The Z car isn’t the only Nissan to get an anniversary model at the New York Auto Show. To mark its owned 50th anniversary, the famed GT-R is also getting a special edition model too.
Like the 370Z, this model gets the simple name of GT-R 50th Anniversary Edition. However, unlike the 370Z, the GT-R is more than just a handful of visual changes.
Despite this, the more important change is, indeed, a visual one. Coating the exterior of the car is a color GT-R aficionados know well: Bayside Blue. Last seen on the R34 Skyline GT-R in 2002, it’s laid dormant ever since. But now it’s back and looks rather good on the R35 GT-R too.
To add a little more flair to the exterior, the GT-R also sports a single white racing stripe too. This harkens back to the rich racing history of the GT-R over the years. There are also blue accents on the wheels as well.
There are other color combinations as well. These include Pearl White with red stripes and Super Silver with white stripes. However, buying the car in any color other than Bayside Blue just seems wrong.
The changes continue with the interior of the GT-R. Using a gray color scheme, Nissan says it gives the interior a rich and luxurious feel. The color is also meant to remind the occupants of a night sky after twilight hours too. We’re not really seeing that, but the interior looks good all the same.
In addition to the bespoke color, the inside also gets a healthy dose of Alcantara across its surfaces. There’s also a model specific steering wheel and embossed seats as well.
Under the hood, the 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 gets a bit of a makeover. Both turbos are new and provide a better response at lower RPMs. They also deliver boost at a 5% greater efficiency over the standard car.
To cap it all off and enhance the engine note, there’s also a new titanium muffler.
Weirdly, even with these changes the car still has the same horsepower output. It’s not really a bad thing though since the GT-R packs a whopping 565hp with 467lbft of torque.
If you want more power, you can spec the GT-R in either the Nismo or Track Edition trims. This bumps the output up to 600 ponies with 481lbft of torque.
Along with the engine upgrades, the suspension gets a rework as well. It’s still the same electronically controlled system from the standard car, but it’s now tuned for better corner stability. To further improve the stability, the electronic steering gets a similar touch-up and now provides better high-speed handling.
As of right now, Nissan hasn’t released any pricing or availability for the GT-R. however, it’s likely to be fairly expensive. But there’s an alternative. If you want to celebrate Godzilla’s anniversary in style, you can always go back to where the legend itself began.
See more articles on New York Auto Show 2019 and Nissan GT-R.
