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The R35 Nissan GT-R (aka ‘Godzilla’) gets its most extensive makeover yet, attempting to be more things to more people.
WHAT IS IT? The MY17 facelift of Nissan’s halo car, complete with a three-model line-up that includes a sharply focused, Nismo-engineered Track Edition, a much-improved interior, a more modern nose and a greater breadth of talent.
WHY WE’RE TESTING IT? Because the Phillip Island Circuit and the Nissan GT-R are like a red rag to a bull, except the MY17 – well, the non-track versions anyway – has discovered some semblance of comfort away from the circuit.
MAIN RIVALS On price, it’s the BMW M4 Competition and Mercedes-AMG C63 S Coupe, both of which are slightly cheaper than the entry-level $189,000 GT-R Premium. But if we’re talking ability, Nissan believes its supercar can mix it with upper-end Porsches and the AMG GT.
PLUS: Brilliant dynamic focus of track-savvy Track Edition; loveable boosted-six grunt and grumble; vastly improved interior; now-liveable ride quality of regular GT-R MINUS: Still the odd driveline clunk; turbo lag in lower drive modes on the road; cramped rear seat; higher prices
THE WHEELS REVIEW IT MAY no longer be called Skyline – that iconic name was sent to heaven (for global consumption) when the R35-generation GT-R launched in 2007 – but the spirit of its forebears definitely lives on in this extensive MY17 upgrade. And that DNA link most closely aligns with the 2001 R34 Skyline GT-R.
The most comprehensive makeover in the R35’s near-decade existence falls at exactly the right time. Surrounded by fresh German high-performance armoury, the GT-R needed to reassert what its badge stands for, and what this all-wheel-drive, twin-turbo V6 is capable of, while aiming to appeal to broader cross-section of sports-car buyers.
While the MY17 looks fresher, it’s styling driven by functional development rather than fancy embellishment. It has a 20 percent-bigger front air intake, yet due to many aero detail refinements, its drag coefficient improves by one percent. The MY17 also has a stronger body, with more uniform stiffness between front and rear to improve chassis balance, while its suspension, steering and driveline are all refined to smooth over the GT-R’s brutal edges. And it works.
All of this broadens the GT-R’s appeal in an increasingly luxe-focused society, and so does its newfound driveline refinement (though you’ll still get the odd clunk from its rear transaxle). But when you ask for it, the GT-R is still a gloriously brutal beast.
But then there’s the ‘Track Edition engineered by Nismo’. With a heap of stuff borrowed from the proper GT-R Nismo (rumoured to be joining the Aussie GT-R line-up in 2017), the Track Edition is a seriously focused supercar around Phillip Island. Like the Nismo, it has adhesive bonding on its spot welds for greater body rigidity, completely retuned suspension (springs, dampers, anti-roll bars and upper links), slightly wider front guards to accommodate the Nismo’s broader track, and even fatter 10-inch-wide rear alloys (black forged-aluminium Rays 20s). In an extreme environment such as this, it’s the true embodiment of Hiroshi Tamura’s “car as body” philosophy.
But it’s the improvement in the GT-R’s everyday personality that also deserves praise here. Even in MY17 guise, the R35 GT-R will never be a shopping supremo (especially the very firm Track Edition), but this time — without the grumpiness of the past — you could. And with extra polish to ensure its future.
SPECS Model: Nissan GT-R Track Edition Engine: 3799cc V6 (60°), dohc, 24v, twin-turbo Max power: 419kW @ 6800rpm Max torque: 632Nm @ 3300-5800rpm Transmission: 6-speed dual-clutch Weight: 1760kg 0-100km/h: 3.1sec (estimated) Fuel economy: 11.7L/100km Price : $227,000 On sale: Now
