The Nissan GT-R just gets better and better every year and 2013 will be no exception. The original version launched back at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show delivered a total of 473 HP; the most recent model - Model Year 2012
- went up to an impressive 530 HP; and things aren’t slowing down for
the Japanese automaker. The new version (2012 in Japan, 2013 in USA) has
made its official debut at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, and Nissan has delivered the kind of performance the GTR is known for, but not what we expected.
The
bad news from this reveal is that, despite previous rumors, the 2013
GT-R will not deliver 560 HP. Its output has been increased indeed, but
"only" to 542 HP - an increase of 12 HP over the current model. The most
impressive part however is that the 466 lb-ft of torque will be
delivered from 3,200 rpm all the way up to 5,800 rpm.
For
2013, the GT-R will also offer a new "For Track Pack" special edition
that adds new high-friction seats, a stiffer suspension, and lighter
wheels.
UPDATE 01/20/2012: Nissan has
just announced prices for the 2013 Nissan GT-R, which is on sale now at
Nissan dealers nationwide. The model will be offered in two versions:
the GT-R Premium at a starting price of $96,820 and the GT-R Black
Edition priced at $106,320. An optional Special Paint-Super Silver will
add another $3,000 to the car’s price.
UPDATE 06/20/2012:
Nissan has unveiled a pretty cool video featuring the 2013 GT-R taking
some laps on a race track at the Monticello Motor Club, North America’s
Premier Automotive Resort and Private Race Track, located just 90 miles
from Manhattan.
Hit the jump to read more about the 2012/2013 Nissan GT-R.
Exterior and Interior
Nissan has mostly focused on improving the car’s
performance for the 2013 model year, so the exterior and interior have
remain largely unchanged. The changes that did make the cut are mostly
for the interior. Nissan has updated the inside of the GTR to create a
more sophisticated atmosphere. This was done by adding blue lighting
inside the tachometer ring to match the shift position indicator light
and exchanging the Bose sound system woofers to Bose Precision Sound
System woofers.
The GTR has also received minor changes to its body, but
nothing to change the overall look of the vehicle. The vehicle has
been reinforced in certain areas around the rear engine compartment and
dash panel for more responsive handling and to improve the inter-vehicle
detection capability. The inter-vehicle communication was improved by
changing the position of the sensor and adding more accurate
acceleration sensor. The rear view camera has also been thrown in as
standard for this model year.
New for the 2013 model
year is the "For Track Pack." The new optional Track pack GT-R will be
distinguished by lightweight six-spoke RAYS alloy wheels with gloss
black painted centers. The new wheels will be combined with brakes
cooled by additional cooling ducts built into the front bumper. These
reduce the operating temperature of the front brake discs by as much as
100 degrees during track use, improving the stopping performance.
Similar ducts, hidden behind the rear wheels, channel cooling air over
the rear discs. The suspension system has also been revised to be
optimal for track use, while adjustable dampers offer more comfort when
the car is being used on the road.
This will be one
of the lightest GT-R models offered due to the fact that it comes in a
two-seat configuration: the rear buckets have been removed to save
weight and the front seats have been replaced with lighter Recaro racing
seats trimmed with blue bolsters in a high-grip fabric.
Engine
The 2013 Nissan GT-R is powered by the same
twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 engine found on the previous model, but
with the output increased to 542 HP at 6,400 rpm - an increase of 12 HP
over the current model - and 466 lbs-ft of torque delivered from 3,200
rpm all the way up to 5,800 rpm. Despite the extra 12 HP, Nissan is
promising that the 2013 GT-R will be more fuel efficient.
Engine
response and torque at mid- and low-speeds, and power at high
revolutions, has been significantly improved, mainly due to:
- Improved intake efficiency
- Better air flow resistance, which has been reduced by the addition of an intake manifold fitted to the head of each unit and the use of resin in the enlarged air intake duct for the intercooler.
- Improved exhaust emissions efficiency and enhanced control.
- Reduced air flow resistance thanks to a more compact under floor catalyzer which improves emissions efficiency and reduces weight.
- Improved exhaust valve cooling performance by the adoption of a newly-designed metallic sodium-filled valve. At the same time, valve control timing, the air mixture ratio and ignition timing have been improved.
The engine is mated to an improved transmission as well.
The shift feel and quietness have been refined through a strengthened
design of the shift fork arm and a firmer fixing bearing for the
flywheel housing. Also, all versions will be offered with a
high-performance differential oil R35 COMPETITION type 2189E.
Another
significant improvement is the new asymmetric suspension which is
similar to the one offered in racing cars. For the front suspension, a
harder spring rate on the left side has been set and for the rear, the
suspension arm has been installed upward on the left side and downward
on the right for an imbalanced wheel load when the car is stationary,
but equalized during driving. This provides improved responsiveness and
smoothness which the driver feels when steering, as well as enhanced
cornering stability and riding comfort.
The GT-R
Premium Edition and EGOIST will also be offered with NCCB (Nissan Carbon
Ceramic Brakes) that help accentuate the car’s agile road hold and
supple ride feel.
"We have a car that has the
potential to go from 0-100 km/h (0-62mph) in under 3 seconds, lap the
Nurburgring in less than 7 minutes 20 seconds, and cruise at speeds of
300 kilometers per hour," said Chief Vehicle Engineer Kazutoshi Mizuno,
speaking trackside at Sugo. "But what marks out the GT-R today is that
you can drive it on the autobahn at speeds like that with a degree of
comfort."
Only a few days after its official launch
in November 2011, the new GT-R managed to score a new record: it made
the sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.72 seconds. This is a
considerable increase over the previous year’s 3.5 seconds. Check out
the video of the sprint below.
Prices
The 2012/2013 Nissan GT-R went on sale in early December
2011 for the UK, early 2012 for all of Europe, and November 24, 2011
for Japan. Prices start at £74,450 ($116,150 at the current rates).
For
the additional Track Pack, customers on the British market will need to
tack on an extra £10,000 ($15,600 at the current rates) to the £74,450
($116,150 at the current rates) price tag of the standard GT-R, for a
grand total of £84,450 ($131,750 at the current rates).
On
the U.S. market, the model is offered in two versions: the GT-R Premium
at a starting price of $96,820 and the GT-R Black Edition priced at
$106,320. An optional Special Paint-Super Silver will add another $3,000
to the car’s price.
Competition
With the new improvements for the Nissan GT-R, the battle between it and the Porsche 911
will be even more intense. Nissan has promised that the GT-R will
sprint from 0 to 60 mph in under 3 seconds and already has a Nurburgring
lap record of 7min 16secs, a full 8 seconds faster than its
predecessor’s time of 7:24. By comparison, the 911 sprints from 0 to 60
mph in 3.4 seconds and lapped the ring in 7 minutes and 26 seconds. The
GT-R seems be in the lead right now, but a new 911 Turbo is just around the corner.
2013MY Nissan GT-R Black Edition: $106,320 (+$11,200)
No comments:
Post a Comment