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Paris 2010: Nissan GT-R Spec-M / Egoist First Video
As predicted by many, the brand new 2012 GT-R has most certainly turned up at the 2010 Paris Motorshow which starts October 2nd. Debuting in Paris is also evidently the luxury Nissan GT-R Egoist (aka SpecM). One lucky member of GTBOARD.com was able to get in early and scope it out in advance.
The GT-R in the video is fully decked out in R-Red leather interior, Rays SpecV wheels and SpecV carbon rear spoiler. Also visible in the engine bay is that new red engine cover. Absent though is any badge of any kind denoting the official model though it’s expected to keep it’s SpecM name in Europe.
We’ve run a post with a full list of SpecM / Egoist interior color options, head here to check it out…
Source: GTBoard.com / Youtube
More Power In Store for 2012, Spec-M Named for Japan Market: The Nissan GT-R EGOIST
Well we did mention that the SpecM name was tentative and today we’ve heard another rumor from sources close to Nissan that the R35 GT-R “Gentleman’s Edition” will launch in the Japanese market as the Nissan GT-R Egoist. While the name seems insane to us it’s not too far outside the bounds of Japanese naming schemes so that we’d completely rule it out.
The SpecM nameplate is likely to be kept in markets outside Japan however so don’t completely cross it off your wish list just yet…
On the topic of rumors from sources close to Nissan Japan, here’s another we’ve just heard. Those folks hopeful that 520ps is the new peak power figure for the 2012 GT-R might be surprised to learn they can expect to be dissapointed. After seeing this figure making its way around blogs and forums one might start quoting it as fact by now but to this date no figure has appeared either officially or leaked. In the true spirit of it not being over ’til the fat lady sings, we’re now told by our reliable sources that 530ps – 540ps is more accurate.
I’ll leave that last one out there…
2012 Nissan GT-R Leaks: Part II More Confirmed Details
As mentioned in our previous Spec-M Exposé the 2012 Nissan GT-R is set to arrive on the scene shortly with so many changes that Nissan had to go out and revise the chassis designation bumping CBA-R35 in favor of the new DBA-R35 tag. While we touched on the cosmetic changes in part 1 of this post we didn’t delve into the more technical changes yet so here goes.
Aero Updates
Aero changes to the front bumper, rear diffuser and rear underspoiler mean that the 2012 GT-R slips through the air with even less drag than the already impressive 2009 model. As mentioned previously, these changes help it lower it’s co-efficient of drag as well as increase downforce in the rear by as much as 10%. The rear vents also assist in keeping rear underbody temperatures lower meaning less heat transfer from the GT-R’s hot exhaust into the critical areas like the GR6 transmission fluid and rear differential.
Nissan took the opportunity with the rear diffuser/underspoiler rear design to build in a rear Euro mandated fog light using an LED strip along the bottom edge in the center.
Chassis Updates
As well as aerodynamics, street and circuit handling in the 2012 GT-R is going to benefit greatly from some key chassis stiffening updates in the DBA-R35. Strengthening members are added to the front area under the dashboard (highlighted above). In the engine bay, new bracing members extend from the rear of the strut towers to the firewall.
As well as increasing chassis rigidity by adding new key metal – the GT-R engineering team has improved the manufacturing line to improve GT-R build quality and panel fit consitency for every car built.
Suspension Updates
Again showing that the Nissan GT-R engineering team is focussing on driver feel, they’ve gone to the extrordinary length of changing the suspension geometry on the DBA-R35 model. The changes to the front suspension lower arm move the stabiliser bar further out and change the shock absorber lever angle. To go with these changes up front is a castor angle change from 5°35 to 6°00. In the rear, Nissan has tuned the roll center.
All around, Nissan’s update to the suspension to adopt an aluminium free piston design as well as spring, damper and valve rate changes mean the suspension is able to more quickly adapt to changes in surface and direction. The net benefit is a more stable and more responsive feel with even more feedback to drivers than ever before.
Brakes, Wheels and Tires Updates
Nissan’s experience with racing over the past few years with the GT-R has taught them that more stopping power is always better. To that end they’ve upped the front rotor size on the DBA-R35 from 380mm of the CBA-R35 to 390mm.
As mentioned already, the DBA-R35 will debut with a new design Rays forged aluminium wheel each 3kg lighter than the outgoing type. These wheels will come in two new colors Hyper Blue Black and Hyper Titanium. The new Rays wheels feature improved knurling to help further with reducing tire slip on the rims themselves.
To fit these new wheels are updated versions of both summer tires already being fitted to the GT-R, namely the RE070R R2 from Bridgestone and the SP Sport Maxx GT 600 DSST CTT from Dunlop. Both are touted to improve grip and increase sidewall stiffness, something very important in a heavy awd vehicle such as the GT-R.
Part III to come soon where we’ll cover the remainder of the DBA-R35 changes including interior and engine changes, so stay tuned…
2012 Nissan R35 GT-R Details Continue to Leak Prior to Late 2010 Official Launch – Spec-M Details Inside
As we learn more about the upcoming model refresh we’re surprised again at how much Nissan is changing. The car changes so much in fact that the model designator is changing too, so long CBA-R35 – meet the DBA-R35.
The DBA-R35 is available in a truly astonishing number of variaties, more than we probably thought we’d see just 3 years ago when the CBA-R35 first launched. With the 2012 model comes updates to the Spec-V Nissan GT-R as well. It receives all of the cosmetic frills that will even further compliment with it’s range topping hardware underpinnings. As predicted though it is no longer the most most expensive street GT-R money can buy as, with the right options ticked, the new 2012 Spec-M ultra luxury Nissan GT-R edges it out in some ways.
What we can tell by the information that’s been leaked to us so far is the Spec-M will command a high price tag after all. I was hoping that rumors to the contrary were true and that the Spec-M would be priced sort of closer to the Premium GT-R ballpark but it winds up being more like SpecV ballpark. Let’s compare the pricing below for the known current and 2012 variants of the Nissan DBA-R35 GT-R:
| DBA-R35 Model | Pricing in Japan (yen) |
| Pure Edition | 8,694,000 |
| Black Edition | 9,303,000 |
| Premium Edition | 9,450,000 |
| Club Track Edition | 10,479,000 (plus member fees etc) |
| SpecM | 15,000,300 |
| SpecV | 15,750,000 |
| S-Tec GT-R (ST1) | 23,000,000 (approx) |
You can see that the smallest of options is going to bump that Spec-M price over the Spec-V and we still don’t have a list of hardware inclusions in the Spec-M to justify it. What we do know is:
- The official name for the Spec-M is not final, whether it is called the Spec-M at launch is yet to be decided
- Official announcement of the Spec-M is scheduled for 18th October 2010
- Official launch will take place at Nissan HQ in Yokohama on 17th November 2010
- One new exclusive body color – Ultimate Opal White (QAG color code)
- Interior color choices are wild, see the below list of color choices.
Interior Color Choices for Spec-M:
Lower Section:
- Muelheim Brown
- GT Black
- R-Red
- Ruhr White
- Caramel Beige
- Espresso Brown
- Cointreau Orange
- Aqua Gray
- Shadow Gray
- Sakura
Upper Section:
- Muelheim Brown
- GT Black
- R-Red
- Ruhr White
Stiching Colors:
- Brown
- Black
- Red
- White
- Gray
- Beige
Could Spec-M Really Have an Interior This Wild? Photoshop of potential Sakura seats.
As mentioned above, with the Spec-M will launch with a new color, Ultimate Opal White (a 525,000 yen option btw) but you can get one in any of the following body colors:
- Ultimate Metal silver (KAB)
- Ultimate Opal White (QAG)
- Nebula Opal Black (GAG)
- Vibrant Red (A54)
- Dark Metal Gray (KAD)
- Aurora Flare Blue Pearl (RAY)
As far as option packages go, we don’t have all the details there, suffice to say interior color options are included in the Spec-M price tag as well as a BOSE sound system. However three levels of additional upgrade BOSE sound systems are available at a price tag of approximately 1,200,000 yen.
So that’s got you up to date with the Spec-M details. We’ll be keeping our ear to the ground for more as it comes in but I for one am keen to see how a Sakura colored interior will look in a GT-R…
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- Could Spec-M Really Have an Interior This Wild?
2012 Nissan GT-R at Nurburgring – More Spy Video
Probably the longest compilation of spy video of the 2012 Nissan GT-R testing at Nurburgring yet has made its way up on to YouTube. In the video we can see both the latest 2012 base model GT-R with aero and wheel updates. We can also see what will no doubt be dubbed the SpecM in it’s fully optioned glory.
Latest word on the Nissan GT-R SpecM is that it will not be called the SpecM when it launches in Japan at all. What name they will use is not known yet. It will begin at a base price not much higher than a Premium spec 2012 GT-R but have options up to and exceeding the current SpecV specification.
Nissan is still considering using the SpecM label when it debuts in Europe however so look forward to that.
Video: Auto Motor und Sport
MotorTrend: 2012 Nissan GT-R Unmasked Spied at Nurburgring
There’s been a lot of the masked / camouflaged GT-R photos on various sites around the net this week. Unfortunately most of them gave us even less of an idea than we already had about what the facelifted 2012 GT-R was going to look like.
MotorTrend has changed that with the publication of some much more juicy photos clearly showing the front double canards and the rear diffuser updates.
It’s certainly a big departure from what I was expecting up front, I was assuming a more subdued front canard look. Nevertheless the rear end look appeals to me a lot.
Lots more photos at the MotorTrend website linked below…
Link/Source: MotorTrend: Nissan GT-R Prototype Spied
Nissan GT-R Spec-M Still on – Debut Delayed Until 2010
It was a little disappointing that the next iteration in the Nissan GT-R lineup did not make it to the Tokyo Motor Show in October as expected. We have heard now that the project had been delayed slightly until 2010. There launch is now expected to be in January, so not too far to go.
The SpecM prototype has been seen by sources in Japan and, from what we’ve been told, many of the previous articles in Japanese car mags check out. This includes the front bumper update, full interior customization as well as some extra trim frills.
We’ve worked up a little photoshop of the exterior front end based on what sources have told us. Note the gold trim and gold projector surrounds in the headlights. The basis of the prototype car was a SpecV GT-R so the wheels (albeit in a lighter shade of gunmetal grey) and brakes were carried over as well.
It needs to be said that the SpecV’s carbon ceramic brakes are optional and a GT-R SpecM with no carbon ceramic brakes is going to be significantly cheaper than the 20,000,000 yen figure being tossed around at the moment.
On the inside, the entire interior of the SpecM prototype is swathed in leather, including the headliner and rear seats which are cloth and vinyl respectively on the lesser models. Material colours and, in some cases the entire material, are of course customizable.
We’re hoping to get to the SpecM launch in January, if all goes as planned stay tuned for more details.
R36 GT-R: What Do You Want to See in the Next Generation Nissan GT-R?
Well by now you know that Nissan are saying that there will be an R36 GT-R by 2013 and so the GT-R nameplate will continue in a new generation Japanese supercar. Seems like only yesterday we were seeing our first R35 Nurburgring spyshots but alas it’s time to start dreaming of what could better it already.
So what would you want to see in an R36 GT-R? I’ll cover off two for you to begin with because I know you’ll jump in on these.
- Less weight
- More power
Here’s where you say, manual transmission option. I wont go there because I’m personally of the opinion that the DCT is a preferred option. Maybe a bulletproof DCT instead for me.
The R36 GT-R could utilize more lightweight construction materials, and do away with some of the more fancy gadgets for a base model similar in price to today’s R35. Lightweight manually operated seats, more aluminium and carbon composites throughout. A global R36 SpecM could then introduce silly things like the heated electric memory seats with butt massagers.
Extra power could come by way of a slightly larger engine coupled with mildly larger turbos. A VR40DETT with SpecV or larger turbos would give a lot more torque available with higher peak power.
None of this is outside the realm of possibility but what else would you like to see?
2011 Nissan GT-R SpecM Rendered in Japan – More Details
With the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show right around the corner, Japanese car mags are speculating on the final look of the 2011 Nissan GT-R SpecM. The so called “GentleMen Spec” Nissan GT-R is expected to debut at the troubled bi-annual motor show where the first GT-R production model debuted in 2007.
In the November issue of Japanese Car Top Magazine (CARトップ). on sale this week, we learn that a fully optioned SpecM will eclipse the 18 million yen mark headed into 20 million yen (220k USD) territory. That would include the full SpecV++ treatment including hand stitched interior. Optional dry carbon parts are said to extend even further beyond what was seen from Nissan so far, and could include a full trunk lid replacement.
Color options are also sure to grow with a dark red rendered as well as a metallic yellow on the magazine’s cover. Other rumours including the December 2009 orders/first deliveries seem to be confirmed. We’ll know more once we get our hands on the magazine itself.
Images: Car Top Magazine
2011 GT-R Spied Again at Nurburgring – SpecM? Doubt It
Nurburgring stalker extraordinaire KGP Photography has snapped shots of the Nissan GT-R back at Nurburgring this week. The shots clearly show the same stuff we posted back in April 2009 when NAGTROC member Kislik spotted the same car at the ‘ring.
Whats changed since then? Well the rear diffuser seems to have gained a long row of red LED’s which are most likely an update to the European/Australian specification’s rear fog light. The rear spoiler is now black and is possibly revised. Can’t tell exactly in what way.
Most car ‘blogs today are reporting this car to be the 2011 SpecM GT-R but personally, I can’t see much evidence to support that it is anything more than the 2011 facelift GT-R. Anyone else spot something I don’t on this car?
Images: Edmunds Straightline
More Images/Link: Jalopnik Nissan GT-R Spy Photos
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