NEW YORK, March 24 — Nissan unveiled the latest version of its halo car, the Nissan GT-R, yesterday at the New York Auto Show. The early debut is expected to be one of the highlights of the auto show.
This is the latest update to the two-door, 2+2 sports car the company unveiled in 2007. Nissan had wanted a car that could compete against the likes of the Audi R8, BMW M6, Chevy Corvette, and Porsche 911 but that would cost significantly less than those.
“This is the best GT-R in Nissan’s history,” Keno Kato, Nissan head of product development, told press at the debut.
To back up his claim, the new model gets 565 horsepower on its 3.8L twin-turbo V6 engine, a 20-hp improvement over its predecessor and the most horsepower on the standard model of any car in its class. The engine is hand-assembled by one of five master craftsman, called takumi, at Nissan’s plant in Yokohama, Japan.
The new model has a new set of four rounded tail lights amid redone rear bodywork, freshly angled headlights, a sharper new grille, a new hood, and updated refined air intakes that give it a snarling grin. It has also been refined for improved stability and aerodynamics.
Inside, the interior has been upgraded, with higher-quality Nappa leathers, new steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, revised front seat design and a simplified switch layout, plus NissanConnectSM with Navigation, Mobile Apps, and ServicesNissan. An eight-inch touch-panel monitor replaces the seven-inch one from last year and now features large icons on the display screen, while a new display command control on the carbon-fibre centre console is meant to allow easier operation. Nissan also introduced a new “Blaze Metallic” (burnt orange) colour for the 2017 model. A total-remake successor is in planning for launch in a few years.
The 2017 Nissan GT-R hits dealerships this summer. Pricing has yet to be announced. — Bloomberg
