4 Cool New Things On The 2017 Nissan GT-R Nismo
A new face
Like the regular 2017 GT-R, the Nismo gets a reshaped front grille. It’s larger, giving it a bigger appetite for air, while the upper section gains Nissan’s new ‘V-motion’ piece. The carbonfibre bumper also gets a pair of downforce-generating canard pieces. Not a huge amount of changes, but enough to freshen up the Nismo’s looks while improving airflow and reducing lift.
Retuned suspension
Because the standard GT-R now has a stiffer, reinforced body, the Nismo version is able to really reap the benefits. The increase in rigidity meant Nismo’s boffins could retune the car’s shock absorbers, the springs and anti-roll bars to make the handling better than ever.
To quantify the improvements, Nissan keenly points out that the 2017 car completes its benchmark slalom test two per cent faster than the old version. Not something you’re likely to notice, but it’s a nice geeky pub boast…
An Arnold Schwarzenegger-spec bonnet
As well as the new carbon canards, Nismo has also added downforce by making the bonnet really flipping strong. This means at high speeds it doesn’t deform, retaining its aerodynamic shape no matter how hard you’re charging down the back straight of your favourite track, or bombing down a local airstrip.
A simplified interior
Don’t like button-fest dashboards? You’re in luck here. The Nismo’s been given the boggo GT-R’s cleaner dashboard, with the switch count reduced from 27 to 11 on the centre console. The steering wheel’s new too, and you still get a pair of leather-clad carbonfibre seats in the front, which something you won’t find in the regular GT-R.
Anything else?
Well, no actually - but the GT-R Nismo wasn’t exactly crying out for masses of changes. The 3.8-litre V6 with its two GT3-derived turbos remains unaltered, giving you 592bhp and 481lb ft of torque to play with. It’s still a bit of a porker too, as the 1720kg kerb weight hasn’t been reduced.
What do you think of the Nismo’s refresh? Let us know in the comments!
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
I didn’t realize how different the front end was until I saw this. I hope this car is fast in a straight line, because the previous Nismo was better at handling than straight line speed.
Well thats because this car had been engineered for handling, NOT for straight lines. It’s hard to make a car who can make both, its do-able but that would make the car a lot more expensive :)
0-60mph (100km/h) in less than 3 secs…and you call it slow in straight line? O.o
Is it just me or does the new dashboard on both the standard and the nismo look a bit…1980s? I mean the interior is cool but somehow I think the 2007-15 GT-R had a cooler dash (if you don’t mind the buttons).
An those 1996 honda civic style center vents… WHY?!
A more aggressive look to it may well be the first time a stock gtr can do 200 mph.
I thought that GTRs top out at 196mph due to running out of gear ratio rather than horse power 🤔
Well I dont care as long as it does 300kmh (186mph) ^^ Thats the magical number/speed in metric areas ;)
Nicceee!!!!
one more cool fact, it’s a Nismo
I respect this car, really, but i still don’t like it and i don’t no why….
Agreed I think it is because of the styling
Because people have been trying to be excited about it for 10 years
Arnold Schwarzenegger spec hood: now you can get to da choppa even faster!
“get to dad choppa”
why
how to design new gt-r, take wax model and let sit outside for 4 hours, it looks good, but i cant help seeing that it looks like a melted version of the pre facelift.
looks fantastic but a little weight reduction would have been nice
Just rip out the back seats… And the passenger seats… And the carpeting.. And the whole interior. Lol there’s your weight reduction.
So long as it doesn’t gain weight, that’s a win in my book. Usually stronger means heavier, so making the whole body stronger while keeping the weight the same is a win, although of course less weight would be an even bigger win.