Nissan GT-R leak which started off with the front cover of Motortrend’s December issue (which comes out in November…), and Autoweek has posted an article that includes a bunch of juicy mechanical details!
Based on a modified version of Nissan’s new PM platform which is an evolution of the ever-present FM platform found in various Nissan and Infiniti models like the 350Z, the GT-R is equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 petrol unit.
It too is an evolution of the VQ engine family that we all know and love in Nissans and Infinitis. Output is rated at 473 Hp / 6,400 rpm while maximum torque at 433 lb-ft or 587 Nm, available from 3200 to 5200 rpm.
Power is transferred to all four wheels via Nissan’s new dual-clutch six-speed automatic gearbox (like the Audi/VW DSG gearbox). Gearshifts take a mere 0.2 seconds, but we won’t hide the fact that we’d want a GT-R with a manual gearbox.
According to Nissan’s engineers, the four–wheel-drive system splits torque by 50/50 when the vehicle’s speed is under 25 mph (40 km/h) while above that and with normal driving (if that’s possible…), torque split is 40/60 (front-rear). However, torque split can go up to 2/98 under hard acceleration.
The GT-R also comes equipped with adjustable Bilstein Damptronic shock absorbers with three settings: : Racing, Sports and Comfort.
Nissan announces that the GT-R sprints from standstill to 60 mph – 96 km/h in just 3.5 sec; the first quarter mile in 11.7 sec while top speed is 193 mph or 310 km/h. Impressed? Wait until you hear the price when it hits U.S. shores in the second –quarter of 2008: low-$70,000s (€50,000)!
Basically, what Nissan’s promising us is, Porsche 911 Turbo ($126,200) performance and driving dynamics at half the price! Ok, the interior looks like a letdown, but the GT-R costs as much as a BMW M3. That’s tempting, very tempting…
