First Test Drive – 2012 Nissan GT-R Review

Dylan Murray is someone, who, by his appearance, is not in the right profession. Dressed in smart casuals, spectacles, humorous, polite to an extent, and affable, he looks more like a research executive on a vacation. What is obviously does not look like is a auto maniac, and knows about Nissan cars perhaps better than anyone else in the world. He owns all the models, and knows what coming up next. If there is anyone who can introduce us to the new Nissan GT-R 2012, it has to be him.

Back in 2007, Kazutoshi Mizuno, when he first introduced the artwork of GT-R, he said the real GT-R will take at least another 3 years to launch. And that was forgotten then, immediately within the two months that followed. What we have now is more commonly known as ‘Godzilla’, as it is indeed a monster.

What’s Different?

Before the cars are re-introduced with a fresh look, the only thing that designers think of is modifying it in a way that looks more appeasing than its predecessor. And the alterations have to be cheap. So, the eventual product that the buyers see is a car with changes that are more perceivable than anything real.

However, no such thing happened with Nissan GT-R 2012. In fact, the exterior changes are so minor that one will have to squint, and it might still not be visible. The front air intake has been made 60mm wider. But when designers are at work, they cannot settle for something so imperceptible. Hence, there are alloy wheel with 10 spokes. And there is protruding carbon-fiber diffuser at the rear.

However, changes below the hood are innumerable. Among the most remarkable changes are an addition of yet another turbo boost to its 3.6L V6, free flowing air supply, and redesigned valve timing that can accommodate increased horsepower. However, how much the power would be added to the monster is kept secret by Nissan. It only says that it would be an addition of at least 40 hp.

The Drive

While driving the new GT-R, the increase in power can be quickly felt, but only to someone who has had his hands on the older GT-R. The car, whether old or new, was always swift and agile, and so it was on the day of test.

The engine is small, and the power is high. So, the obvious prediction was that the car would bring big revs, even before it reaches half the top speed. But the predictions were wrong. Dylan Murray had negated such predictions, and he was right. The car moved relentlessly from 3000 rpm to any of the six gears without any revs.

What was different was the whole driving experience, as the driver can get the feel of the real speed, which was missing in the older versions. Chassis performed exceptionally well. On the day of the test, the track was wet on some turns, and was flooding at the rest of the turns. And the car still moved swiftly through all the turns and tunnels. Mizuno was absolutely right. The car was the real GT-R. The drive engrosses the driver and imposes a desire to push more.