Monday 8th December 2008

Nissan Tweaks GT-R

Minor revisions bring slight power boost

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New GT-R: Spot the difference

The first official update of Nissan’s GT-R has been revealed in Tokyo, with changes including a small power boost and revised suspension.

Tweaks to the engine management system and closer manufacturing tolerances on the production line have been given the credit for the new version’s additional 5bhp – taking the turbocharged V6’s maximum output to 478bhp. The car also has an enlarged fuel tank to extend the range available from its 23.4mpg.

While there are no major visual changes, apparently you will be able to recognise the latest GT-R by its slimmer number plate mountings, new seven-spoke Rays alloy wheels and a new option of pearl white paint.

More significantly, latest GT-Rs get revised suspension said to sharpen the handling at the same time as improving the ride. According to first reports on the car by Autocar magazine the improvements have been achieved with new dampers and spring rates at the front end. Nissan will supplement this package by fitting grippy Dunlop SP Sport 600 tyres as standard - the same tyres that famously took the GT-R around the Nurburgring in just 7 minutes 29 seconds.

Nissan claim these slight adjustments are part of their 'Kaizen' ('continuous improvement') philosophy. Along with these improvements Nissan have announced a 3.8% price increase for the GT-R, though, and we're not sure that part can be described as an improvement...

The first revised GT-Rs will be delivered in mid 2010. In the meantime, if you've already ordered your GT-R don't worry - the price will remain the same.

[Pinosaure]

Now i'de hate to start up another GTR argument but is it just me or is this bargan supercar for the masses becoming less and less of a bargan / attractive purchase with every tweak and revision?

[davidcharles]

compared to the price of other cars with similar performance....its still a bargain....

[DCP 1]

Shame its so tacky

[Fetchez la vache]

I've read it twice and can see no mention of a ring time. How bizarre!

[Sivraj]

Can the gearbox handle the extra power ?

[ScoobieWRX]

In these globally hard times i can totally understand a manufacturer adding a couple of revisions/modifications to sell more cars. Times are tough and every bit to make the car even more attractive a proposition than it already is sounds good to me and the right way to go to sell even more cars IMHO.

However.....upping the price by 10% for the pleasure of just sounds like pure greed and arrogance in the current climate when even the well off and rich are tightening their belts the world over!! Do Nissan really think this car is so good that people will buy no matter what therefore they can just add another 10% for the hell of it. Do they really want to sell more cars or what??

With the price of oil now down to $40 a barrel manufacturing costs should be coming right down too so if anything i would have thought not charging the extra was very possible while still making the same profits as before.

I might be wrong but it just seems like a bit of p155 taking to me and the fact that i'm a tight ar5e might have something to do with it

[richbe]

ScoobieWRX said:

In these globally hard times i can totally understand a manufacturer adding a couple of revisions/modifications to sell more cars. Times are tough and every bit to make the car even more attractive a proposition than it already is sounds good to me and the right way to go to sell even more cars IMHO.

However.....upping the price by 10% for the pleasure of just sounds like pure greed and arrogance in the current climate when even the well off and rich are tightening their belts the world over!! Do Nissan really think this car is so good that people will buy no matter what therefore they can just add another 10% for the hell of it. Do they really want to sell more cars or what??

With the price of oil now down to $40 a barrel manufacturing costs should be coming right down too so if anything i would have thought not charging the extra was very possible while still making the same profits as before.

I might be wrong but it just seems like a bit of p155 taking to me and the fact that i'm a tight ar5e might have something to do with it

Have you been paying attention to the £/Yen exchange rate recently? That might explain Nissan's problem.

[davidcharles]

ScoobieWRX said:

In these globally hard times i can totally understand a manufacturer adding a couple of revisions/modifications to sell more cars. Times are tough and every bit to make the car even more attractive a proposition than it already is sounds good to me and the right way to go to sell even more cars IMHO.

However.....upping the price by 10% for the pleasure of just sounds like pure greed and arrogance in the current climate when even the well off and rich are tightening their belts the world over!! Do Nissan really think this car is so good that people will buy no matter what therefore they can just add another 10% for the hell of it. Do they really want to sell more cars or what??

With the price of oil now down to $40 a barrel manufacturing costs should be coming right down too so if anything i would have thought not charging the extra was very possible while still making the same profits as before.

I might be wrong but it just seems like a bit of p155 taking to me and the fact that i'm a tight ar5e might have something to do with it

...i don't think Nissan would be doing it for "fun".

i'm sure they would rather lower the price a bit and sell more cars.
Considering the supposed state of the car industry, i don't see that many great deals on new cars anyway...

[White-Noise]

richbe said:

ScoobieWRX said:

In these globally hard times i can totally understand a manufacturer adding a couple of revisions/modifications to sell more cars. Times are tough and every bit to make the car even more attractive a proposition than it already is sounds good to me and the right way to go to sell even more cars IMHO.

However.....upping the price by 10% for the pleasure of just sounds like pure greed and arrogance in the current climate when even the well off and rich are tightening their belts the world over!! Do Nissan really think this car is so good that people will buy no matter what therefore they can just add another 10% for the hell of it. Do they really want to sell more cars or what??

With the price of oil now down to $40 a barrel manufacturing costs should be coming right down too so if anything i would have thought not charging the extra was very possible while still making the same profits as before.

I might be wrong but it just seems like a bit of p155 taking to me and the fact that i'm a tight ar5e might have something to do with it

Have you been paying attention to the £/Yen exchange rate recently? That might explain Nissan's problem.

Im going in Feb, its almost down to half what is was the first time i went!

[nickpan]

I've never even sat in one of these - how do they compare to the German bunch sound/quality/comfort/power/looks wise?

I'm only asking because I think it looks pretty nice in the picture.

[john_r]

"The first revised GT-Rs will be delivered in mid 2010."

Errr, no thats not correct.

The official UK cars starting in March 2009 will be the revised versions according to the latest email I got from Nissan - although the Rays alloys may be an option as opposed to standard fit. The new Pearl White paint replaces the current white option as opposed to being an extra colour.

The Dunlops will also be fitted to UK cars.

The price will not increase for cars that are already ordered, and in fact the OTR has gone down in relation to VAT and the delay to VED increases - I have a letter in front of me from Nissan with the new price confirmations.

Out of interest how much of the story was confirmed by Nissan UK and how much was rumours printed in Autocar?

[R8FUN]

ScoobieWRX said:

In these globally hard times i can totally understand a manufacturer adding a couple of revisions/modifications to sell more cars. Times are tough and every bit to make the car even more attractive a proposition than it already is sounds good to me and the right way to go to sell even more cars IMHO.

However.....upping the price by 10% for the pleasure of just sounds like pure greed and arrogance in the current climate when even the well off and rich are tightening their belts the world over!! Do Nissan really think this car is so good that people will buy no matter what therefore they can just add another 10% for the hell of it. Do they really want to sell more cars or what??

With the price of oil now down to $40 a barrel manufacturing costs should be coming right down too so if anything i would have thought not charging the extra was very possible while still making the same profits as before.

I might be wrong but it just seems like a bit of p155 taking to me and the fact that i'm a tight ar5e might have something to do with it

Where does it say its gone up by 10% - the increase is 3.8% & only for orders taken after today.Everyone with a pre-order pays the original price less 2.5% VAT courtesy of the chancellor.

[LuS1fer]

"Kaizen" - the art of getting it right eventually without ever conceding it was wrong to start with.

[shalmaneser]

Seems like a nice package of revisions - don't know where the previous poster got a 10% price increase from, it clearly says 3.8%, which is not very much at all - especially considering exchange rates!!!!

don't get why Nissan are claiming a 5bhp increase though - surely everyone who cares knows these things are chucking out way more than 500 bhp as they leave the factory, even before these 'revisions'?!

[NickyTwoHats]

Off topic but I was stupid enough not to join the race academy when first offered...anyone know when/if they're going to invite people who have ordered again?

[ScoobieWRX]

R8FUN said:

ScoobieWRX said:

In these globally hard times i can totally understand a manufacturer adding a couple of revisions/modifications to sell more cars. Times are tough and every bit to make the car even more attractive a proposition than it already is sounds good to me and the right way to go to sell even more cars IMHO.

However.....upping the price by 10% for the pleasure of just sounds like pure greed and arrogance in the current climate when even the well off and rich are tightening their belts the world over!! Do Nissan really think this car is so good that people will buy no matter what therefore they can just add another 10% for the hell of it. Do they really want to sell more cars or what??

With the price of oil now down to $40 a barrel manufacturing costs should be coming right down too so if anything i would have thought not charging the extra was very possible while still making the same profits as before.

I might be wrong but it just seems like a bit of p155 taking to me and the fact that i'm a tight ar5e might have something to do with it

Where does it say its gone up by 10% - the increase is 3.8% & only for orders taken after today.Everyone with a pre-order pays the original price less 2.5% VAT courtesy of the chancellor.

Originally the story clamied 10% when i commented!! It's been changed!!

[bobd]

R8FUN said:

ScoobieWRX said:

In these globally hard times i can totally understand a manufacturer adding a couple of revisions/modifications to sell more cars. Times are tough and every bit to make the car even more attractive a proposition than it already is sounds good to me and the right way to go to sell even more cars IMHO.

However.....upping the price by 10% for the pleasure of just sounds like pure greed and arrogance in the current climate when even the well off and rich are tightening their belts the world over!! Do Nissan really think this car is so good that people will buy no matter what therefore they can just add another 10% for the hell of it. Do they really want to sell more cars or what??

With the price of oil now down to $40 a barrel manufacturing costs should be coming right down too so if anything i would have thought not charging the extra was very possible while still making the same profits as before.

I might be wrong but it just seems like a bit of p155 taking to me and the fact that i'm a tight ar5e might have something to do with it

Where does it say its gone up by 10% - the increase is 3.8% & only for orders taken after today.Everyone with a pre-order pays the original price less 2.5% VAT courtesy of the chancellor.

So thats up 3.8% minus 2.5% for the vat - surely all pre-orders will now be less 2.5% on the original quoted purchase price? Seems to me that thats a discount to pre orders of £1375.00 on a black edition.

[bobd]

Just checked on the GTR Nissan site - all price increases are listed, as it appears are the new power outputs and the new Dunlop tyres. Price increases do not alter pre orders. So someone with the highest spec possible will be making a saving of £7000 over the new price on a preorder.

[danwww]

its still a real minger though isn't it

[LuS1fer]

danwww said:

its still a real minger though isn't it

That's a given.