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Spy VIDEO: Nissan GT-R caught testing in So. Cal.
Last week, we were presented with the first of what's likely to be many spy shots of the upcoming Nissan Skyline GT-R testing in the U.S. The pic of the GT-R filling up at a gas station in New Mexico was enough to escalate our heart rate to levels we hadn't felt since high school, but now Edmunds sent their crack team of lens-wielding sleuths to follow the GT-R from New Mexico all the way to Southern California, where Nissan has a testing facility in Torrance.They didn't come away with just a few stills of the GT-R either; they were smart enough to bring a video camera to catch the Nissan making the rounds on L.A.'s less-than-ideal roadways.
Just like the Nurburgring shots that we saw a while back, a Porsche 911 Turbo is always in tow, but when the GT-R was prowling the streets of Los Angeles, a support truck, carrying varying sets of wheels and tires was never far behind.
Although there's not much to report on the styling front, KGP's crew was able to pick out a set of steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters that gives credence to the fact that this newest GT-R will not be equipped with a manual gearbox. Instead, the smart money is on some kind of tricked-out automatic, or, even more compelling: a DSG-like setup.
The new Skyline GT-R is set to debut at this year's Tokyo Auto Show and, for the first time, we'll be on hand to cover it. What, you think we'd miss out on one of the definitive unveilings of 2007?
[Source: Edmunds]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
albeik 9:59AM (2/13/2007)
I repeat "It is NOT a Skyline... Just a GT-R."
That being said. I can't wait - I hope the "auto" is DSG-like and not a suped-up auto tranny...
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D Man 10:08AM (2/13/2007)
Nice looking vehicle, legendary performance, watch out Corvette!
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david 10:41AM (2/13/2007)
watch out corvette? only if this car can't get out of the passing lane quick enough.
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gus 11:10AM (2/13/2007)
#2 and #3
Those are the funniest comments I have ever read.
:D :D LOL
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spdracerut 10:56AM (2/13/2007)
Yes, it's only a GT-R, no 'Skyline'.
And like I thought, its competitor is the 911 Turbo; hence, not the Z06 or Viper. If it comes in at $80k, it'll be an absolute bargin compared to the 911 Turbo. Roughly 50k-60k cheaper right?
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zigzagz94 10:34AM (2/14/2007)
I hope that Nissan realizes, as Mitsubishi has with its EVO X, that some of us actually enjoy shifting for ourselves and offers a true manual tranny as an option (yes I know DSG is technically a manual blah,blah,blah). I won't buy a sports car that doesn't have three pedals and a stick. I don't care if DSG is .3 seconds quicker than any human on earth; I like driving a traditional manual because its more fun. That aside this thing looks great and should be blazingly quick.
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Zach 11:11AM (2/13/2007)
Yeah the real competitor for this car is the 911 Turbo not the Corvette.
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Carlos 11:16AM (2/13/2007)
The Z06 may be closer in price to the GT-R than the 911 turbo, and closer in interior quality too. Like the US, Japan has always separated its sport and its luxury more than the Germans have. But in all the technical stuff, yeah, more of a 911 turbo competitor.
It's so different from the Skyline GT-R (visually, but that's half of what matters when it comes to dream cars). I can't think of it as a continuation of the line.
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Mattlach 11:58AM (2/13/2007)
Just can't bring myself to really care at all.
I've never much been a fan of any Asian branded cars, and this one doesn't change that.
Still have yet to see an asian branded car that even remotely excited me...
Even the high performance models, just seem somehow reliable but boring.
European cars are the only ones for me. Noone else even needs to make cars :p
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jonnyrock 3:01PM (2/13/2007)
As excited as I am to finally get the GT-R here in the states, I just can't get over the looks.
The Skyline R34 GT-R looked perfect. A little on the conservative side because it was obviously based on a lesser vehicle, but damn could it look muscular and aggressive.
This thing looks like a bad concept vehicle. There isn't one angle I like. But maybe I'll grow to love it just as I have with the Enzo.
Anyone else feel this way? It's the same for me with the new Camaro.
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Aki 1:39PM (2/13/2007)
"It's so different from the Skyline GT-R"
Actually the side profile mimmicks the original "Hakosuka" Skyline GT-R from 1969.
As for beating the Corvette, GT-R engineers always aim to beat the latest Porsche, which in this case would be the Porsche 997 GT3. Since the GT3 beats the Z06 in Norscheife, it's a safe bet the GT-R will beat the Z06.
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Tim 2:12PM (2/13/2007)
9. "European cars are the only ones for me. No one else even needs to make cars :p"
Hey Mattlach your link is a SAAB site. You can't be serious! THis must be a mistake! Those cars are Junk. Even Europeans don't buy them . At least link to a Porsche or BMW site.
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Killenmedpirogen 2:27PM (2/13/2007)
I like it a lot!
And compared to american pos well...
I've never much been a fan of any American branded cars.
Still have yet to see an american branded car that even remotely excited me...
Even the high performance models, just seem somehow UN reliable, made from bits of trash and boring.
European And Japanese cars are the only ones for me. Noone else even needs to make cars :p
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Dandy 2:42PM (2/13/2007)
Looks great and sounds great. I was hoping for an M3 fighter-type just from a pure price standpoint. With it's sights set on porsche I won't be seeing one on the road anytime soon, definitely not in this area.
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BOB 3:43PM (2/13/2007)
OBVIOUS that Nissan is going to give us the Skyline GT-R for the first time, after years of requests.(no Skyline name here)
ALSO OBVIOUS that the prototype, with little camouflage, was meant to be photographed.
NOT OBVIOUS, OR RATHER, NOT EVIDENT -- the C-7 Corvette - you know the one that gets out of its "fat guy with grey beard who has wanted one his whole life and saved up" niche. NOT ONE WORD FROM THE GM HYPE MACHINE YET -- so figure it is more than 3 years out.
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Bultaco 4:06PM (2/13/2007)
This car is the reason I should be studying for my next exam in business calc right now...
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naggs 6:19PM (2/13/2007)
this thing isn't going to be as fast as a z51 corvette.
why did they put all that active awd traction crap on their GT? rwd would be better and save a lot of dead weight.
the racecar versions will ditch all that crap and then they might be competition for a zo6
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naggs 6:26PM (2/13/2007)
"As for beating the Corvette, GT-R engineers always aim to beat the latest Porsche, which in this case would be the Porsche 997 GT3. Since the GT3 beats the Z06 in Norscheife, it's a safe bet the GT-R will beat the Z06."
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
best ricer logic ever
forget about the fact that the zo6 weighs 500 pounds less and has better aero, lower center of gravity, more hp from a better engine. it will even get better milage.
skyline fanboys are the most entertaining people in all of autofandom
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Felix 7:13PM (2/13/2007)
Speaking of ricer logic...naggs are you just making up specs for the GT-R in your head? when did nissan release information such as Cd and center of gravity....or are you just talking out of your ass. BTW the Corvette emphatically DOES have more power than a GT3 and it weighs less with a MUCH better weight distribution. Dispite all of this it's not really any faster than the gt3 around a track.
Not saying the Corvette is a bad buy, because it most definately is not...but the best thing about corvettes is and always will be the price. Everything else that is a similar speed is usually nicer, drives better under more diverse circumstances and is more expensive.
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ASD 12:18AM (2/14/2007)
What was fresh and eye-catching design when unveiled a few years ago is now just plain boring. The car looks like a heavy GT, not a true lean and mean sports car.
And Nissan does not have a history in lightweight cars. Their cars have the power for sure, but they are 400-600lbs. heavier than the should be as evidenced by the 350z and the G35. Hopefully the GT-R doesn't break 3100lbs. We'll see when all the details are finally revealed at the Tokyo Auto Show.
Nissan needs to smooth out the curves on the car and generally freshen the car up to look sexier if it wants to compete with the 911s and Z06's of the world.
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