By: IOL Motoring Staff
Kyalami, Midrand - Making its South African debut at the Festival of Motoring is the 2017 Nissan GT-R, with a raft of styling and performance upgrades, mostly aimed at making it a more user-friendly.
But it has also had the most comprehensive styling update since its introduction in 2007, with a new bonnet, bumpers, grille and side sills, for improved air-flow, engine cooling and stability at high speeds.
But if you look carefully, you'll also note a slightly wider shoulder line, especially towards the back of the car, for a more road-hugging stance - and new 20 inch forged-alloy rims to reduce unsprung weight.
The interior has been redesigned with a new, simpler dashboard, upholstered with a single piece of soft nappa leather, and the number of knobs and switches reduced from 27 to 11 by moving many of their functions to new 200mm capacitive touch screen.
The shift paddles now turn with the steering wheel, and the new carbon-fibre sports seats are also trimmed in nappa leather.
Under-bonnet upgrades
The GT-R's 3.8-litre V6 gets extra boost from new turbochargers - derived from those on the GT-R GT3 racing car - increasing rated power from 397 to 408kW at 6800 revs, and torque from 628-632Nm over a wider band from 3300-5800rpm.
It breathes out through a new titanium exhaust system, tuned for improved performance and a deeper, gruffer sound signature, and the mechanism of the six-speed dual clutch gearbox fitted in unit with the rear axle has been revised for smoother, quieter shifting.
The suspension sub-frames have been made more rigid and the damping revised for improved stability and grip in quick lateral transitions, such as fast switchbacks or hairpin bends, and the new 20 inch forged-alloy rims are shod with specially developed Dunlop run-flat tyres.
Prices
Premium Edition - R1 950 000
Black Edition - R2 050 000
The 2017 Nissan GT-R will be released in South Africa in September 2016; the first batch of 27 are already sold but the order book is open for the next consignment.
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