Small but significant improvements to the Nissan GT-R are aimed at making the Japanese super coupé more comfortable and even better in the handling department. Nissan has revised the front suspension's spring and damper rates, which is said to make the ride more supple while also improving the control of the wheels' movements.
The rear suspension has also come in for attention with stiffer bushes for the radius rod, which Nissan says improves the car's feel and responsiveness in corners. There is also a greater bias towards the rear brakes as Nissan's engineers say this gives more stability when braking hard in dry conditions.
New electronics in the gearbox now better distribute the power between the front and rear axles, reducing the strain in them when the car's fluids are cold. The gearbox's electronics have also been revised to give a more relaxed shift pattern in automatic mode but quicker downshifts from 4th to 3rd and 3rd to 2nd gears - and the gearbox is now more firmly mounted to reduce vibration under hard acceleration.
Uprated cooling introduces two NACA ducts to the underfloor diffuser to help reduce exhaust and gearbox temperatures. There's also larger diameter piping for the gearbox's oil cooler to reduce heat build up. Nissan has also worked on the GT-R's emissions to lower them by 3g/km to 295g/km.
Little has changed on the outside of the GT-R and the only significant alteration is an additional layer of clear paint on the front and rear bumpers to give a longer lasting finish. Inside, the speedo and rev counter now have a gun-metal finish for their surrounds, while the rear seats have more insulation to improve cabin refinement. There's also Nissan's upgraded stereo system, which is now standard on all GT-Rs.
The revised GT-R is available to order now and prices remain unchanged.
Alisdair Suttie - 11 Nov 2009