► Special editions mark updated GT-R
► New grille, greater refinement
► No plans to return to UK
The Nissan GT-R has been updated – again. At this point, it feels a bit like talking about your granny putting on a new set of roller-skates, but we shouldn’t forget what a significant car the R35 GT-R has been for Nissan, and the automotive world in general.
So even though it was dropped from the European market in 2022 (for noise-related reasons, apparently), it’s still going strong in Japan, where this 2024 model has just been revealed at the Tokyo Auto Salon. The announcement includes a pair of new special editions.
So what’s new about the new Nissan GT-R?
As ever with the GT-R, the changes are more in the manner of subtle refinements than massive overhauls.
Visually, there’s a new grille – which is about the only obvious change (and even that’s pushing the definition of obvious). But this coincides with improved aerodynamics and a series of other updates that are intended to deliver greater refinement and better ride quality.
Existing power levels remain, but noise, vibration and harshness are all said to be reduced, and the ‘sound carefully tuned to enhance onboard comfort’.
What versions of the new Nissan GT-R are available?
Variants with the standard drivetrain – a mere 565bhp version of the long-standing VR38DETT twin-turbo V6 – are the Pure, Black edition, Premium edition, Premium edition T-Spec, Track edition engineered by NISMO and Track edition engineering by NISMO T-Spec.
T-Spec (pictured here in a rather fetching shade of gold) represents the new special edition elements here, particularly the Premium edition T-Spec, which gains carbon brakes and ‘specially set suspension’. Nissan says ‘T-Spec represents the GT-R’s philosophy of leading and shaping the times and is inspired by the words trend and traction’ (Nissan’s italics).
Shedding further but still rather dim light on this, the result is said to be ‘robust traction’ – not something we’d ever considered an issue for the GT-R in the past.
Beyond these models, however, lies the Nissan GT-R NISMO proper, which will be joined by a GT-R NISMO Special edition this time around.
What’s NISMO about the true GT-R NISMO?
Special tuning changes the suspension and aerodynamics of these versions, including a front limited-slip differential and engine performance boosted to 591bhp. On the inside, the carbon-backed Recaro seats have been tweaked for more comfort, too.
The NISMO Special edition (above) gets no extra power, but is said to benefit from ‘high precision weight-balanced engine parts’ – including the piston rings, connecting rods and crankshaft, all topped by a clear-coated carbonfibre bonnet with NACA ducts.
Do the noise adjustments mean the Nissan GT-R might return to the UK?
We’ve asked, and the press office says: ‘No plans for that car to come over at this stage. Sorry.’
Leaves a bit of wiggle room, but doesn’t look promising.
When does the 2024 Nissan GT-R go on sale?
Despite the 2024 part, the new GT-R will be available to Japanese buyers in spring 2023. We understand it will also be offered to customers in the USA.
You can watch the reveal in this official video: