First Drive: 2012 Nissan GT-R

Invincible. According to Webster's, the word "conquered not able to overcome or subdued." The adjective is often used to think something so that it is almost impossible to describe's overthrow. Want to know what feels invincible? Strap yourself into the driver's seat of the 2012 Nissan GT-R, and press the start button.
Only three years after the successful launch of its flagship performance car on our shores, the engineers at Nissan have introduced subtle but completely redesigned super sports cars. The engine has more power, the suspension was revised, the wheels are lighter, the seats were redesigned, the brakes are bigger, the chassis is stiffer and the aerodynamics have been reconfigured to provide better cooling and more downforce. This is not a manufacturer token "middle renew the cycle" to increase sales, these are changes which the entire handling and performance of the GT-R so much to improve that to most are inclined to take it for nothing less than a second generation of rebirth.
For starters, how does 0-60 in 2.88 seconds sound? This story actually began three years ago in April of this year. That was when we first drove the then all-new 2009 Nissan GT-R, the spiritual descendant of a long line of epic Nissan Skyline sports car. His performance was insane at the time. Under the hood was a twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6 with 480 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. Mated back to a standard six-speed sequential transaxle dual-clutch gearbox, power was sent to the floor by the car manufacturer Attessa E-TS all-wheel-drive system. Nissan does not officially on the website metrics of time, but most publications of the GT-R clocked in the sprint to 60 mph in a brief 3.5 seconds. Fast on the road, it was still more capable on the track. Knapp providing this opportunity and share their Nürburgring just 7:38 to McLaren before the famous Porsche 911 Turbo and Mercedes-Benz SLR.
As good as the sports car, the GT-R chief vehicle engineer, Kazutoshi Mizuno, never as the car "made." In fact, the Mizuno promised "real GT-R" would come in a few years. Today I find myself sitting in a meeting room at the Carlton Hotel in Atascadero, California, right in the middle of the state Central Coast. Mizuno is a handful of journalists, the changes that explain the Nissan GT-R for the model year 2012. How (and praise with as much) a proud father, he methodically goes through each of the vehicle upgraded subsystems. The details are impressive.
While the GT-R has aged very well, Nissan refuses to its flagship sports car fall from the top of the field leave. The persecution, the sole objective has made minor changes to the car manufacturers every year. And with the exception of the launch control debacle and a number of not-so-insignificant price increases enthusiasts of these changes, which welcomes further improve the coupe's performance envelope. But have any of the revisions as significant as the changes for 2012.Beginning with the exterior, was the Nissan GT-R has the aerodynamics by increasing downforce and improves overall resistance. The front end has been increased and the mesh openings redirect little changed exactly in the air around the vehicle. As Mizuno said that the air is forced through the front intake channeled through the radiators and charge air cooler before it released in the back of the brakes to cool. Airflow that would normally spill over the hood has been diverted to the sides. Not only does this improvement is airflow through the radiator and front brakes, but the overall drag coefficient of 0.268 (last year it was .272) and the output was increased on both axles by 10 percent. From the outside, the new front is optically from a dual rectifier fins and built-in white LED daytime running lights off.
In the rear, the diffuser has been enhanced and the air flow to improve resculpted the exhaust gas components (plus it also serves to lower air resistance). The new outlet, and rear vents on the lower rear fenders are both technically assist, air drag of the rear wheel arches to improve brake cooling. More naked eye are the new openings behind the rear wheels and the larger diameter pipes, which are purely cosmetic. The seven-spoke alloy wheels forged on 2009-2011 Nissan GT-R models in 2012 were replaced with new ten-spoke forged alloys are reported to be stiffer and lighter than its predecessor, coming in at 26 pounds each, 4. Knurling inside the 20-inch wheels were changed to help the tire from slipping under extreme acceleration or braking, and the end of the wheels was also slightly darkened. While predecessors were with rubber tires from different manufacturers are available for all models in 2012 specifically Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT 600 DSST CTT built ultra-high performance run-flats (filled with nitrogen). The fronts are 255/40ZRF20 size while the rear tires are 285/35ZRF20. If Godzilla is forced to tolerate colder climates, customers can also order all season run-flat tires as part of the cold weather package.
Stiffening of the chassis has been accomplished by the adoption of a carbon composite strut support bar in the engine compartment (directly behind the front strut towers connected). The dampers are now available with aluminum-free piston, and the front and rear wheel geometry something to lower the roll center height.In addition, changes to the aforementioned increased airflow to the brakes was the coupe standard Brembo monobloc six-piston calipers clamp on something larger 15.4-inch rotors (15-inch), while the rear four-piston brake calipers and rotors made from the previous year. The system uses a full-floating cross-drilled two-piece rotor with special low-steel high stiffness brake pads.
Saving the Go-news quickly to the conclusion Mizuno explained how his team of engineers several significant changes to the VR38DETT Twin Turbo produced 3.8-liter six-cylinder engine. To increase the power, the boost pressure was increased and changes were made to both the valve timing and mixture. The intake and exhaust system was opened to improve breathing. The result is a big jump in the output, now 530 horsepower and 448 pound-feet of torque. The torque curve has also been enhanced, with peak now Twist of 3,200 rpm all the way min up to 6,000 rpm. And it is no coincidence that the horsepower rating is identical to the Porsche 911 Turbo S, and if you are one of this debate between a leaf and a Nissan Nissan GT-R, fuel consumption for the 2012 model up to 16 mpg city / 23 mpg highway (which in 2011 was 15 mpg city / 21 mpg highway rated). The engineering team also tweaked and massaged the GT-R dual-clutch gearbox six-speed gearbox. Most of the work focused on eliminating the brutal shock of engagement in times of maximum load (with more than a few early owners shaken gear). According to Mizuno, updated software remapping of the vehicle so-called "coupling control" to the introduction, were faster to deliver, much less traumatic for the mechanics. That is, owners of 2012 model "launch control" with a 4,000-rpm launch will be offered with a caveat: The software allows only four consecutive runs back-to-back. After that the car is a-and-a-half miles to the system (the delay is said to allow the system time to cool down) are driven back. The last minor change: the transfer is lethargic "snow mode" has been replaced with a hypermile "Fuel Economy Mode" wishful thinking eco-development. Suuuuurrrre.
In a rare move for Nissan, the automaker has released performance figures (well, has at least Muzuno). The increased power and torque, and the subtle tweaks Mapping the double-clutch gearbox software, the 2012 GT-R will crack 60 km / h in 3.0 seconds. Its top speed is now 197 miles per hour (193 hours from his predecessor miles). The evening before we arrived were, Nissan's engineers at the track trying to improve already impressive acceleration numbers. Her best was a reported 0-60 sprint in only 2.88 seconds. It can be difficult to repeat, but the lesson learned is do not mess with the GT trim levels R.Nissan fell last year, but two will be offered in 2012. All models get new carbon fiber accents on the center console and re-shaped sport bucket seats. Standard models are GT-R "Premium" means - they come with everything, including navigation, heated seats and loaded the Bose audio package. A new-for-this-market GT-R "Black Edition" (the dark blue car in our gallery) features red-trimmed Recaro seats with red and black interior accents and a dark roof lining. To further differentiate it from its premium siblings, are the wheels on the Black Edition coupes unique six-spoke forged aluminum-Rays (wrapped in the same tires as on the premium models found.) In addition to the standard exterior colors (Solid Red, Gun Metallic and Pearl White), Nissan has Deep Blue Pearl and Jet Black, added to the color palette for the year 2012. A sixth color, the four-stage Super Silver Metallic, is still made in limited quantities.
During the 2009 Nissan GT-R came with an aggressive base price of only $ 69,850 three years ago, the 2012 Nissan GT-R commands a much thicker wallet. The premium model is priced at $ 90,950. The only option is the cold-pack (with Dunlop SP Sport 7010 year-round run-flat tires and a 30/70 coolant / water mixture). The Black Edition models have a base price of $ 96,100. After an early breakfast with Mizuno, a convoy of GT-R has Atascadero for the three-hour drive to street Buttonwillow Raceway, west of Bakersfield. Our scenic route took us to the Pacific coast near Morro Bay, then back over the mountains to California via Highway 58 Buttonwillow. Located in the new front seats (known for its extra strengthening and firmer pillow), the ride was comfortable, without cumbersome hard. The brakes are strong and squeak-free, and the steering is nicely balanced. The noise in the cabin is noisy, due to the noise from the performance tires. The view to the rear quarters is demanding and makes the transfer even an uncut rattling at crawling speeds (somehow it does not seem to affect transmission mode). The reality is that none of these irritants would discourage us from driving all the way to the Atlantic Coast, was that getting the job done.
If they were driven by temperament and patience to optimize the drive train quickly to shifts through its gears to fuel consumption. Again, no worries from the driver's seat as an immediate acceleration, but a quarter of the accelerator pedal throw away. The GT-R is much, much more fun when driven to enable hard.A simple three-finger salute "launch control" mode is required. The simple one-hand operation refers to the process of lifting the trio console mounted switch from their standard neutral rest position in "R-mode (easy to hold for two seconds). Press the brake on one foot and floor the gas pedal with the other. As soon as the engine speed levels off at 4,000 rpm, situate the skull against the headrest and side-step the brake pedal. The tire-shredding act feels a bit childish, after a dozen times, but it will never grow old. Watch a demonstration of it up in action in the Short Cut video.
An afternoon at Buttonwillow West Loop increasingly positive memories of the GT-R's expertise and its insatiable appetite devours a street circuit. It is not easy to hide a curb weight of 3829 pounds (same as last year), but Nissan's flagship to overcome the disability with savage force and all-wheel-drive grip. Speeds are fast, simple past three digit on each of the short straights. I was lucky, dozens of cars on the route exactly run the last ten years, but no one has driven me so thoughtful velocity.Nissan us some models in 2011, to compare against the 2012 GT-R. It provided excellent back-to-back driving impressions, but also almost cost me a little pride. After packing a random key to the start of the session, I drove the new model at first. It seemed almost unshakable at speed on the track. Any minor error in trajectory was easily corrected with the steering wheel or accelerator pedal. Lifting mid corner would bring the tail around, and Nissan ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive was working flat-out miracle on the outputs. I have tried the same move in the 2011 model and ran off the track (dropping of the two outer wheels in the mud) with frustrating understeer exiting the sweeper. It does not take an expert to the 2012 upgrade for power and handling notice.
As it was before, the 2012 GT-R is still faster (with the column-mounted paddle shifters) for the title when in manual mode driven. In all settings in "R" mode, the dual-clutch gearbox a decent job grabbed the next gear coming from a corner, but you still have the anticipation is needed in the thick band of torque and get a jump on the output. Subjectively saw Porsche PDK (seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox) still feels faster and more effective seems neck snapping shifts in power mode.The brutality of this particular street circuit deliver their toll. The GT-R upgraded brakes were excessively taxed at the border. More than once I found myself at the end of a straight ahead up to 120 km / h, pressure on the brakes as hard as I could (according to the multi-function digital display, they were maxed out at 100 percent), but I could not be activated the ABS. The tire compound is a lot of stick, but the road connecting brake pad material could not easily provide the necessary friction against the expansive rotor surface at the limit. Pro tip: If the GT-R must invest in some track racing compound brake pads.
Nearly three years ago, Godzilla, we checked and found that the fresh young two-door coupes delivered "robot-like mechanized perfection", but the subtle qualities that was missing to help create a bond between man and machine. His individuality has improved with the arrival of the 2012 model. Now in its fourth year, the GT-R has matured and aged. Emerging focus for an extensive list of upgrades and improvements, shows the sports car attitude, confidence, authority, and continue to show no signs of fear. We would even go so far as to say, the GT-R finally has something it lacked in the past: character.