Nissan’s Multi-Dimensional 530-Horsepower
Supercar Makes North American Debut at Los Angeles Auto Show, Set to Go On Sale
in Early 2011 Entering
its fourth year of availability in the North American market, the 2012 Nissan
GT-R has a new look, new colors, new wheel design and, most important to fans
of pure power, more horsepower under the hood. In addition, a new “Black
Edition”– with unique seats, interior colors and wheels – joins the GT-R
Premium model. The latest iteration of Nissan’s legendary supercar makes its
North American debut that the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show and will be available
at official “GT-R certified” Nissan dealers across the United States in early 2011.
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The
rather austere cabin of the 2012 Nissan GT-R is meant to convey an impression
of performance and technology. The front seats have prominent bolsters and
faux-suede upholstery inserts to keep occupants firmly located during high-G
maneuvers, yet they remain comfortable during long-distance drives. The
interior itself is well-constructed, with plenty of soft-touch materials, and
most controls have a solid, positive feel. Opting for the Black Edition spices
up the interior's appearance significantly.
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The
navigation screen can be used to display a variety of parameters, such as
G-force during cornering, steering input, gear position and lap times. If this
all sounds a bit video gamelike, there's a good reason. This interface has been
designed by Polyphony Digital, the developers of the popular Gran Turismo
series of driving simulation games.
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Entering
and exiting the GT-R takes no more gymnastic aptitude than that required by
more conventional cars -- a rarity among high-performance exotics. The rear
seats are much smaller and difficult to access, but they are adequate for
child-sized passengers. Trunk space is commendable for this type of car,
providing a deep well that can accommodate up to 8.8 cubic feet of cargo.
The
newly refreshed front fascia features aggressive double rectifier fins and new
integrated high intensity LED running lights. Additional plated parts are used
for the headlight inner panels, enhancing the car’s strong visual presence.
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In
addition, cooling performance for the muffler is improved and rear downforce is
increased by about 10% through use of a new rear fascia outlet and new vents on
the lower rear fenders that help remove air from the rear wheel wells. Newly
designed larger diameter tailpipe finishers are also adopted. Six exterior
colors are available, including two new colors: Deep Blue Pearl and Jet Black.
Other available colors are Solid Red, Gun Metallic, Pearl White and a limited
production 4-stage metallic Super Silver.
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GT-R’s
newly designed, lighter weight and more rigid forged aluminum 20-inch wheels,
once again manufactured by RAYS®, help improve suspension response. Knurling
inside the wheels is modified to help keep the tires from slipping around the
wheels under heavy acceleration or braking. The wheels also feature a new
premium dark (near black) finish, which provides a high quality,
high-performance look. The Black Edition features special black six-spoke RAYS®
lightweight wheels in place of the Premium model’s 10-spoke design.
More
important to GT-R fans are the changes made to the twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter
V-6, which deliver a healthy 45-hp boost (to 530), and a rise in torque from
434 to 448 lb-ft. Modifications were made in the areas of boost pressure, valve
timing, air/fuel mixture, and exhaust flow. Nissan claims improvements in
emissions and fuel economy as well.
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Safety
Standard
safety features on the GT-R include antilock Brembo brakes, stability control
and traction control. Front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain
airbags are also included. In Edmunds brake testing of a previous GT-R, we've
recorded a best 60-0-mph stopping distance of 98 feet, which ranks among the
shortest distances we've ever seen.
The
2012 Nissan GT-R achieves an impressive level of performance by utilizing
technology rather than brute force. Instead of a large-displacement V8 that
makes a burly rumble, the Nissan's twin-turbo V6 sounds like the sort of jet
turbine you'd find in a sci-fi flick. All four wheels work in concert to
maintain a tenacious grip on the asphalt, and the car accelerates past the
national speed limit with startling immediacy. Braking is likewise as urgent
and powerful.
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The
GT-R really shines on serpentine roads or racetracks, where its handling limits
rank with the top supercars. The suspension is unfazed by speed, so the car
tracks through curves with robotic precision. The steering is as communicative
and responsive as we've ever experienced in an all-wheel-drive car. However,
the GT-R's curb weight of 3,800 pounds keeps it from feeling as nimble as a
Porsche 911.
The
GT-R is much less polished in the confines of a congested city. The shift
action of the transmission is clunky and loud while in automatic mode in
stop-and-go traffic, and it will clatter like a racing transmission at a
walking pace. When the road is open, the GT-R regains its composure, and the
transmission shifts quickly and positively in automatic mode. On the whole, the
transmission responds better when it's shifted manually. Road noise can be
intrusive at times, but we think it's a small price to pay for the 2012 Nissan
GT-R's otherworldly performance.
reference:www.rsportscars.com,www.caranddriver.com,www.edmunds.com
