Click the above image for more live shots of the Nissan GT-R
A press event has never been so well attended, or dangerously overcrowded. But we got to the front in time to watch in car footage of a GT-R lapping the Nurburgring in 7:38.5, then out came Carlos to claim that his new baby is the best that Nissan has ever produced – and we're inclined to agree. Unsurprisingly the show car is silver, and, well looks pretty much like it did in the spy shots, but the shock was that Mr. Ghosn committed to Nissan fielding GT-Rs in next year's Super GT Championship. Could this be the start of another R32-like Godzilla race track domination?
Deliveries start in next month, and to the rest of the world by the end of 2008. Check out the gallery, we'll have tech specs up soon.
All live photos ©2007 Justin Gardiner / Weblogs, Inc.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Finesse @ Oct 24th 2007 2:10AM
I need it. Now!
racism is alive and well in Normal, IL.
wudy @ Oct 24th 2007 2:17AM
Official Video of the 7:38:54 time attack on Nurbugring.
This car is well within the Super car territory.
http://www.nissan.co.jp/MS/TOKYO2007/E/index.html
Dunkin @ Oct 24th 2007 2:49AM
7:38 is ridiculous. Thats faster then a SLR Mclaren, 997 Turbo, Z06, Bugatti Veyron, Murcielago, and other supercars have ever achieved on the Nordschleife. Its really hard to believe. From the video the track is clearly damp. Wonder if we'll see those lap times drop on a dry track with a different driver. . .
zamafir @ Oct 24th 2007 4:06AM
Here we go again. Sigh. Yes the GT-R is that good, just like it's predecessor when journalists were lapping Porsche test drivers in yet to be released 911 turbos. if there is one thing Nissan can do, it's keep the GT-R lineage and pedigree in tact.
nagmashot @ Oct 24th 2007 5:13AM
incomplet lap... typical JDM cheating around..
the clock start at the end of the old pitlane exit and stops at the last turn onto the pitlane straight... the same way best motoring clocks the Ring..
that way they delet 6-8seconds of a complete lap.. 7:38.5 plus 6 seconds = 7:44.5min..funny thats what the Nissan chief engineer has claimed at AutoWeek...
Can´t belife that they publish a cheating video on their homepage... I only can laugh about that...
BTW the GT-R wasn´t stock.. the driver was sitting in a race bucket seat with 4 or 6point seatbells...the stock vehicle comes with standart 3 point seatbells... what else was not production at the car?
John R @ Oct 24th 2007 8:29AM
@nagmashot
hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, hate....yawn
Dunkin @ Oct 24th 2007 9:22AM
@ Nagmashot
You need to stop spreading misinformation. That is how the very vast majority of laptimes are calculated, only during a closed-session lap, usually for a sporting event, can you get the full uninterupted 20.832 km on Nordschleife. Other times drivers are restricted from going full-speed past T13 due to safety concerns of people exiting the pitlane.
Nick @ Oct 24th 2007 2:40AM
The interior still makes me want to vomit, it's absolutely atrocious, ESPECIALLY for a car of this type and price bracket.
Ozzie @ Oct 24th 2007 1:17PM
It looks pretty good to me...what looks so bad about it? You seriously aren't expecting a luxury car interior in a hard core sports car?
Nick @ Oct 24th 2007 1:29PM
No, I'm not expecting a luxury interior, I'm expecting something that looks like it should be in a high-end sports car, not an interior that would fit in just as easily inside a Nissan Titan pick-up truck. There is absolutely no flow, it doesn't look sporty whatsoever, it doesn't seem focused, and it's just flat out ugly in general.
The R32-34 GT-Rs had great interiors from a utility/aesthetic point of view (even if they were full of plastic), not to mention they had proper sporting seats, unlike the ones seen here.
To see what I mean, here's a couple images of the R34 GT-R's interior:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v83/nickthaskater/Automotive/1999_Nissan_SkylineGTR5.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v83/nickthaskater/Automotive/1999_Nissan_SkylineGTR6.jpg
Leaps and bounds better than what has been stuffed into this new iteration.
Maestro1 @ Oct 24th 2007 2:48AM
Do you guys think that the GT-R as a manual would have run the Nuerburgring faster than the CVT-type it has now?
I'm wondering what kind of numbers the Evo version of the GT-R will put up on the 'ring....
Maestro1 @ Oct 24th 2007 2:51AM
Correctoin: Premium trim
Maestro1 @ Oct 24th 2007 2:51AM
Correction: Premium trim
Temple @ Oct 24th 2007 2:58AM
The GT-R uses a dual-clutch trasmisson akin to the DSG, its not a CVT-style transmission system. In fact, Borg-Warner manufacters the transmisson system in the GT-R (same company that makes the DSG for VWAG). But manual tranny would certainly be slower since there are limitations on how fast a human can shift.
Maestro1 @ Oct 24th 2007 3:00AM
My bad lol! Yeah I meant that but the words weren't coming to me. Thanks!
TIMMAH! @ Oct 24th 2007 3:11AM
Meh, the dual circular taillights on the rear look so generic. That last angle on the C pillar looks weird. They should have kept it a smooth curve.
Maestro1 @ Oct 24th 2007 3:18AM
Those dual circular taillights are practically a trademark of the Skyline series, so its only fitting that they are there. Its one of the ways you recognize a Skyline (which this basically is).
SuperSkyline89 @ Oct 24th 2007 11:31AM
Have you never seen a Nissan Skyline before? It would be sacrilege not to have dual round taillights on this car!!!
VdubRider @ Oct 24th 2007 3:17AM
GT-R is freaking insane!
0-60mph in 3.5 sec is just unbelievable.
Headlight might look too much like Celica, interior might be too bulky.. but got the performance like no other!!
Honda and Toyota better step up.
Ducky @ Oct 24th 2007 4:00AM
I doubt that they would immediately begin to dominate in SuperGT. It's not really a production car race series anymore... the car can only run on RWD and limited to 500 hp with restrictor plates and strict weight/aero restrictions. As it is they'll have a tough time catching the Lexus SCs and Honda NSXs. The R32 was different because group A touring car regulations at the time meant the GT-R could run with 600 hp....