2012 Nissan GT-R gets even more go-go!

542bhp, up from 523bhp. 466lb ft of torque, up from 451lb ft. Nissan’s 2012-upgrades to their all-slaying GT-R are happily akin to tossing more race fuel onto an already raging fire!

This latest GT-R, which goes on sale in early December - with deliveries expected in early 2012 - is the most powerful, poised and efficient yet. The headline performance figures are enticingly heading in an upwards direction, all in return for a slight improvement in fuel economy, with the combined figure now 24mpg; up from 23.5mpg.

More grunt indeed, and it’s to be delivered with a tweaked-bang, with engine response and torque at mid and low speeds, and power at high rpms, “significantly improved”, thanks to better engine-air intake efficiency (including intercooler modifications), higher exhaust catalyser efficiency and newly-designed metallic sodium-filled exhaust valves with better cooling characteristics. Clever stuff from that hermetically-sealed hive of GT-R activity in Tochigi, Japan.

Under the extra-stiffened-in-places 2012 body is a revised suspension that, and this is getting pleasantly performance-geeky, accounts for the added weight of the driver in right-hand drive GT-Rs, with an asymmetric new set up. 

For the front suspension, there’s a harder spring rate on the left side while at the rear the suspension arm has been installed upwards on the left side and downwards on the right. This means an imbalanced wheel load when the car is stationary, but one which is equalised-out during driving, providing enhanced responsiveness, steering feel and cornering stability.  

And, best of all, although details are as slight as the new GT-R’s to-62mph sprint time (2.7secs!), is the news of a track-focused special edition. All that Nissan have said so far is that “a new version within the GT-R line up is currently being planned for the UK, designed for customers who want to enjoy a more track biased driving experience in their Nissan GT-R, at a competitive price.” Dear Santa…

www.nissan.co.uk








By Daniel Anslow

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