Nissan GT-R V-Spec Spotted in Germany

Less weight, more power
by Frank de Leeuw van Weenen
April 9, 2008 2:09 PM
Filed Under: Japanese, Nissan, Spy Photos

The new Nissan GT-R is already a modern day classic, a statement proven by the fact that Nissan UK received 700 orders in just 48 hours when they opened their order books. Nissan UK is trying to convince Nissan HQ to allocate more units to the British Isles, but since Nissan can only (hand) build 1,000 engines per month it seems unlikely that the request will be granted.

In the meantime, Nissan has quietly shipped a light-weight and heavy hitting GT-R V-Spec to the Nurburgring for testing. Where the regular GT-R boasts 480 hp, this turbocharged V-Spec should see at least 550 hp and is capable of a 7:25 Nurburgring laptime, 18 seconds faster than the GT-R.

The Nissan GT-R V-Spec prototype features a revised front splitter, additional air intake slits (presumably for extra brake cooling), new six-spoke wheels and what seems to be a new braking system. Upon closer inspection of the brakes, our spy photographer thinks that a carbon-ceramic brake set-up seems most likely.

We expect that the Nissan GT-R V-Spec will be shedding 150kg in comparison to the GT-R, not exactly in the featherweight class, through the use of various carbon fibre body panels and weight saving technologies. For one, the rear wing is taped up on this prototype leading us to believe that this is one of the carbon-fibre components.

Source: Automedia
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Comments

ballistic fun!

by asif | April 9, 2008 2:26 PM
7:25 at the Ring??!! Impossible for a car the size of a Nissan GT-R. Just do a simple comparison with the Porsche Carrera GT and you'd know its impossible. The GT-R has less power (outright power and also power to weight ratio), higher centre of gravity, and higher weight than the Carrera GT. Even with Walter Rohrl at the wheel, the Carrera GT managed a time of 7:28. I'm not bashing the GT-R, I am thinking of buying one myself. But the Ring times being thrown around is stretching a little thin.

by wunderkind | April 9, 2008 3:08 PM
Agreed.

by Bernardo | April 9, 2008 3:10 PM
With full carbonfiber body, overboosted 550hp, and composite brakes it's possible to get under 7:30. For as long as the pilot is competent, that is. Sophisticated AWD plus a lightning fast robotized tranny (Carrera GT was manual) could contribute as well, eventhough most record busters are RWD.

by ck314 | April 9, 2008 4:19 PM
This prototype has been timed by observing bystanders @ 7:25. The times are nowhere near official, but I wouldn't bet against it being within at least a second of that: http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Secret-new-cars/Search-Results/Spyshots/Nissan-GT-R-V-Spec/

by jamaicandude | April 9, 2008 4:41 PM
why is everyone doubting this car? i have no doubt it can go round in that time if not faster.

by super_car_muscle_man | April 12, 2008 2:34 AM
DEAM!!! its still a heavy car, just 550hp aprox and so fast...its the Murcielago this fast? mabye its not a hot car but its fkng fast!, nice japan engineering

by _M7_ | April 9, 2008 3:14 PM
Nothings impossible these days , if the driver is a Nissan test driver then he or even she will probably know where to push the car , im no expert but ,cars are getting more balanced and alot quicker.

by Spyshot-73 | April 9, 2008 3:18 PM
yea i agree. i really like the gt-r. its a great car, and an incredible achievement. but still, it seems hard to believe that it could beat the race-oriented carrera gt, which, as wunderkind pointed out, has several major advantages.

by jai_mav | April 9, 2008 4:33 PM
impossible. a V6 with 550 bhp? i don't think the specs are correct. a normal GT-R was actually around 460 bhp, maybe 520 or 530 bhp is possible. and i don't think it went that fast in the ring. but i still love this car and i really want one.

by boyke69 | April 9, 2008 5:07 PM
By the way the HP on the regualar GT-R is over 500hp!!! It dynos at 480 to the wheels. 550 hp is not impossible. The old GT-R was 278 but dyno was 333hp and it was only a 2.6L six cylinder. Tuners get it to 500 hp easily by putting on a bigger turbo. They could do this without even opening the engine to make the components stronger!!! This is a Japanese supercar so the technology is number one priority. I think a 7:25 is possible. You can thrash this car around more than a Carrera GT. I dont know why everyone doubts the capability of this car. Nissan has proved there numbers over and over again. Just because its not german and it is for a good price doesnt mean it cant do it. By the way, Nissan said 3.5s for 0-60 in the regular GT-R but a journalist got it to 60 in 3.3s. If anything it might do faster than 7:25!!!!!!!!!!

by pzigly | April 9, 2008 11:06 PM
boyke69, most car manufacturers spec out the engine hp right out of the engine, not at the wheels. hence why 460 rather then 480, the 550 is also at the wheels. Also for the time, nothing is impossible. Whoever drives a race version of a Carrera GT isn't going to push it as hard as a "mass production" car. Don't be sad Porsche fan's... Porsche cars are still nice.

by Joe_Limon | April 9, 2008 4:49 PM
Good point Joe, but I know Japanese manufactureres usually quote the engine output 'at the flywheel' and not at the wheels. The power losses through the drivetrain could amount to 5% of the quoted power at the wheels. Its not impossible for Nissan to upgrade the engine to produce over 500bhp. They will need to enlarge the capacity slightly to 4.0-4.3L and add bigger turbos and modified heads (deeper valve seats and stiffer valve springs) and lighter/tougher pistons and conrods. Finally, tuning the ECU and improve the exhaust system.

by wunderkind | April 9, 2008 7:01 PM
The old GT-R was 278 but dyno was 333hp and it was only a 2.6L six cylinder. Tuners get it to 500 hp easily by putting on a bigger turbo. They could do this without even opening the engine to make the components stronger!!!

by pzigly | April 9, 2008 11:08 PM
And How did you mr genius know that they didnt/did add these things to this car.. It CANNOT break this time if it was running on standard specs. Moreover, we still Dont know if the engine is still 3.8 or they got it bigger.. Keep in mind the Skylines has always been able to handle much much more power than that (upto 1200 hp in the R34 without problems).. this is Nissan!! They absolutely know how to squeeze power and put it in the ground.. Plus, dont forget that this ATTESA E-TS 4WD system is considered as the world's best system at the moment.. I already knew that it would crush they Carrera GT, but I couldnt expect it to reach this extent.. ABSOLUTLEY STUNNING!!!

by NitrousOxide | April 9, 2008 7:45 PM
Still I don`t even believe that this could beat the Porsche 911 GT2, and also Carrera GT! So those time are not official, even the normal GT-R is nowhere near the 7:40 time!!! Remember that

by swifthead | April 9, 2008 9:52 PM
the normal gtr time is 7:38

by Joe_Limon | April 9, 2008 8:50 PM
lets see the official times before people try to bash anything or anyone. :) i absolutley love this car and would give my left nut to own a spec v. I for one believe that time is possible with all the techno put into this car. but like i said lets see the OFFICIAL results...

by FOXHOUND | April 9, 2008 9:07 PM
I would give mine too FOXHOUND!! This car is just a physical wonder..

by NitrousOxide | April 9, 2008 10:33 PM
This isn't impossible two reasons. The previous GTR's were allegedly 276HP or something according to nissan and they were definately pumping more than that on a dyno. Second the Carrera GT isn't all that quick compared to the newer cars coming out, the big heavy Merc SLR is quicker to 60mph and I think also in the 1/4mile

by DUNDEM | April 10, 2008 5:26 AM
your right nut must be 2 times bigger than your left nut,.LOL..no problem to let 1 nut go for free eh .??

by andy | April 10, 2008 4:38 AM
tru, good point. lets wait for the official results. the article says that it is 'capable' of 7.25, not that it achieved that. even so, it might jsut be a misuse of language, and the writer actually saw it do 7.25.

by jai_mav | April 10, 2008 6:34 AM
I'm not sure how true this is. But a Japanese source said that the GT-R tested at the Ring recently is just a standard GT-R with uprated/improved suspension geometry and improved brake cooling. These improvements came about after the Nissan engineers returned to Japan from the Ring last year. Let's just wait for the official figures.

by wunderkind | April 10, 2008 7:26 AM
7:38 for a standard gtr, imposible if you refer to the curb weight...but with 150 kg lighter, more ponies, greater braking power, special tuned suspension, and ATTESA, it can reach 7:25 - 7:27 zone...thanks Nissan

by phobos | April 10, 2008 3:53 PM
this defenatly is better than the lambo gallardo superlagera and the f430 scudria

by dubaiuae | April 27, 2008 3:53 PM

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