2012 Nissan GTR [0-60: under 3 seconds]

[WeinerSchnitzel]

Nissan is making quite a splash at the 2010 LA Auto Show. Despite the presence of the bat-guano-crazy Murano CrossCabriolet and rather attractive Ellure Concept, perhaps the most highly anticipated machine from the Japanese automaker is the 2012 GT-R. Here are the most important pieces of information to chew on: 530 horsepower and 488 pound-feet of torque.

That means Godzilla Part II (Tokyo Strikes Back!) offers up 45 more raging stallions than the first edition, which Nissan claims is enough to push its all-wheel-drive super coupe to 60 miles per hour in under three seconds(!). Those upgraded figures come courtesy of increased boost from the twin turbos packed into the six combustion chambers along with larger inlet and exhaust pipes.

Body modifications include an enlarged front fascia and grille openings along with double rectifier fins and LED running lights. These updates are said to allow for more air to enter the engine compartment and sweep across front brakes for cooling. Out back, Nissan says its redesigned rear fascia lowers the car's center of gravity.

Aerodynamic improvements such as the aforementioned front fascia, rear diffuser and underbody trays equal a coefficient of drag that falls to just 0.26. All models get new and improved Rays wheels, and a new Black Edition sees darkened six-spoke affairs along with red-trimmed Recaro seats that should look pretty darn nice with the new across-the-range carbon interior highlights.

(Autoblog)

It's insane.

 

[fitftw]

ridiculous. I wonder if we'll see street-legal cars hit 60mph in under 2 seconds pretty soon.

 

[Tornado]

So now you can blow up the transmission that much faster.

This would also be much more impressive if the 911 Turbo PDK hadn't already pulled this off last year.

 

[Famine]

ridiculous. I wonder if we'll see street-legal cars hit 60mph in under 2 seconds pretty soon.

Two answers. First, there's already street-legal cars that hit 60mph in under 2 seconds.

Second, no, if you're talking about production road cars.

The world record for a production road car was set at 3.06s in 1994. It took over a decade to lower that by 0.6s, and even then you need 1000hp and a million pounds to buy it. The Caparo T1 is near that mark too, and a snip at £300,000. The Atom 500 claims to lower that by about 0.2s - which will have taken another 5 years by the time they try it - and is still £100,000.

Sub 2 seconds for a production road car is a very, very, very long way off.

 

[Omnis]

Wish they would've just made that snout flush already.

 

[WeinerSchnitzel]

So now you can blow up the transmission that much faster.

This would also be much more impressive if the 911 Turbo PDK hadn't already pulled this off last year.

I would say something about how much more expensive a 911 Turbo is, but you've probably heard this too much already.

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

This could had been posted here just as well..

 

[Dan_]

Impressive still a raging japanese machine and now it has guts to run with the stratospherically expensive LFA, but were those hideous LED lights really necessary?

In my modest opinion, they completely spoil the grunty harmony that was in the front fascia of the previous model.

 

[GT_Prologue5]

Impressive still a raging japanese machine and now it has guts to run with the stratospherically expensive LFA, but were those hideous LED lights really necessary?

In my modest opinion, they completely spoil the grunty harmony that was in the front fascia of the previous model.

Good point. I loved the old GT-R's face. Lights: not needed before, and really don't need to be there now.

 

[lpb-nissan-gt-r]

MMM GT-R lovely colour

 

[Philly]

That's pretty quick for a sports car. I see the price tag went up quite a bit as well. And I doubt they'll be selling anywhere near list price anyway.

Wasn't there news a while ago about there only being a limited run available in the US?

 

[Owen.C93]

It looks uglier than the previous model in my opinion.

 

[peter_vod69]

What is the deal with Americans and model years? It seems like they are getting further and further ahead of themselves. Over here that GTR is a 2011 model.

 

[fitftw]

^ maybe that model will come to US shores in 2011...I think it just keeps things seeming 'newer' for an extra year before you feel like the brand new car you bought is old news.

 

[Stevisiov]

IMO, the front is much better looking than the previous version, in fact the car looks generally more refined, which is what you would expect of course.

 

[Jim Prower]

They still don't offer it in Bayside Blue...

 

[niky]

The Porsche hit 3 flat, right? If the Nissan is under 3, then that's better.

At this point, it's all a big pissing contest... I can see close to 2 seconds happening if they just happen to sell a street-legal car on tall drag-radials with a wheelie bar... but otherwise... no.

So now you can blow up the transmission that much faster.

If it achieves that time without using launch mode, the tranny should hold. Even if it requires launch mode, you can do about fifty or more of those before breaking something. Which is quite a feat, as most cars with launch control aren't warrantied past the first dozen or so launches.

 

[Dan_]

Testing sessions reckoned the 911 Turbo as a 2,8 sec 0-60 rocket, that is quite hard to match, but the smart Nissan's AWD system has already proven to be quite a masterpiece. A tie might be possible though.

 

[Tornado]

The Porsche hit 3 flat, right? If the Nissan is under 3, then that's better.

Car and Driver managed to break the 3 second mark with the 3.8 PDK (they managed 2.7 with the Turbo S, but that isn't really comparable).

If it achieves that time without using launch mode, the tranny should hold. Even if it requires launch mode, you can do about fifty or more of those before breaking something. Which is quite a feat, as most cars with launch control aren't warrantied past the first dozen or so launches.

I wasn't being completely serious about that. I understand the hoopla about that was way overblown. However, I still think it would be wiser for Nissan to show off the car in some way other than "Look how fast it can get to 60!" That's basically just asking for the more idiot owners to go around blowing transmissions. Particularly after said hoopla occurred.

 

[GT_Prologue5]

I wasn't being completely serious about that. I understand the hoopla about that was way overblown. However, I still think it would be wiser for Nissan to show off the car in some way other than "Look how fast it can get to 60!" That's basically just asking for the more idiot owners to go around blowing transmissions. Particularly after said hoopla occurred.

They should've been soooo vague with us, just say "it's faster than before!"

You'll have a lot of people pissed and a lot of people wanting more info.
Reminds me of a certain video game...

 

[niky]

Car and Driver managed to break the 3 second mark with the 3.8 PDK (they managed 2.7 with the Turbo S, but that isn't really comparable).

Well... the Turbo has always been the GT-R's benchmark... maybe a GT-R-R or some other of the sort would be put up against the S?

I wasn't being completely serious about that. I understand the hoopla about that was way overblown. However, I still think it would be wiser for Nissan to show off the car in some way other than "Look how fast it can get to 60!" That's basically just asking for the more idiot owners to go around blowing transmissions. Particularly after said hoopla occurred.

Ah... there's the rub... sell a fast car in the US and it's almost certain that someone will break something.

Found it quite amusing last weekend. My first time in a brand new STI... a 300 horsepower monster that's supposed to be rather durable. Very first drag launch (and a "soft" one, at that, 3k rpm, just to get a feel of the rubber) and the entire drivetrain went "CLUNK"... Just 4k on the clock and all the rubber mounts were going south...

 

[ranhammerR34]

When I win the Powerball or Mega Millions... I will buy one to drive everyday. Till then, I'll get my GT-R fun on GT5. --- Randy

 

[Jim Prower]

eh...hate on it all you like. It only makes me want one even more...

Actually, quit it before I develop a fetish.

 

[Blitz187]

Visual evidence anyone?

 

[Sniffs]

at least they got rid of that stinking notch design they put in the headlights.

 

[Stotty]

Impressive numbers, but the Gen 2 997 Turbo S PDK has already hit 2.9s to 60mph and 6.8's to 100mph in independent hands (Autocar & EVO magazine).

Let's see what the magazines manage with the car before getting too excited... Nissan don't exactly have a good reputation when it comes to self promotion for the GTR.

 

[Adamgp]

Impressive for sure, but I wonder if this going to be like the launch control debacle.

"Our GTR can do 0-60 in under 3 seconds, but it will void the warranty if you attempt this"

 

[Blitz187]

Impressive for sure, but I wonder if this going to be like the launch control debacle.

"Our GTR can do 0-60 in under 3 seconds, but it will void the warranty if you attempt this"

Supposedly the transmission has been improved and updated to cope with the forces... But I dont know to what extent that is true?

 

[Jim Prower]

We've talked about this before: the warranty on any car typically is void if it breaks from during "racing activities," legal or illegal. Basically, track your car, kiss your warranty goodbye. Even race cars can't go 30,000 miles without needing parts being rebuilt. Some race cars can't even go 1/4 mile without needing a rebuild.

 

[AlexGTV]

It goes like an arrow!