We laid out the confirmed and rumored changes on the 2012 Nissan GT-R for you last week. The cosmetic and aerodynamic alterations are evident here, and Nissan has confirmed that its elite sportscar will get a horsepower increase and a stiffened chassis with significant modifications to the suspension. Among the rumors is a rear-drive mode for the all-wheel-drive system, along with yet another iteration of launch control.
Just how much horsepower the refreshed Godzilla will show up with is still unclear. Figure on it being at least an even 500, given that the current car's twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 has a 485-hp rating. GTRBlog is hearing rumors that the rating could be more like 530-540PS, which would put the car in the 523-533 horsepower range.
GTRBlog also suggests that the delayed SpecM grand-touring model could launch in Japan as the GT-R Egoist. Yes, that's right. It's Japan, remember?
new22003 says:
01:23 PM, 08/31/10
Hope they upgrade the transmission.
acbayard says:
01:32 PM, 08/31/10
I doubt the transmission can be "upgraded" to protect against jackasses who'll launch a cold transmission 40 times before the car even hits 5000 miles.
Nissan should have just programmed the ECU to prevent cold launches - but I doubt they anticipated the amount of hand-holding nanny needing juvenile idiots that would ruin their cars then cry foul.
ed124c says:
01:43 PM, 08/31/10
So, if the GTR is "Godzilla" then the Shelby GT500 is.... something American......of course, "The Hulk"
ptcdawg says:
03:11 PM, 08/31/10
No clutch..no go...
brn says:
03:48 PM, 08/31/10
Didn't the current GT-R put out over 500hp? It just wasn't rated as such.
ctpax says:
04:47 PM, 08/31/10
Where's that troll that keeps bragging about his civic si? I'm sure he has something to say and put this car down.
darkman_xxl says:
05:44 PM, 08/31/10
@ctpax
Lol@"troll." Let them man have his fantasy....lol
bearsdkillz says:
06:28 PM, 08/31/10
I hope they shredded some weight too. And I hope they make a Nismo version thats really worth the extra $$ and worthy of a Nismo badge. (more HP)
mrryte says:
06:55 AM, 09/ 1/10
Since the GTR pushes 485HP, I can't see why 500HP is anything to get excited about.
acbayard says:
"I doubt the transmission can be "upgraded" to protect against jackasses who'll launch a cold transmission 40 times before the car even hits 5000 miles."
No amount of upgrades or safety features can defeat driver stupidity. Even it Nissan were to have potential owners sing a disclaimer; there will still be those who just can't resist the temptation to act the fool. :-/
anythngbutgm says:
08:29 AM, 09/ 1/10
Don't care if it's got 1000 hp under the hood. Lack of a thrid pedal is a deal breaker.
ed124c says:
08:39 AM, 09/ 1/10
Wait a minute-- the GT-R will now be good looking and it still doesn't have a stick?
Oh, wait another minute-- people who can afford this car (not me) don't really buy sticks.
chavis10 says:
09:00 AM, 09/ 1/10
Do people still care about this car? I'm sure everyone that wanted to get one has already got one by now. Also, an addtional 15-20hp will go unnoticed in this car do to the high friction of it's drive train. How about the put a proper V8 engine under the hood so it sounds more like a performance car (with a real exhaust note) instead of a Fast and Furious branded vacuum cleaner.
slickersdrip says:
12:22 AM, 09/ 6/10
I've been wanted a GT-R since I can imagine... as in before Gran Turismo made them popular... yet the lack of availability of a manual transmission kills the R35 for me. I guess I'll just keep waiting and waiting until the ridiculous rules of the US allows me to get my hands on a lightly used R34 to hit the country... if one exists by that point...