Updated 2009 Nissan GT-R Improves 0-60 to 3.3 seconds

Nissan GT-R specV

By Thami Masemola
February 25, 2009 12:00 AM
Filed Under: Japanese, Nissan, Supercars

Buyers of expensive sports cars are always asking themselves how they can get more performance out of their cars without affecting the all-important warranty. The good news for those who already have one of these sports cars, the respected Nissan GT-R, is that they don't have to live with what they have. Nissan can help them get what they want retroactively through dealers. Those still looking to purchase into the GT-R family have the golden opportunity of buying an even faster car straight out of the box.

At launch in 2007 Nissan said the GT-R could dispatch the 0 - 60mph time in just 3.5 seconds. For MY2009 (US MY2010) Nissan worked on the car a little bit more by giving it slightly more power and revised mapping of the transmission control unit which resulted in an optimized launch control setting. This has apparently resulted in the GT-R being able to launch from 0 - 60mph in 3.3 seconds. The number was achieved by Nissan's test driver at the company's test track in Tochigi, Japan.

Interestingly Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) which limits revs and slip needed for quicker takeoff remained switched on when this 3.3-second time was achieved. Previously VDC has to be switched off in order to deploy launch control. The new launch system allows even a novice driver to hurl the car quickly off the line without any fancy pre-launch procedures. Just step on the brake (firmly) with your left foot, floor the accelerator pedal with your right foot. Wait for rpms to hold at 3000 and release your foot off the brake.

Source: gtrblog.com

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Tags: Nissan GT-R, Nissan GT-R Spec V

Comments

kimbo

February 25, 2009 12:17 AM

amazing. I hope that VDC also helps that guys who were not trained properly and destroyed their gearboxes.

Renegade

February 25, 2009 12:31 AM

Excuse me sir, you have an urgent call from Stuttgart...

C'mon Porsche, GET HAPPY!

Bristol411S3

February 25, 2009 12:47 AM

I know some water got spilled from the bucket on the Mayflower's way across the Atlantic and as a consequence a US gallon is than an Imperial one, but how did they manage to get a year ahead of anyone else?

I've never understood this Model Year +1 nonsense.

And 3.3 seconds to 60 sounds a bit implausible too.

motorjedi

February 25, 2009 8:54 AM

It's a marketing trick used in the USA. Convinces people they're buying cars of the future, two years in advance. Truly ironic since most US cars (not all, admittedly) belong in the past. It's a neat trick, obviously, because it's worked for so many years. Want a car to sell Stateside this year, tell them it's a 2020 model year.

nmnissan

February 25, 2009 2:07 AM

I suppose now it can actually get to 60 in 3 seconds flat. the first version already got there in 3.3 as reported by a bunch of owners. and I thought they were getting rid of launch control.

dbehmoaras

February 25, 2009 2:25 AM

The ZR-1 still better at 3.2 seconds, and better overall. GT-R is still mad nice though.

indahead

February 25, 2009 3:24 AM

I dont know what nissan is trying to prove?The make crappy cars.They have only a few good models and GT-R is not one of them.Its cheaply made and it literally falls apart when it accelerates.Its ridiculous to compare it to Porsche...

RS5

February 25, 2009 3:30 AM

Obviously you are a German car fanatic who has been living under a rock for a while. The GT-R has taken the automotive world by storm and whether you like it or not, it is still one of the best performance cars out there, and beats the 997 Turbo on the ring. What do you mean the car falls apart when it accelerates? You have no idea what you are talking about. Just cut the BS.

mortz

February 25, 2009 3:56 AM

I guess indahead has not ever driven a Nissan and knows nothing about Nissan because his statement was incorrect. stop living in your head and do some research. Nissan is one of the leading car companies and they are making huge leaps and bounds.

Iconic

February 25, 2009 4:28 AM

By what standard are you saying Nissan makes crappy cars? thats the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. BTW, I just saw one of these beasts in Manhattan last weekend...and... DAYAAM. I had to have a little fun with him just to hear it roar. This car has presence, you can't help but stare at it.

indahead

February 25, 2009 5:13 AM

I accept criticism only from people who have actually driven it...just like the 350z was a piece of crap,so is the GT-R.What do i mean by piece of crap?Go to your local deler and look at the plastic interior,than go for a ride and see the ride quality of this thing.It just SUCKS ASS!The only good thing about it is the power,which is actually more than nissan say-its about 510 bhp for the 2007 model.When you set the LC on,the cheap components of the car struggle to cope with the power and after a short period of time you start hearing how the back of your "super nissan" just makes some strange noises.AGAIN-Don't compare it to Porsche.

pzigly

February 25, 2009 6:52 AM

The 350z is a sports car that you can get for about $26k and will beat a GT Mustang, will out handle a GT Mustang, and will out last a GT Mustang. The 350z was brand new when it came out. Totally different from the 300z. This makes it a brand new model. With all new models there can be mistakes. If you look at the 370z u will notice that they have fixed everything and your getting M3 speed for 20k less. With 0-60 in the 4.8 range you cant ask for anything else, and no other company competes with price and speed.

As for your problem with the GT-R, its interior is nice and the engine is hand assembled in a clean room by one mechanic. The suspension is assembled with with a machine that replicates the weight of the car as its being assembled so that everything is perfect when it goes on. I dont think these things qualify as cheap. As for the gearbox, any gearbox will break if you knock it with 500hp all at once when you do it everytime you get to a light. hit your self with 500hp and see if your build quality is up to par. Nissan actually listens to its customers. They put a fix on computer so that you dont have to abuse your gearbox as much as before. People complained about the 350z's interior they fixed it in the 370z. Take a look at the line up for Nissan and take a look at their competition. You will find more performance and a more reasonable price just about everytime.

mortz

February 25, 2009 5:39 AM

Again wrong, there was never a dyno that could test the loss of power accurately through the drive line of the gt-r until recently and it measured the gt-rs power at 480hp but it did have around 30nm more than stated. the transmission is supposed to make those noises at low speeds. Ive been in the 350z and i don't know what your talking about it looked fine to me, and i would never say it has cheap components to have the performance figures it does its fast and will only get faster, Its fine if you don't like Nissan's just don't write inaccurate info, it was designed to compete with the 911t and its faster and cheaper better value for money so if someone wants to compare it to a 911 so be it,

Edited by user on February 26, 2009 at 10:34 AM

Aluraeo

February 25, 2009 6:40 AM

Well from some one who has been in one and touched the plastics it seems fine to me. I too have seen a porsche interior and I dont think the difference is way off. I do like the cleaner look of the porsche interior but thats where it ends. Compared to a Merc and a BMW the gtr's quality is just fine. We'll I would know because I get to drive both so for all those German car fanatics gets off your high horse and accept the facts. A great car is a great car regardless of the maker.

pzigly

February 25, 2009 6:54 AM

A voice of reason.....

lucifa

February 25, 2009 9:11 AM

Very much so. But, to me, the GT-R and 911T will never be proper competitors off the track. On the track, they're very close, depending on the circuit (the Nordschleife isn't the only racetrack on our planet), but off the track there's a... I dunno, a certain something that makes the Europeans special. Can anyone qualify exactly what it is?

radmeister

February 25, 2009 9:24 AM

The ability to mix raw strength with class. You can't get out of a GT-R in front of an opera or a 5 star restaurant wearing a tux and look good. In a porsche that's just another outing after a day at the track, the GT-R may be faster but it has no finess its just like the ZR-1. They just look too crazy, a porsche is like the old saying "a lady on the street and a whore in the bed". The GT-R is never smooth/classy. That's why i wouldn't care if its 0.4 sec faster than a 911 T, the porsche is at home everywhere, not just on the track, racing suit or business suit doesn't matter.

pzigly

February 25, 2009 9:35 AM

So basically the GTR is the pationate, exciting type and the 911 is the conservative old fart who loves boring operas. The 911 is stuck up looser looking at the GTR and saying you might have won but I still like the Opera.

michelin901

February 25, 2009 1:36 PM

lol. why do gt-r lovers hate on the porsches? what were you guys after before the gt-r came out? firstly i dont get how they can just simply increase the power on a standard car and release it in a year. wouldnt this upset the current owners? very similar to how audi have released the r8 with a lambo v10 after seeing the v8 version was underpowered in front of rivals. i never liked the way the gt-r looks. even sitting in one didnt change my mind. i would any day prefer to be seen in a porsche. it just has that classic presence which no skyline has.

Edited by user on February 25, 2009 at 1:37 PM

lucifa

February 25, 2009 3:00 PM

pzigly - the Porsche has a suave nature that the GT-R just can't touch. There was an ad campaign in Queensland against speeding saying people who speed on public streets have no real capability in the car or in the bedroom (ie their... anatomy is lacking). You drive a GT-R you look like exactly that type of person; I'm sorry, but, honestly, you just do - the same applies to most track cars. But drive a 911T and everyone thinks you're successful and making a sensible choice -- then when nobody's looking you can put your foot down and have just as much fun as in the GT-R. It's a subtlety that brands like Porsche, Aston Martin and (arguably, since the arrival of Bangle) BMW have spent decades perfecting, and you just don't get it in the GT-R - it looks too much like a boy-racer.

And michelin901 - yeah it's interesting how GT-R lovers despise Porsche so deeply. You'd think part of the criteria of being a GT-R lover is that a Porsche ran over your dog when you were a kid or something...

pzigly

February 25, 2009 9:24 AM

If you go to youtube, the GTR beats the 911t on every track. I have yet to see the 911t beat it on any track eventhough the GTR is a few hundred pounds heavier. With shorter gear ratios, the GTR will beat the 911 out of every corner.

If u look at the LUX japanese cars, you feel like the germans have been caught up to. Its only a matter of time till that CEO goes for the lexus or infinity.

mortz

February 25, 2009 8:43 PM

michelin901, i think its the other way around this article is about the gt-r and the negative remarks state hate towards the gt-r.

YuZi

February 25, 2009 12:40 PM

hmmhmm... we all know how it outperforms the Turbo on the track and costs way less. And talking about the interior? Its funny no one mentioned the graceful little techy LCD on the center console done by the makers of GranTurismo.

There's just so much thought gone into every LITTLE aspect of this car, I dont see how it can be labelled cheap! :/

bloody haters

MTC

February 25, 2009 12:49 PM

Amazingly fast but boring car to drive, it got no excitement at all.

indahead

February 25, 2009 5:13 PM

so true...and it sounds just like a...nissan

Iconic

February 25, 2009 7:01 PM

I think anyone that says this car is cheap, crappy or even boring needs to get their head checked. How many times does it need to prove itself?. Sure I'm a critic of the transmission, but it's their first shot at it and they've already made an effort to fix the issue without totally re-engineering it. And I think it's fair to say that the Skylines have never been 'beautiful' inside, but strictly business -- this car gets the job done, and very well.

shadowphantom

February 25, 2009 7:22 PM

I have to be honest I still love the RB equipped Skylines better but that's my personal opinion. To pizgly and RS5, I agree with you Nissan is getting better and better and I think the GT-R is the best supercar you can get for the buck. In my opinion the difference in money you would pay for a Porsche is because of the name and racing history. And for the record indahead every Skyline GT-R since the R32 has used a model from Porsche as a benchmark to surpass.

indahead

February 25, 2009 8:27 PM

I respect the previous Skyline models very much.They dont clssify as a nissan at all.The were really good driving machines and they didnt pretend to be special,which actually made them special!This on the other hand is supposed to be a supercar...well the only reason why people would buy it is cause its ridiculously cheap.In Japan these things cost less than 35k and they still make profit.You can imagine how much one car really costs.All this crap,hidden behind some nonsence like a "hand built" motor,which is supposed to impress people?Pathetic...

Joe_Limon

February 25, 2009 11:46 PM

lol 35k to buy one of these? noooo, that doesn't work even if your are talking about euro's. Also, Nissan doesn't make a profit with these cars. They sell them at a loss.

mortz

February 25, 2009 9:08 PM

It makes me laugh how people say the 911t has more presence than the gt-r because from what i have seen in the past at race meets or car shows or any where there's a gt-r of any type and a 911t there's always more attention drawn towards the gt-r even 15 years ago with the r32 skyline gt-r.

It comes down to preference and what suits a persons requirements. Personally Ive always loved the Porsche's but not for its looks, the gt-r has always been the under dog and that's why i love the gt-rs even more because they look like they are supposed to and that's to get down to business and get the job done like a stealth assassin not a fluffy prancing 911t darting off to the opera. they are both awesome cars and a couple of only a few using 6 cylinders and turbos to get them super car performance and are extremely good a doing what they were designed to do, it would be a little boring if they were exactly the same wouldnt it there would be nothing to agrue about;-) In the past Nissan has given its self a good reputation with build quality, performance, reliability and safety, i know Ive owned heaps of Nissan's and had a huge crash in a Nissan primera GT uk edition and amazingly i walked away from it with minor injuries. The gt-r is the way of the future using technology to assist the driver its called progress to evolve, the gt-r gives better control at the drivers limit than the 911t. for people who say its boring because of the technology that assist it are just living in the past, just like fighter jets that use computer systems to assist in flight you don't see fighter pilots complaining because it isn't how it use to be.

Edited by user on February 26, 2009 at 10:31 AM

enzo6333

March 25, 2009 9:58 AM

i think that any person who buy's the porsche not because it's fast or somthing he buy's the car only to show of but when it comes to THE (GTR) as soon as u see the car u can feel the evil hiden in the car and the only thing i can say about the GTR it is bad to the bone type

enzo6333

March 25, 2009 10:19 AM

and one more thing i would like to say to those who hate's the gtr plz have look on the black bison gtr and you will know why we love this car

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