A big update from Nissan Japan was dropped today in the form of an Owners Loyalty Plan update. Further to the 2010 Model Up Kit that we already gave GTRBlog readers a heads up on earlier in the month, Japanese GT-R owners are getting a couple more benefits for being faithful to Godzilla.

First up, the Model Up Kit has been extended to SpecV owners too. It’s a little different but it includes the following upgrades:

• Rear shock absorbers: a change to improve the rear suspension to ride flatter in the corners and provide a more comfortable ride
• VDC Actuator Unit: changes to improve the braking performance and front brake pad life span with some changes to the ABS and EBD control logic.
• Rear Brake Cooling Air Guides: Assist lowering the caliper temperatures in the rear
• ETS Controller: Update to the ETS control logic to improve torque distribution, even in severe weather conditions.

Pricing for the kit is laid out in the table below, see if you’re getting an idea of just how expensive a set of those brake pads for the SpecV‘s carbon ceramic brake system are and why you might be pretty keen to improve the lifespan with a VDC update…

Nissan have also had another swing at lowering the GT-R’s ongoing maintenance cost by lowering the cost of OEM consumables including tires, brake pads and brake rotors. A set of Dunlop SP SPORT 600 DSST tires, commonly regarded as the best OEM tire available for the car, are down from an MSRP of 409,500 yen a set to 357,000 yen a set before labor and taxes.

Brake pads are similarly reduced from 176,085 yen per set down to 135,450 yen a set and brake rotors are cut from 409,500 yen to 388,500 yen a set.

The temperature thresholds when owners were recommended / obliged to change their transmission and differential oils has also been relaxed slightly. Nissan Japan are now using the following guidelines for these two fluid changes:

Lastly, Nissan are establishing a sports club membership which will equip member GT-R’s with 4-point seat belt harness, roll bars, long life slick tires, and special edition Bilstein suspension. It’s the intention that members who get involved in this will be offered driving training days, track days and other get togethers. Nissan plan to roll out support for these Sports Club members via special service centers, the first three of which are already named to be:

• Nismo Omori Factory in Tokyo
• NOVA Engineer in Shizuoka
• Nordring in Saitama

A “long life slick tire” for the GT-R’s OEM 20″ wheel could be of extreme interest to the global community of track goers so I’ll keep a firm eye on that one to see what develops.

Source: Nissan Japan