Tuesday 19th October 2010

Full Details: 2011 Nissan GT-R

More power, plus chassis and aero tweaks - but it'll cost you...

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Nissan has finally revealed details of its tweaks to the new 2011 GT-R, more than two weeks after it first let us look at the car at the Paris motor show.

It's more than just a mild tweak, too: power is up from 478bhp to 523bhp, with torque up by 18lb ft to 451lb ft (though if you believe the rumours the car has always had something close to these power and torque levels anyway).

Various clever tweaks to the ECU, catalyst, turbo boost pressure and exhaust mean that emissions drop and economy improves, too, as does a 'save mode' which replaces the old car's 'snow mode'- but you don't want to know about that, do you?

More interesting is that 'R mode' now has a launch control mode that allows maximum-attack starts while monitoring oil temperatures to ensure reliability is maintained and prevent further use if the temperatures rise above the maximum allowance.

Intriguingly, a two-wheel-drive mode is now available to help control tight turning at slow speeds. This will temporarily shift the car to 2WD as long as the speed is below 6mph and the steering wheel is turned more than half way. Shame it can't be activated at higher speeds...

In chassis terms the springs, dampers and anti-roll bar have been tweaked, while the front caster angle has been increased. At the rear, a free-piston shock absorber has been developed to help provide more responsive damping and a smoother ride. Larger brakes, a new compound for the Dunlops and lighter, more rigid Rays wheels complete the dynamic tweaks.

The redesigned front bumper helps increase downforce but adds LED daytime running lights (arghh!! - Ed). At the rear a new bumper has a new lower centre of gravity while the quad tailpipes have increased in girth.

Overall, the tweaks not only bring an extra 10 per cent of downforce, but also reduce the drag from 0.27 Cd to 0.26 Cd.

There is a snag to all these tweaks, mind - the price jumps up from £59,945 to £69,950 (though that does include the forthcoming 20 per cent VAT). The new Nissan GT-R is available to order now, with deliveries starting in March. If you can't wait that long, or don't want to pay that much, 2010 cars are still available, with a delivery time of two months.

[edb49]

"Intriguingly, a two-wheel-drive mode is now available to help control tight turning at slow speeds. This will temporarily shift the car to 2WD as long as the speed is below 6mph and the steering wheel is turned more than half way. Shame it can't be activated at higher speeds..."

Aww... that really added character when I had mine, the rear wheels skipping about pulling out of junctions because of all the diffs being wound so tight. Shame.

[Carfolio]

I've posted the specs on my site for the GT-R & the specV too. I think the previous look is cleaner though, although the specV's alloys are

[chazwozza]

Waiting for the reply from Stuttgart....

[FWDRacer]

NeMiSiS said:

I didn't read anything about gearbox seals and clutch basket modifications.

They won't have bothered doing them because car manufacturers don't respond to warranty data and customer clinic/feedback

A Great Car. Can only have improved it, but it isn't the conspicuous bargain it was at launch.

Edited by FWDRacer on Tuesday 19th October 16:39

[alexpa]

Is this why GT5 is delayed

Katzanori Chocazuni what his face is busy hustleing his new GTR around Tokyo with the midnight club

Edited by alexpa on Tuesday 19th October 16:39

[Jez200]

Like that new colour!
Very positive review in EVO magazine this month.

[georgetuk]

Ooooh a new one hopefully bringing the prices of the older one down a bit.

£45,000 for a used one at the moment is great but just a little bit lower and I will be in the market...woop.

[soad]

WANT

[S18DMW]

Is it worth 10grand more than the pre-facelift though really?

[frosted]

Anyone know Roughly how much these cost to insure , male 26 , London postcode , 4 yrs no claims , 0points , licence held for 7 years

[TheRoadWarrior]

Anyone know if the 2WD mode is something you switch on, or is it automatic? The article doesn't specify, but it would make sense if it kicked in automatically under those conditions.

£70k does make a used one something of a bargain, I should think it'll help keep residuals of the older models high.

Hurmm, this or a 997 GT3... decisions I'm not financially in a position to make

[TheRoadWarrior]

S18DMW said:

Is it worth 10grand more than the pre-facelift though really?

EVO seem to think by far and away the biggest changes are to the chassis, which haven't really been mentioned.

Apparently they make it a much better drivers car (It was no slouch before!!)

[S18DMW]

I think my boss needs to lend me his GTR, then buy the facelift and let me borrow that also.

Purely so I can come to my own judgement on the car obviously, this is not a selish attempt to blag a GTR for a day or 2 just to go and pimp about in

[E36GUY]

Is it only me that feels absolutely nothing for this car?

[marky911]

E36GUY said:

Is it only me that feels absolutely nothing for this car?

Nope. Me too. I grew out of soulless jap stuff years ago. I can respect some of it for it's abilities but, have no interest in any of it. I prefer me doing the driving, not the car.
Fans see all these new gizmos it has as amazing. I just think, weight.
Boring!!!! zzzzz.

[Blue Meanie]

It's only soulless if you think it has no soul. Whether you like it or not, cars don;t actually have souls. They are machines. This whole notion of Japanese cars being soulless is really, dull, and says more about the person than the car.

[Wayney]

For £40k Used there's nothing that comes close to beating this car for handelling and insane power!!

[baby g]

Wayney said:

For £40k Used there's nothing that comes close to beating this car for handelling and insane power!!

550 Maranello? Different, slower round a track, but certainly not a million miles away.

Have a lot of time for the GTR, can't quite see myself ever buying one though.

[marky911]

Sorry I'll rephrase that then....
I grew out of boring jap stuff years ago. Performance figures on a piece of paper mean little too me, if the car is a behemoth with looks that appear to be aimed at school kids.
Just my opinion. I only viewed the thread hoping to see a prettier, re-designed car.
Heyho, nevermind.

[markcoznottz]

Cant see what the new wheels are like. Front bumper restyle. Yuck. Change for changes sake. New tailpipes are too big, almost cartoon like proportions. Have you noticed those little slats theyve put on the rear bumper behind the rear wheels?. LEAVE THINGS ALONE. Just leave. Useless fussy additions,the car doesnt need them. The original car is a purposeful design, very coherant,maybe not beautiful, maybe not everyones cup of tea, but its not overdone, with one of the best standard wheel designs ever.

Bigger brakes?. How big?. If its the same calipers but bigger discs then it will be approaching 400mm, which is huge for a steel disc. Maybe these were needed from the off.