2009 Nissan GT-R, The Wait is Over – (Australia)

The wait is over, Nissan Australia today formally announced its plan for the release of the much anticipated GT-R sportscar for April 2009.

Over the last few years we have been entertained and excited by the various spy photos taken of the GT-R testing at various circuits around the world, the rumored engines started with a possibility of a V8 stretched to V10 and settling with a twin-turbo 3.8 Litre V6 engine capable of producing 353 kW and an enormous pulling 588 Nm or torque.

The GT-R badge found itself of various Nissan Skylines over the last three decades in Australia, signifying the racier model within the Skyline range. Skyline GT-Rs raced and won at Bathurst in 1991 and 1992 with Mark Skaife and Jim Richards behind the wheel. The GT-R won against the likes of Holden V8 Commodores, BMW M3s, Ford Sierra RS5000s and Toyota Supras to name a few.

Nissan Australia will sell two variants come April next year, a base model priced at $148,800 and a Premium model at $152,800 plus on-road costs. The Premium model adds smoke/grey forged 20-inch aluminium wheels, Nitrogen-filled Bridgestone Potenza run-flat tyres, (over the standard model’s Dunlop SP Sport), a BOSE audio with 11 speakers and a 30 gigabyte hard drive; and front black leather sports seats with red Alcantara inserts. With only a price difference of $4,000 we predict many customers will choose the upper specked model.

The GT-R's six exterior colours:
  
  –  Super Silver
  –  Vibrant Red
  –  Gun Metallic
  –  Black Obsidian
  –  Titanium
  –  Ivory Pearl

The Nissan GT-R will not be sold through just any Nissan dealership, it takes a High Performance Centre to sell and service these sportscars. There are 11 nominated High Performance Centres around Australia, they are:

Victoria  –  Ferntree Gully and Werribee
New South Wales  –  Campbelltown and Brookvale
South Australia  –  Nailsworth
Western Australia  –  Melville and Wangara
Queensland  –  Moorooka, Southport and Mackay
Tasmania  –  Hobart

Nissan GT-R Specification and Features include:

The world’s first independent rear transaxle all-wheel drive system.

GR6 sequential six-speed has paddle shift control for the dual clutch rear transaxle, while drive to the wheels is via the electronically-controlled ATTESA E-TS all-wheel-drive system.

Brembo Sports brakes are fitted all round, with six pistons in the front callipers and four at the rear. There are full-floating drilled rotors clamped by low steel high stiffness brake pads.

Bilstein DampTronic suspension control system gives three selectable settings: Circuit, Normal and Comfort.

20-inch front wheels are shod with 255/40ZF 20 tyres while the rears are fitted with 285/35ZF 20s, with all tyre pressures monitored electronically.

Advanced hybrid body construction melds steel, die-cast aluminium and carbon fibre for strength, lightness and durability. The GT-R has a super low coefficient of drag of 0.27, while achieving high front and rear downforce.

Rear wing and carbon fibre rear diffuser, and a dark grey front grille.

Leather-wrapped sports steering wheel, adjustable steering column, high-back driver’s sports seats, with six-way power adjustment for the driver and four-way power adjustment for passenger. Front seats are heated and there are aluminium interior trim accents.

Intelligent key system allows access to the car and integrates with the push-button for engine start and stop.

Safety equipment includes ABS with EBD, dual front, side and curtain airbags, while the sports-oriented dynamic stability system, VDC-R, is adjustable through Circuit, Normal and Off settings, selectable by the driver to suit prevailing conditions.

The Premium model adds black forged 20-inch aluminium wheels, Nitrogen-filled Bridgestone Potenza Run-Flat tyres, BOSE audio system and front black leather sports seats with red leather inserts.

Nissan Australia is targeting to sell 200 GT-Rs in its first 12 months, orders are being taken from October 2008 at the International Motor Show held in Sydney where a GT-R will be presented to the crowds.