Most of us associate Nissan with solid family cars such as the Altima, but the Japanese automaker does have a darker, more aggressive side. It’s called the Nissan GT-R, and it goes like a bat out of hell. First launched at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2007, the car has been setting roads ablaze around the world ever since. With a 0 to 60 time of 2.7 seconds, and a top speed of 196 mph, it’s so muscular that the Australian Press nicknamed it Godzilla.
Image source: http://wpmedia.driving.ca/2013/11/gt-r-nismo-rear.jpg?w=800&h=520&crop=1
To be clear, it’s still not the fastest car in the world, but it is the fastest one that any mere mortal could aspire to own. The car starts at $99,590 in the US, which is still a major chunk of change – but compared to anything faster, it’s positively a bargain. Probably the only two road cars in the world that can best it are the Porsche 918 Spyder – due to start delivering this December at $845,000 – and the Bugatti Veyron, which you should be able to pick up second-hand starting at around $1.5 million. So, returning to the real-world, it’s fair to say that the Nissan GT-R is the fastest car any of us in the real world are likely – well, not that likely – to lay our hands on.
However, it seems that the good folks at Nismo (that’s Nissan Motorsport International Limited for the uninitiated) just can’t leave a good thing alone. They have been tinkering with Godzilla over the last little while, and have made some improvements that threaten to put the car into low-earth orbit. They’ve boosted the horsepower from 542 bhp to 591 bhp, and cranked up the torque from 465 lb ft to 481 lb ft – primarily by adding two turbochargers, playing around with the intake and exhaust system, adjusting the timings and adding some Dunlop tires that act like they were made of superglue. Nismo is being coy about just what this does to the car, but they will say that the 0 to 60 time is now under 2.7 seconds. Apparently no one has summoned up the courage to actually see if the car will break the sound barrier.
If you just can’t wait to get your hands on one, then you’re going to be a little disappointed. The car is going to be available in Japan starting in February, but it won’t arrive in the US until later in the year. Also, rumor has it that Nismo is only going to produce 200 in the first year, so if you live in Connecticut and want to get your souped-up Nissan GT-R, then you will need to start to queue bright and early at your local Connecticut Nissan dealer.
Image source: http://image.modified.com/f/news/1311-2015-nissan-gt-r-nismo-sets-factory-record-at-nurburgring/61889974+w620/1311-2015-Nissan-GTR-Nismo-Nurburgring.jpg
Of course, there is still the question of price. Nissan has yet to announce official pricing, but rumor has it that you’ll pay about 50% more for the Nismo version than you would for a regular GT-R. Still, if it does come in at around $150,000, it’s an incredible amount of supercar for your money.
