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Nissan GT-R MY12

Nissan's supercar-beating coupe gets another round of upgrades for 2012, including more power and revised suspension

Nissan GT-R front tracking

By Jack Rix

October 2011

  • Rating:

The Nissan GT-R has received its annual round of upgrades for 2012. With more power and an unusual new suspension setup, it promises to out pace and out handle every model that’s gone before.

Kazutoshi Mizuno, chief engineer and father of the GT-R project, told us: “From the very outset the plan with the GT-R was to update it every year and keep improving it. The GT-R as you see it now still has four years left to go.”

Video: watch Jack's video of the 2012 Nissan GT-R

 

The big step came with MY10 to MY11, where an extra 45bhp was extracted from the twin-turbo V6, bringing the total to 523bhp and 612Nm of torque. Nissan is refusing to release official figures for the MY12 car until an official announcement in Japan on November 7, but engineers hinted that the power hike will be milder - so around 553bhp, a 30bhp increase, seems feasible.

More intriguing are the suspension tweaks which is now slightly stiffer on the left-hand side, to compensate for the weight of the driver and the steering column. It’s a geometry that’s unique to the GT-R and sums up the minute attention to detail that this car is all about.

We had the opportunity to drive the refreshed model back to back with the outgoing car on the Silverstone circuit – crucial to highlight the improvements. Firstly, it’s faster, not by huge amounts, but there’s more urgency in the upper rev range. The exhaust note seemed louder too – a product of the freer flowing pipes that helps to liberate the extra bhp.

Despite the track being wet, acceleration was savage down the straights and the stability under braking was superb, but the lack of grip and the weight of the GT-R, meant we were forced to tip-toe around the slower corners. In truth, the suspension changes were imperceptible, but the GT-R’s body control was so impressive in the first place that comes as little surprise.

Although stuck with six-ratios, while competitors are forging ahead with seven and eight-speed dual-clutch boxes, the transmission is still remarkable fast and smooth. And customers wishing to get a little more from their GT-R, although we can’t see why you would, can now order a track pack, which adds stiffer suspension, lighter wheels, improves brake cooling, rips out the rear seats and adds specially-designed sport seats in the front.

 

For an alternative review of the latest Nissan GT-R visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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12 Comments

For £70k!

By Dangerous_Dave on 25 October, 2011, 8:23pm

i want i want i want!!!!!!!!!!!

By cosworth28 on 25 October, 2011, 9:20pm

'To compensate for the weight of the driver in right-hand-drive cars, the suspension on the left hand side is slightly stiffer than the right' - shouldn't this be the other way round?

By WillD on 25 October, 2011, 11:18pm

oooh more goodies!

Great car, great tech,

By dan123 on 26 October, 2011, 12:57pm

So you cant carry passengers?

If the suspension is set up to compensate for the driver. what happens when you have a passenger? Does it all go t*ts up in the corners? Daft idea IMO.

By 1HARVEY2 on 27 October, 2011, 7:39am

Get a new Sub-editor

Shouldn't "suspension column" read "steering column"?

By snappyuk on 27 October, 2011, 9:23am

absolutely...

awsome.

By cousins11 on 27 October, 2011, 11:34am

hmmmm

Now if Nissan could make it look as good as it goes.....

By subbyrsauz on 28 October, 2011, 11:05pm

Great Car

Life doesn't get much better than this for a Car Person. Now if Nissan could only give it a better look, it would be perfect.

By Caribbean on 29 October, 2011, 8:43pm

Weight Compensation Smart

@ 1HARVEY2 performance cars have been doing the weight compensation thing for decades, the fact that Nissan has done it for this car is tried and proven. The ultimate set-up in suspension is based on driver only for balance, but not to say it's going to go all wrong once other persons go in the car. Not a daft idea at all.

By Caribbean on 29 October, 2011, 8:48pm

Other supercars redundant!

1HARVEY2

It's called an asymmetric suspension set-up it's used in racing having someone else in there makes no difference! It's for when your on your own racing!

By sw1000xg on 1 November, 2011, 10:18pm

0 to 60mph in 2.9 seconds & 198 mph for £70k bargain !

especially the way this car handles, this car laps the nurburgring or any other track faster than cars twice its price looks mean to just cant believe its a nissan.

By BEREAL on 2 November, 2011, 11:30pm

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Pictures

Nissan GT-R front tracking
Nissan GT-R rear three-quarters
Nissan GT-R driving
Nissan GT-R front three-quarters
Nissan GT-R engine
Nissan GT-R detail
Nissan GT-R front three-quarters
Nissan GT-R panning

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FIRST OPINION

    As a supercar for all conditions, the Nissan GT-R remains peerless. With more power and trick suspension, the MY12 car refines the formula slightly but its essence is the same. Drive it on a slippery track and this 500bhp plus coupe still demands respect, but in the back of your mind is the fact that few things – barring a Porsche 911 GT2 perhaps – would be quicker point to point. And there’s the GT-R’s trump card, that it’s happy to cruise at 150mph on the autobahn with all your luggage in the back. The only question is, with four years left until it’s replaced, how much better can it get?

 

AT A GLANCE

    Price: £70,000 (est)
    Engine: 3.8-litre V6 twin turbo
    Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch, four-wheel drive
    Power: 553bhp (est)
    Torque: 640Nm (est)
    0-62mph: 2.9 seconds (est)
    Top speed: 198mph (est)
    Economy: 25mpg (est)
    CO2: 275g/km (est)
    Equipment: Rear view camera, leather upholstery, LED daytime running lights, climate control, sat-nav, run-flat tyres
    On sale: November
     
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