First look: Nissan begins production GT-R reveal

WHEN Nissan reveals the production version of its blistering new performance flagship at the Tokyo motor show on October 24, it will have been precisely six years since then-new president and CEO Carlos Ghosn whipped the covers of the GT-R Concept and vowed to transform it into a global production model.

Now, to continue the suspense more than 27 days before its official public unveiling and to underline the importance of the all-new Nissan GT-R super-coupe as a symbol of both Nissan and Ghosn’s success, the company has kicked off its pre-launch campaign by launching a dedicated global GT-R website (www.gtrnissan.com).

Other than revealing dimly-lit detail shots, exterior paint colour choices, information on how to place orders and the fact pricing will start at around 7.8 million Yen in Japan ($A77,000), the site provides no new information on Nissan’s direct rival for the king-hitting Porsche 911 Turbo.

Left: Two-year-old GT-R Proto.But a surprise camoflauged appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in August, with Nissan’s executive vice-president of product planning Carlos Tavares at the wheel, has heightened speculation about the next-generation GT-R, ,which goes on sale in Japan in November.

The official GT-R website comes clean on last month’s UK outing by housing an image of the bra-wearing near-production coupe that appeared at Goodwood - the interior of which was also concealed by dash and console covers.

It carries the caption: “Unannounced and incognito, the GT-R test car makes the Hillclimb ascent four times during the Supercar run.”

Elsewhere, under the title Latest Word, Mr Ghosn is quoted as saying: “Today’s technology allows us to make a high-performance car, a flagship car for Nissan that can be adapted to all the driving conditions across the globe.”

Latest speculation in Japan has the 21st Century Godzilla powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V6 codenamed VQ38HRTT – a twin-turbo version of the 3.8-litre VQ35HR that powers the Nismo 380RS-C, a racing version of the 350Z developed for privateers in Japan’s Super Taikyu series.

The latter is based on Nissan’s acclaimed VQ-series 3.5-litre V6 and produces 294kW and 421Nm. But the fitment of twin turbos and Nissan’s new VVEL variable valve timing and lift system, it’s alleged to be capable of more than 350kW and 540Nm, putting it right in the 911T ballpark.

While the GT-R website, available in seven languages, also announces the establishement of 160 “Nissan High Performance Centers” in Japan, Nissan Australia is yet to reveal GT-R order details.

This year’s Tokyo show launch follows the reveal of the “GT-R Proto” at the 2005 Tokyo show, the confirmation of a next-generation GT-R from 2007 at the 2003 Tokyo show, and the unveiling of the GT-R Concept at Tokyo in 2001, when Mr Ghosn confirmed the first all-new GT-R in eight years would be a global model known simply as “GT-R”.

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