More power, more downforce and more grip - that's what Nissan is promising in the 2011 GT-R.
Performance from the 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine has been boosted by 33kW - from 357 to 390kW - while torque has increased from 588 to 612Nm, thanks to higher boost pressure, revised valve timing and recalibrated intake mixture ratios.
The inlet manifold diameter has been enlarged and the exhaust system revised, including a new catalyst using fewer precious metals. Maximum speed is now 315km/h.
This performance increase is celebrated by the red-painted engine cover, a respectful nod to one of the car's forebears, the legendary R34 Skyline GT-R, which also had red cam covers. No resemblamce to certain red cars from Maranello is intended, says Nissan.
It does, howeever, claim that both fuel consumption and emissions have been reduced by 3.5 percent, to 12 litres/100km and 279g/km respectively.
Subtle changes to the chassis have sharpened handling, along with new tyres, wheels and bigger brakes.
The front springs, shock absorbers and anti-roll bar have been revised, and the front castor angle has been increased from 5º35' to 6º00 to improve straight-line stability and road holding under cornering. At the rear, the roll centre has been lowered to improve the grip of the inside edge of the tyres when cornering.
New, lightweight aluminium shock absorbers generate more precise damping forces for more stable stable road-holding, and react more quickly to driver inputs, while reduced friction improves ride quality.
The front brake discs have been increased in diameter by 10mm to 390mm for more resistance to fade under “continued heavy use”, while lighter and more rigid forged-aluminium rims improve the responsiveness of the tyres to vertical loads. Even the knurling inside the rims has been revised help prevent tyre rotation caused by the increased engine output.
The rims are finished in a glossy new, five-layer blue-black colour and wear new tyres developed for this car: The Dunlop SP Sport MAXX 600 DSST CTT, with a softer compound for improved grip and stiffer carcass construction for straight-line stability on poor road surfaces.
The 2011 GTR's subtle exterior revisions, says Nissan, are not just for looks: Downforce has improved by about 10 percent while the co-efficient of drag has been lowered to 0.26.
The front bumper now has double rectifier fins to increase front downforce and reduce air resistance inside the engine compartment, thus increasing air flow through a radiator that cools the front brakes. Each side now has an LED daytime running light with a large-diameter reflector.
The revised rear bumper has lower centre of gravity and a sculptured lower section with an extended diffuser that enhances underfloor cooling performance and reduces air resistance.
Cooling performance for the rear silencers is improved and rear downforce increased by a new air outlet that sucks air out of the rear wheel-housing. There's now a high-intensity LED rear foglight in the extended diffuser and, just for looks, the tailpipe tips are bigger.
The interior changes are more a matter of attention to detail than styling updates, with a re-shaped, more neatly stitched pad and finisher around the navigation display, a genuine carbon-fibre heater control panel with matt-black switches, back-chromed trim rings in the console and air conditioner outlets - and magnesium paddle shifters.
The Black Edition trim now includes black leather-covered Recaro bucket seats with red side flashes and a red flash on the gear lever, while the more comfort-orientated Premium Edition comes with grey leather-upholstered chairs that have electrically adjustable squabs, reach, angle and height, and two levels of seat heating.
The 2011 Nissan GT-R is now available to order from Nissan High Performance Centres in Melrose, Johannesburg and Hatfield, Pretoria.
PRICES
Premium Edition - R1 314 000
Black Edition - R1 364 000
This includes a three-year or 100 000km warranty and a three-year or 50 000km service plan.