►Edited by : Shahen Tharammal
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PRICE : For 2017 Nissan GT-R $109,990
If you're in the market for a high-dollar sports car, it's a good time to be alive. There's a new crop of new or refreshed vehicles in that class, including the 2017 Nissan GT-R. Granted, the GT-R remains fundamentally the same vehicle that debuted way back in 2009, but Nissan has tried to keep it fresh over the years with a nip here and a tuck there. That trend continues for 2017 with a subtle face-lift, a slight increase in power and an improved interior.
Like most sports cars, the GT-R requires some sacrifices with regard to comfort and convenience. Then again, shoppers in this arena are generally willing to give up some refinement in the name of performance. And the Nissan GT-R definitely performs, even though it's no spring chicken at this point. It put the mighty 911 Turbo on notice when it first hit the market, and it's still one of the fastest track-day cars you can buy.
What's even more impressive is how easy it is to drive the GT-R quickly. It doesn't take a seasoned racing veteran to make the magic happen, thanks in large part to technological advances that serve as a skill-enhancing safety net to compensate for driver inexperience. The downside is that seat-of-the-pants drivers might feel a bit disconnected as a result, almost as if they're playing a video game.
The new Acura NSX is perhaps the GT-R's most direct rival this year with its similar reliance on technology. More traditional competitors such as the Porsche 911, Audi R8, Mercedes-AMG GT and Jaguar F-Type R provide a more engaging driving experience. We also consider the more affordable Chevrolet Corvette and Dodge Viper to be viable alternatives with a distinctly American brashness. Fortunately for you, there's not a bad apple in this barrel, so happy hunting.
EXTERIOR
The new GT-R boasts a thoroughly refreshed exterior look that adds a high sense of style to what is already considered one of the most distinctive-looking sports cars in the marketplace. Highlighting the front of the car are a redesigned hood, front bumpers, Daytime Running Lights (DRL), and a new matte chrome finish "V-motion" grille, which represents one of Nissan's latest design signatures. This distinctive grille has been enlarged to increase airflow to cool the engine without causing any additional drag, and the refined shape blends smoothly with a new hood, whose structural rigidity has been increased. By essentially eliminating hood deformation, testing has shown that the new hood design greatly improves aerodynamic performance at the front of the vehicle at high speed (200 km/h or more).
In fact, nearly all of the visual changes made to the GT-R's exterior were intended to improve aerodynamic performance; more specifically, enhanced aerodynamic efficiency in three key areas: downforce generation, drag reduction and improved cooling of vital vehicle systems. The goal was to maximize cooling airflow, while at the same time keeping aerodynamic drag in check (i.e. not increase drag in one area of the vehicle as a result of improving cooling performance/airflow in another).
In addition to the new grille and hood, the curving profile of the front under spoiler has been slightly extended and lowered by a few millimeters to improve airflow at the its lower edge. (The ground clearance of the previous model has been maintained.) Also, by reshaping the sill lip along the lower portions of the sides of the car, the amount of air being drawn underneath has been reduced, countering vehicle lift and improving stability. The C-pillars have also been redesigned, with the upper portion now shaped to deliver better airflow management by preventing the generation of a smaller vortex.
The rear of the new GT-R continues to be defined by its iconic round taillights, but look closely and you'll notice a silver-finish diffuser and new side air vents that have been incorporated next to the quad titanium exhaust tips to improve the car's aerodynamics. Also, the belt line that separates the lower black section from the body panel has been heightened to make the car look wider and more aggressive. The rear bumper section now incorporates the same design featured on the GT-R NISMO for better routing of air at the lower portion of the rear of the vehicle. This has also led to less interference between the exhaust gases exiting the tailpipes and airflow along the rear side portions of the bumper for improved heat evacuation.
Stylish new Y-spoke forged alloy wheels by RAYS have been redesigned for the 2017 GT-R
INTERIOR
Featuring superbly crafted materials, the Nissan GT-R's new interior delivers an unparalleled degree of comfort, luxury and everyday usability unlike any iteration before it. It's obvious at first glance that the new cabin is more luxurious and upscale. Seamlessly wrapped in one continuous sheet of the highest quality optional Nappa leather, the new dashboard adopts a "horizontal flow" that delivers a sense of high stability for the car's front-seat occupants, while the line from the instrument cluster to the center console provides a distinct driver-oriented environment for those behind the steering wheel. In keeping with the all-out performance benchmarks for the GT-R, the layer of cushioned material found beneath the leather is a new thinner material to help keep overall weight down, while still providing the highest quality of texture. Also, the leather is artfully stitched together throughout the cabin by a master craftsman.
The center dashboard layout has been improved and simplified, with the number of integrated navigation and audio controls reduced from 27 switches in the previous model to only 11 in the 2017 version. The navigation system controls and display have been placed slightly lower on the instrument panel for easier use and better forward visibility for both the driver and front passenger. Also, the redesigned navigation system layout has been improved, with the dials now machined from real aluminum alloy for better feel and operation. An enlarged 8-inch touch panel monitor features large icons on the display screen that allow the user to easily manage the audio system, navigation system, telephone controls and other infotainment. For the U.S., Canada and China market, a telematics services is also available. The icon layout can be fully customized by the user's preferences, and a new Display command control on the carbon-fiber center console allows easy operation without having to touch the monitor; a feature that comes in handy when traveling at high speed.
Other convenient information features include the popular multi-function meter that allows the driver to customize the layout of important vehicle-specific performance parameters/information (including coolant temperature, engine oil temperature, engine oil pressure, transmission oil temperature, transmission oil pressure, turbocharger boost pressure, etc.).
Also, the paddle shifters have now been mounted directly to the newly designed steering wheel (as opposed to the steering column), which allows the driver to select gears of the 6-speed dual clutch transmission without having to take his hands off the wheel during mid-turn.
Reengineered to provide a more premium ride experience through improved comfort and support, the driver and front passenger seatbacks for the Premium and Pure models now feature reconfigured urethane foam within their bolsters for better torso support. This results in less slippage during spirited driving and reduced fatigue on long commutes. And, by reconfiguring the support wires within the seatback frame, the engineering team was able to reduce the weight of each seatback while simultaneously reducing pressure points upon the torso of both the driver and front passenger for a more relaxed seating position.
SPECIFICATION
►Year:2017
►Make:Nissan
►Model:GT-R
►Price:$ 111585 (Est.)
►Engine:V6
►Horsepower @ RPM:565
►Torque @ RPM:467
►Displacement:3.8 L
►0-60 time:2.9 sec. (Est.)
►Top Speed:196 mph
FEATURES
► TWIN-TURBO V6 ENGINE
The 2017 Nissan GT-R coupe’s hand-built twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 puts out 565 horsepower (600 in the Nismo), a figure that puts most V8 cars to shame. So proud are the workers who build this engine, each unit is personally signed by its assembler.
► VALUE
In the world of supercars, value is a relative term, but when you consider the performance and technology offered by the 2017 Nissan GT-R, the top-end price of $150,000 is a bargain compared to the $180,000 Porsche 911 Turbo S, $245,000 Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 and $265,00 Ferrari 458.
PERFORMANCE
The GT-R is one of today's more insane performance bargains, but how does it get there? By letting a pair of turbochargers rampage all over a 3.8-liter V-6 and sending that power through a fast-acting dual-clutch transmission to all four wheels via one of the most advanced all-wheel-drive systems on the market.
For 2017, Nissan has eked another 20 horsepower out of the engine, bringing the total to 565. It also adds 4 pound-feet of torque for a total of 467. Revised ignition timing control and additional turbo boost create the extra power, and Nissan says the car now accelerates better above 3,200 rpm.
The superlative performance of the GT-R, a great transmission, compliant ride, and handling. It's one of few cars that aces our performance rating. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
Even before the addition of those 20 horses, the GT-R was astonishingly fast. With a 0-60 mph of 2.7 seconds, you could become bleary-eyed before you reach its ragged edges. It's not surprising that we, and others, have found the driving experience to be a little video game-like at times.
Constant improvement has made the GT-R a brilliant road car and an even better track machine. Early GT-Rs generated a lot of driveline clatter, but the car is now more refined. The shift feel is improved, and the steering is lighter at low speeds and no longer twitchy on center. Front suspension changes have reduced the number of small corrections needed at highway speeds. The only downside? It's now easier to vault this car forward even more nauseatingly quickly.
The all-wheel-drive system is rear-biased, and it can vary the torque split from 100 percent to the rear to 50/50 depending on speed, lateral acceleration, steering angle, tire slip, road surface, and yaw rate. The transmission and related bits live in the rear end to give the car better weight balance. The GT-R also has adjustable suspension, transmission, and stability-control settings to relieve its firm ride and neural responses when you're just tooling around for admiration. That ride has become more forgiving this year, especially in the Comfort mode, making it easier to use the GT-R as a commuter.
In R mode, all those reflexes are sharpened. It's a life-changing experience to wind the GT-R into long sweepers at triple-digit speeds and feel almost complacent as it just hangs on, drama-free, ready for you to throw on its Brembo six-piston front, four-piston rear brakes.
DRIVETRAIN
As with previous models, the 3.8-liter, 24-valve, twin-turbo V-6 is the heart of the car. It’s still handcrafted by a specific technician, but output has been increased by 20 horsepower and four pound-feet to a total output of 565 horsepower and 467 pound-feet of torque. To obtain the increase in power, boost from the turbochargers has been increased, and the ignition timing for each cylinder is now individually controlled, creating more precise overall ignition timing. Power is routed to the wheels through a refined six-speed, dual-clutch transmission that is said to shift smoother and create less noise than last year’s model.
In addition to the engine and transmission updates, the exhaust system has been replaced by a new, lightweight titanium system that features Active Sound Enhancement. This means the sound produced by the exhaust is even better than before, and as you can imagine, it sounds best during hard acceleration. The increase in boost pressure combined with the new exhaust system and the cylinder-specific ignition timing helps the GT-R accelerate even harder than before from 3,200 rpm and above.
With the more rigid body structure, the GT-R also boasts a new suspension system, as well as new 20-inch, 15-spoke forged aluminum wheels. The new wheels, suspension, and rigid body structure means the GT-R can now hold the road surface a little better than before, and it has better stability when performing extreme maneuvers or negotiating your favorite corners at high speed. Nissan didn’t elaborate on performance numbers, but with the 2016 model hitting the 0-to-60 mph sprint in 3 seconds, expect the 2017 GT-R to hit the benchmark in 2.9 seconds. Top speed will likely remain the same at 196 mph.
ENGINE
There are two versions of the same engine available for the 2017 Nissan GT-R. First up is the standard 565-horsepower 3.8-liter V6. This compact powerhouse uses twin turbocharges and high-tech construction techniques to squeeze as much power as possible from its family-car displacement. If somehow that's still not enough, the GT-R Nismo packs 600 horsepower. Both engines connect to a 6-speed dual-clutch sequential automatic transmission capable of snapping off shifts in milliseconds; it's way faster than you ever could manage with a manual, and the paddle shifters on the steering wheel are the epitome of engaging driving.
► 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6
565 horsepower @ 6,800 rpm
467 lb-ft of torque @ 3,300-5,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/22 mpg
► 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6
600 horsepower @ 6,800 rpm
481 lb-ft of torque @ 3,600-5,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/22 mpg
► Note: Due to changes in EPA testing to more effectively reflect real-world conditions, some 2017 models show slightly lower fuel-economy scores than their 2016 versions.
SAFETY
Along with the increased structural rigidity of the platform that aids with occupant protection, standard safety items included on every new 2017 Nissan GT-R consist of the Nissan Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) that features dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt sensors and occupant classification sensors that can vary the rate of air bag inflation based upon seatbelt usage and crash severity; a pair of side-impact supplemental air bags that are integrated into the front seats so that they move with the driver/front passenger as the seating position is adjusted; roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags; energy-absorbing steering column; and LATCH System (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) to properly secure LATCH-compatible child restraints without having to use the seatbelts.
Other standard safety technologies include Advanced Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) stability control system with three driver-selectable modes (Normal, R-Mode, Off), Electronic Traction Control System (TCS), Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD), RearView Monitor, Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and automatic on/off headlights.
FUEL ECONOMY
Despite the additional 20 horsepower, 2017's version of the Nissan GT-R manages roughly the same numbers as 2016's version.
According to the EPA, the 2017 Nissan GT-R is rated at 16 mpg city, 22 highway, 18 combined. Those figures aren't quite as good as a standard Chevrolet Corvette or Porsche 911, both of which reach the upper 20s on the highway. But, if you can refrain from digging too deep into the throttle, the GT-R's turbo V-6 can be more efficient than most V-8 and all V-12 engines that make comparable power.
In a 250-mile test with a 2015 GT-R Premium model, we saw nearly 17 mpg in a combination of spirited driving on backroads plus uneven, congested freeway travel. That's certainly not fuel efficient, but the Nissan GT-R isn't as thirsty as the typical supercar.
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