Skip advert
Advertisement

Nissan GT-R SpecV

Giant-killing supercar gets power hike – but is it worth price premium?

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Find your Nissan GT-R
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

One of the most remarkable things about the regular Nissan GT-R is that it offers Ferrari-slaying performance on a BMW M3 budget. In certain situations, the SpecV is quicker than the standard model, but it doesn’t offer anything like the leap in performance such a massive price increase suggests. What it does give is an even more obsessive level of engineering, and for that you have to love it.

Advertisement - Article continues below

It's been the performance car phenomenon of recent years.

The Nissan GT-R is brutally fast in all weathers and on all kinds of road, and specialises in making mincemeat of far more expensive and exotic opposition by combining science with a sledgehammer delivery.

But for a very small number of fanatics, the standard version is not enough – which is why Nissan has built this: the £115,000 GT-R SpecV. Only 40 will be sold in Europe, making it one of the raresthigh-performance cars on the road.

A glance at its carbon fibre-adorned exterior tells you the SpecV means business, but you need to look beneath its skin to understand what really distinguishes it from a regular GT-R. For starters, it’s around 60kg lighter. That’s thanks to the removal of the rear seats, plus the addition of forged alloy wheels, a titanium exhaust system and the use of carbon fibre on some panels and the shells of the Recaro front seats.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Range Rover Velar

2023 Land Rover

Range Rover Velar

25,485 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £36,000
View Range Rover Velar
C-Class Saloon

2024 Mercedes

C-Class Saloon

18,839 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £33,100
View C-Class Saloon
Model Y

2023 Tesla

Model Y

55,889 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £20,700
View Model Y
2 Series Gran Coupe

2024 BMW

2 Series Gran Coupe

21,623 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £27,088
View 2 Series Gran Coupe

Its chassis is stiffer, 5mm lower and more aggressive, thanks to the addition of non-switchable Nismo dampers, firmer springs and a thicker front anti-roll bar. Massive carbon ceramic disc brakes, which span a huge 390mm at the front and 380mm at the rear, also give greater stopping power.

Advertisement - Article continues below

It’s a mark of the prodigious power of the standard GT-R’s twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V6 engine that Nissan chose not to increase its output in the SpecV – although this may come as a disappointment given the price.

The newcomer does feature a new overboost, or High-Geared Boost (HGB), which increases turbo pressure to raise the engine’s torque output for periods of up to 80 seconds. It’s controlled by a special sequence of switch pushes, which feels like an illicit act, but the benefits are plain to see, with a more muscular feel to the already strong sense of acceleration.

It all combines to create a truly intense driving experience. The power and torque really do push you into the Recaro seat, while the double-clutch transmission shifts so quickly, you remain compressed into the cushion until you lift your right foot. The ride is punishingly hard, but there’s no question it gives the SpecV a sharper edge when driven to its prodigious limits.

Downsides? Apart from the car’s sheer size, which makes it hard to thread down smaller roads, the main problem is price. At £115,000, it’s nearly twice that of the regular variant – and it’s by no means twice as good!

However, to judge the SpecV by any normal criteria is to miss the point. It’s a near-mythical beast created for those who want the ultimate factory GT-R. Look at it that way, and it’s a very special car.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £19,690Avg. savings £4,685 off RRP*Used from £16,811
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £37,230Avg. savings £3,710 off RRP*Used from £15,416
Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,415Avg. savings £5,924 off RRP*Used from £12,200
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,019 off RRP*Used from £11,995
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range
MG IM5 - Goodwood front

New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range

The all-electric IM5 brings new technology and design to the MG line-up
News
10 Jul 2025
Ford Escort Mexico gets new lease of life with MST Sports
MST Ford Escort - front 3/4

Ford Escort Mexico gets new lease of life with MST Sports

While not officially Fords, the MST Mk1 and Mk2 Sports should drive as sharply as they look
News
7 Jul 2025
New Mazda CX-5 revealed with fresh looks, more space and far fewer buttons
Mazda CX-5 - front

New Mazda CX-5 revealed with fresh looks, more space and far fewer buttons

The Mazda CX-5 has been revolutionised to take on the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson
News
10 Jul 2025