Two New GT-Rs Headline Nissan’s New York Motor Show Stand

Nissan has announced two new or upgraded versions of its GT-R sports car. A ‘balanced yet extreme’ Nismo flagship with new motorsport-derived upgrades is joined by a 50th Anniversary Edition that resurrects the iconic Bayside Blue of the R34 Skyline GT-R.

The GT-R Nismo has adopted a mantra of ‘absolute street and track performance’ for drivers of all skill levels. Both bumpers, the front wings, the bonnet, boot lid, roof, rear spoiler and side sill covers are all carbonfibre for a total weight-saving of 10.5kg. A further 20kg has been saved elsewhere. Make sure you have an appropriately light lunch, won’t you?

In the front wings there are now huge GT3 racer-style vents over the wheels, designed to let air escape from the wheel well and engine bay, reducing drag and lift as a result. Nissan says they actually add functional downforce to the front end as well as smoothing the air flow along the car but avoiding the rear spoiler, therefore improving high-speed stability.

It sits on new 20-inch Rays forged aluminium wheels that are lighter than the old ones and use a strong nine-spoke design. The Dunlop track-spec tyres they wear have a wider tread footprint and fewer grooves for an overall 11 per cent larger contact patch. The 2020 GT-R Nismo, Nissan says, will therefore corner harder and faster than ever.

You’ll need the standard GT-R Nismo seats, then, which are built to snugly hold your shoulders and hips in place. Don’t expect Lexus-like comfort, but they’ll be bang-on for track days.

The 600bhp, 481lb ft 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6 and six-speed dual-clutch gearbox have been lightly revised. The Nismo will now get a turbocharger design derived directly from the GT3 GT-R racing car. It uses fewer turbine blades and a different shape to speed-up response by 20 per cent without losing power.

Its brakes are now carbon-ceramic items from Brembo. With epic 410mm discs at the front and 390mm equivalents at the back, plus new brake pads inside yellow calipers, they’re claimed to offer more feel and a shorter pedal stroke.

Meanwhile, the GT-R 50th Anniversary Edition joins a 370Z of the same suffix that emerged yesterday. This is a GT-R that’s “not about chasing power figures, but creating a new GT-R where no aspect has been overlooked,” according to Nissan.

Three heritage-appropriate two-tone colour schemes will be offered for this 2020-only car. Bayside Blue, also called Wangan Blue, makes a return after being retired with the iconic R34 Skyline. Applied with a four-coat, double-heat treatment process, it also gets blue accents on the wheels and white racing stripes. The other two options are Pearl White with red stripes, and Super Silver with white. Let’s be honest, we’d all have that stunning blue.

The inside has a more luxury-leaning grey colour theme. The steering wheel, shift knob trim, seat embossing, headliner and Alcantara sun visors are all unique to the 50th Anniversary car. The dashboard is wrapped with a single piece of Nappa leather.

The celebratory car gets a 565bhp version of the twin-snail 3.8-litre V6. The turbochargers are new, delivering better low-rev response through reduced losses. Motorsport-derived exhaust manifolds have new turbo flange attachment points to allow easier servicing and tuning without removing the manifolds.

Also revealed by Nissan at the 2019 NYIAS is a 2020 GT-R Track Edition, which uses the same new GT3-influenced turbo design in its 600bhp engine, but the carbon-ceramic brakes are optional. A carbonfibre roof is also optional, but none of the Nismo’s other carbon bits are available.