning 3,8-litre V6 24-valve
twin-turbocharged engine — each unit handcrafted by its own Takumi
technician—now delivers 421 kW (565 hp) at 6 800 rpm.
The improved output, which are the result of individual
ignition-timing control of the cylinders and extra boost from the turbochargers,
allow the new GT-R to possess superior acceleration in the mid- to high-ranges
(3 200 rpm and above).
It comes mated to a thoroughly refined six-speed dual-clutch
transmission that features smoother shifts and less noise.
That familiar GT-R tone also has been upgraded with an engine that
has never sounded better, according to Nissan.
The GT-R has always been regarded as one of the world’s best
handling machines, and for 2017, its cornering abilities have become even
better.
A more rigid body structure and new suspension result in better
stability through quick lateral transitions and higher overall cornering speed.
Grip are comes from 20-inch tyres, on “Y-spoke” aluminum rims.
Still a commuter’s dream
Despite all the performance enhancements, the
2017 GT-R is the most comfortable model to date, with a new sense of elegance
and civility that one would rarely find in such a high-performance supercar.
The new GT-R exhibits a smoother ride quality than the outgoing
model, and its cabin remains much quieter at all speeds and new sound absorption
materials.
Chief product specialist of the GT-R Hiroshi Tamura said, “The new
GT-R delivers a heart-pounding driving experience at all times and on any road
for whoever sits in the driver’s seat. We have continued to push its performance
boundaries to the outer limits — it’s even more potent than before.
“At the same time, more refinement has been added to take the
entire driving experience to an entirely new level.
We’re proud to bring you what we feel is the ultimate GT that
possesses amazing performance, newfound civility and a rich racing
history.”
