Here comes Godzilla MkII!

NISSAN has confirmed that the high-performance GT-R sportscar will be on sale in Australia early in 2008.

In Melbourne last week for a design symposium, Nissan’s chief creative officer Shiro Nakamura confirmed the news and revealed that the most recent of the GT-R concepts – the Proto shown at last year’s Tokyo motor show – was "90 per cent" production-ready.

The Proto featured extensive use of carbon-fibre to keep weight down, however, the production version is expected to revert to conventional materials.

The new-generation version of the car fondly remembered in Australia as "Godzilla" is tipped to run a high-performance twin-turbocharged V6, possibly up to 3.8 litres in capacity with an output of approximately 380kW.

The V6 is likely to be mated to a close-ratio seven-speed sequential gearbox and drive all four wheels, technology that could push the price past $150,000 by the time it goes on sale.

It will become a mainstream model for Nissan globally.

Visually, the Proto features projector-style headlights stacked vertically that arch upwards along the mudguards although more conventional high-intensity discharge headlights are likely to be adopted.

The GT-R staples will carry over, including the signature round rear lights along with a chunky bumper neatly integrated into the car’s rear-end.

Mr Nakamura said he was happy with the way the GT-R had turned out, despite a long gestation period stretching back five years when the first concept was shown at the 2001 Tokyo motor show.

He admitted that Nissan had rushed the first concept out because many people in Japan, where the car is considered an icon, had thought the GT-R was going to stop production.

Despite rising fuel prices and changes in global buyer expectations, he believed there would always be a place for a performance car like the GT-R.

"From a design point of view I have no worries about the life of the design because it stands out," he said. "It might have been better to bring it out early but to produce this car requires huge manpower and extra cost, so now we are ready.

"But I think you’ll not be disappointed." Mr Nakamura said the GT-R was "pure" Japanese design.

Apart from the high-performance GT-R, Nissan Australia is also continuing to evaluate its lightcar requirements for Australia, with marketing chief Ross Booth saying the Micra, Note and Cube were all being evaluated as contenders.