Ah, a 'new' Nissan GT-R. Which nuts and bolts are new now?
That's a bit cynical, if you don't mind us saying. Yes, the R35 has been fettled once, twice, three times a lady (sorry, got a bit lost in our train of thought there...) since production started in 2007, but Nissan has always aimed to make the GT-R ever more frighteningly competent with each and every update. And it says the 2017MY edition is the best yet.
But it said that about the 2015MY car. Has the company changed the drivetrain?
No, the VR38DETT 3.8-litre biturbo V6 engine remains in service, although power and torque have climbed again. Previous iterations of the 'normal' (a wholly inadequate word for the R35) GT-R had output highs of 550hp and 632Nm. This one has 570hp and 637Nm.
Right, but I take it the banzai performance is only marginally improved?
Probably, although we can't tell you as Nissan hasn't released any performance data. It has, however, talked about further mechanical changes.
Such as?
Such as a 'thoroughly refined' six-speed dual-clutch transmission that is said to shift both faster and more smoothly than before. Such as a titanium exhaust and Active Sound Enhancement to make it sound meaner than ever. Such as a more rigid body structure, revised suspension settings, forged aluminium Y-spoke 20-inch alloys and extra sound absorption materials to keep the cabin quieter on a cruise. Thus, the 2017MY GT-R delivers the holy grail of dynamics - improved comfort and improved handling too. Supposedly.
What else has changed?
The rest of the alterations are visual. The nose gets a 'V-motion' grille with a new mesh design and it's a larger item to flow more cooling air to that monster V6. The V-shape is continued by a redesigned bonnet that blends the graphic up to the windscreen, while the front splitter and bumper are both new. The GT-R's side sills are wider and there's reshaped bodywork at the rear to improve airflow, side air vents are added alongside those massive quad exhausts, the four-ring taillight signature is retained and a new colour, Katsura Orange, is welcomed to the palette. It's the shade you can see on the car in the pictures.
How about the cabin?
Nissan says the entire dashboard and instrument panel have been changed, although to our eyes, the cabin of the 2017MY doesn't look that different to the 2015MY car's. Key updates here include more controls in the eight-inch touchscreen, meaning there are now only 11 buttons on the GT-R's console instead of the 27 that lived there before, the paddle shifts have moved to the steering wheel, rather than the column, the haptics have been improved for both the paddles and the climate controls and in the Prestige Edition - alongside the existing Red, Ivory and Black upholstery colours - you can now opt for Tan. Which is also visible in the pictures.
Is this car another for the New York Auto Show?
It is, and it should be on sale in autumn. We can't wait to try it; should be immense.
Matt Robinson - 24 Mar 2016
