New Nissan GT-R aka 'Godzilla'

[KoKoNAT]

From Drive.com





Nissan's awesome GT-R - the model dubbed "Godzilla" because, like the Japanese monster, it crushes all before it - is one step closer to returning to Australia.

The maker has pencilled in an early 2008 arrival for the new model and the man responsible for its design promises it will be more impressive than the legendary R34 Skyline GT-R that ceased production in 2001.

"This car is much, much higher performance than [the] previous one," Nissan Motor Company's senior vice president of design, Shiro Nakamura, said last week in Melbourne. "The previous one was considered [a] very high-performance car, but we wanted this car one, two levels higher."

That means the new GT-R will surely be a stunner, as the R34 produced a healthy 206kW and 392Nm from its twin-turbo 2.6-litre inline six-cylinder engine. The R34 took 5 seconds to dash from rest to 100kmh dashes and covered the standing 400m in less than 14 seconds.

Nakamura casually spoke of a power of "nearly 400 horsepower" [300kW] for the new GT-R, which is expected to have a twin-turbo V6. But media reports have speculated on outputs nearing 400kW.

Nakamura wasn't inclined to talk specifics but explained the new GT-R differs technically from the Skyline's mid-size, rear-wheel-drive sedan family, hence the simplification of the name.

The previous GT-R was based on the Skyline two-door coupe but, Nakamura says, this car has nothing in common with Skyline. "Even the door handles inside and out, the gauges, any details. Probably this is the only car that doesn't share anything with [another] Nissan car.

"It is not just a modification, it is really purely designed and engineered for this purpose."

According to Nakamura, the two cars have different purposes. The Skyline had to grow in size with each generation, while the GT-R's performance focus meant keeping it small and nimble.

The new GT-R retains its links to Skyline in the exterior styling, which is obvious from the GT-R Proto revealed at the 2005 Tokyo motor show - Nakamura rates this as an "almost 90 per cent" accurate rendition of the production car.

The windows and roof, circular tail-lights and muscular body all evoke R34 and its predecessors, going back to 1969.

"The original GT-R, the so-called C10 Skyline from the 1960s, that is the first GT-R and it is really boxy because it is sedan," Nakamura said. "We intend to make this car boxy, we could make it much nice and sophisticated, nice lines but the total spirit is rather rough.

"It is not like a Porsche or Ferrari, it has its own characteristic. I think you can feel the car, you can feel the past."

The R34, killed off by emissions regulations in 2001, was never officially sold in Australia. The only "Godzilla" Skyline to be sold here by Nissan was the GT-R32, between 1991 and 1993, which cost a hefty $110,000.

The new GT-R will cost significantly more than that when it gets here within months of its global launch, at the November 2007 Tokyo motor show.

Nissan Australia executives won't confirm local sales yet, but their language is bullish. "We are extremely keen to have the GT-R in Australia," an insider says. "The business case isn't signed off but it will be, unless some unforeseen problems emerge."

The GT-R heralds a new generation of Japanese supercars, with the V10 Lexus LF-A and Honda NSX also in development.

[theveed]

Mean, Mean, Mean!!!!

[nestordreamin']

A car which I could only have while dreaming!

[neko-chan]

hayuf!!!

[baiskee]

one mean machine!

[TFMachines]

Nice! pero parang naubusan ng body design ang nissan. yun lubog sa sides eh, medyo matagal na sa Gemballa. Siguro naman hindi na lalagyan ng body kits yan ng mga yuppies. haha..

[wakin]

astig!

[BlueBimmer]

i like how they minimized the presence of the A pillar hehe

[nicolodeon]

OMG! One mutha of a mean machine! Sino kaya ang unang Pinoy na magkakaron nyan?

[Chip]

it looks like it will eat all other cars for breakfast :D