This car’s “Godzilla” nickname surely comes from its monstrous performance.
The Nissan GT-R has been around for quite a long time. Having been introduced in 2007, it’s been more than 15 years since it first shocked the automotive world with its ability. With its all-wheel drive and twin-turbocharged V6, the car was lightyears ahead of its time, and even now, remains one of the world’s most impressive performance machines that can compete with vehicles that are much more expensive and much more extravagant.
While the current Nissan GT-R price, which starts at $113,540, is much more than the original R35 price of $70,475. However, even today, that price is a bargain for the performance that you get, as Nissan has continued to improve the Nissan GT-R specs and make it one of the greatest performance cars in the automotive industry, both in the 2000s and now. The Nissan GT-R 0-60 times have come down from 3.3 seconds to 2.9 seconds, while the Nissan GT-R top speed of 197 mph in 2009 has increased to closer approach 200. That might not be much for all the time, but with its focus on on-track performance, the car demonstrates its peak ability in places other than in a straight line.
When the car was first introduced, the Nissan GT-R horsepower was 480, which was an incredibly immense figure for its time. Now, it remains so, with 565 horses on tap in the 2023 model. This immense power makes up for the Nissan GT-R weight, which has come down from an inaugural 3,908 lbs to a slightly leaner 3,850. While it may have been around for quite some time, the R35 generation Nissan GT-R has been a performance masterpiece since the beginning and still is. No matter which of the R35 GT-R models you choose, you’d be looking at a truly excellent performance car, and over a decade of incredible performance has to be discussed in any R35 GT-R review, let alone the very long history of the predecessors further before it.
Nissan GT-R Engine
The R35 Nissan GT-R motor has been an evolution of the same 3,799 cc (3.8 l) DOHC twin-turbocharged V6 since its introduction in 2007. However, when it was first introduced, it was a bit of a departure in comparison to the engine of its predecessors, the iconic and JDM enthusiast-favorite RB26DETT that powered the Skyline GT-R models that were never offered to the U.S. market. While the hood of the car might wear a relatively humble Nissan emblem, what is under it is something truly special. In the Nissan GT-R engine, you’ll find plenty of revered performance technology, which includes a cast aluminum block with plasma-sprayed cylinder liner bores, as well as boost which is courtesy of the engine’s twin parallel Ishikawajima-Harima (IHI) turbochargers, as well as iridium-tipped spark plugs, drive-by-wire throttle, and more.
The impressive character of the Nissan GT-R’s performance is just an indication of how taken-aback the automotive industry was with the performance of the model when it was first revealed. Especially here in the West, the reputation of the GT-R name was limited to a niche of people who are only now getting to drive those cars here in the States under the 25-year rule, and expectations for an upcoming flagship performance car from Nissan were not nearly as high as they needed to be. The car’s introduction came with track testing and lap times that simply demanded respect from the automotive world, and with plenty of technology and plenty more horsepower, the car earned the immense respect that it still has.
While the Nissan badging on the car doesn’t invoke the idea of artisanal levels of craftsmanship to many, the GT-R defied that notion, as its engines are hand-built in a dust-proof and temperature-controlled room in Nissan’s Yokohama factory by the “Takumi Craftsmen,” a group of just five specially-trained mechanics. Only 13 engines can be built per day, with over 8 hours of time needed and over 300 parts to put to assemble, and once each car is built, it’s tested by a professional driver on Nissan’s own track.
Nissan GT-R Transmission, Drivetrain, & Chassis
JDM purists and fans of the older Nissan Skyline GT-R models venerate the past generations for their manual transmissions, but when Nissan introduced the R35 generation Nissan GT-R, a pivot was made, switching from a three-pedal stick to a six-speed BorgWarner dual-clutch transmission. While this change surely disappoints the auto enthusiasts who want the control and visceral experience of the manual, the transmission boasts the fastest gear shifting in production vehicles, with gear changes in 0.15-0.2 seconds. A performance advantage like that is something that is very hard to say no to, and that incredible gearbox is part of the reason that the GT-R is widely considered an easy car to drive fast.
Another component of the GT-R’s incredible engineering is its drivetrain. An evolution of Nissan’s ATTESA E-TS Pro System used on older Skyline GT-Rs, the rear-biased all-wheel-drive system has lots of heritage, lots of development, and among performance enthusiasts and anyone who knows just how capable the GT-R is, plenty of respect. The car’s ability to distribute torque not only between the front and rear but also between the left and right by way of an active limited-slip differential means that the GT-R is able to efficiently use its power to reach incredible speeds, and stay planted and composed through corners.
However, power isn’t the only thing that makes a great performance car, and engineering also goes into making sure the Nissan GT-R is an agile machine that behaves like something much smaller than its size. To that end, engineers carefully achieved a 54% front and 46% rear weight distribution for the Nissan GT-R, meaning that turns are executed in a well-mannered and predictable fashion. Also, the chassis is made from Alcoa aluminum to save weight, and the Bilstein monotube shock absorbers ensure a planted and stable ride. Also very important on the track is the ability to slow down, which is why the Nissan GT-R makes use of Brembo monoblock ventilated brake calipers, six-piston up front and four-piston in the rear, and some special GT-R models had carbon-ceramic brake rotors.
All Nissan GT-R Model Specs
Nissan GT-R CBA-R35 (2007-2010)
This was the model that originally shocked the world with its introduction. With the R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R as the car that came before it, car enthusiasts all over the world were shocked to see a vehicle that rose to the occasion of an increasingly competitive landscape in the performance world. Easily able to compete with and even succeed against some of the world’s premier performance machines, the GT-R didn’t go underestimated for long. Its use of the dual-clutch automatic transmission, twin-turbocharged V6 engine, and an incredibly advanced all-wheel-drive system meant that it quickly became one of the world’s fastest cars around the hallowed Nürburgring, with a still-impressive lap time of just 7 minutes and 26.7 seconds.
In addition, this model had the responsibility of proving that it wasn’t your ordinary Nissan. Along with its brash performance, drivers were treated to leather upholstery, a Bose sound system, and an interior with a boatload of tech and luxury features that made driving it an inexplicable pleasure. Right out of the gate, the R35 GT-R’s legacy was sealed as an automotive legend.
| 2007-2010 Nissan GT-R | |
| Horsepower: | 480 hp |
| Torque: | 430 lb/ft |
| 0-60: | 3.2 s |
| 0-100: | 7.6 s |
| ¼ mile: | 11.3 s @ 120.3 mph |
| Lateral Acceleration: | 1.04g |
| Braking 70-0: | 145 ft |
| Nürburgring lap time: | 7:26.70 |
| Top Speed: | 197 mph |
| Curb Weight: | 3,386 lbs |
GT-R DBA-R35 (2011-2016)
Once the GT-R proved its incredible performance ability, the next step was to prove its ability to keep up even as time began to pass. When it came to this challenge, Nissan rose to the occasion, and the Nissan GT-R improved, coming back with plenty more horsepower, as well as quicker acceleration and more handling ability than the first version.
What resulted was a lap time on the Nürburgring that was even quicker than the GT-R that came before it, and the GT-R remained at the top of the performance car world, showing that even after years have passed, that was still not enough time for the GT-R to be outperformed by a new class of performance cars, and that a car that was very far ahead of its time when it was introduced remained ahead of its time with age.
| 2011-2012 Nissan GT-R | |
| Horsepower: | 530 hp |
| Torque: | 448 lb/ft |
| 0-60: | 2.8 s |
| 0-100: | 7.1 s |
| ¼ mile: | 10.9 s |
| Lateral Acceleration: | 1.06g |
| Braking 70-0: | 145 ft |
| Curb Weight: | 3,885 lbs |
| 2013-2016 Nissan GT-R | |
| Horsepower: | 545 hp |
| Torque: | 463 lb/ft |
| 0-60: | 2.7 s |
| 0-100: | 6.7 s |
| ¼ mile: | 10.7 s @ 126.76 mph |
| Lateral Acceleration: | 1.06g |
| Braking 70-0: | 145 ft |
| Nürburgring lap time: | 7:18.60 |
| Top Speed: | 201 mph |
| Curb Weight: | 3,885 lbs |
GT-R 4BA-R35 (2017-2022)
The current generation of the Nissan GT-R had two versions before it of the R35 GT-R on whose shoulders it could stand, let alone the generations of legendary Skyline GT-R cars that came before it, which all laid the groundwork for the current iteration to remain after over a decade one of the most impressive and capable performance cars in the world.
With the improvements that the most recent GT-R received, the Nismo variant received even more power and track-ready ability, bringing the Nürburgring lap time all the way down to just over 7 minutes, putting it in a caliber of some of the greatest cars to ever grace the track.
| 2017-2022 Nissan GT-R | |
| Horsepower: | 565 hp |
| Torque: | 467 lb/ft |
| 0-60: | 2.7 s |
| 0-100: | 6.7 s |
| ¼ mile: | 10.7 s @ 126.76 mph |
| Lateral Acceleration: | 1.06g |
| Braking 70-0: | 145 ft |
| Top Speed: | 204 mph |
| Curb Weight: | 3,935 lbs |
| GT-R Nismo (2015-2019) | |
| Horsepower: | 600 hp |
| Torque: | 481 lb/ft |
| 0-60: | 2.5 s |
| 0-100: | 6.2 s |
| ¼ mile: | 10.5 s @ 129.89 mph |
| Lateral Acceleration: | 1.10g |
| Braking 70-0: | 130 ft |
| Nürburgring lap time: | 7:08.67 |
| Top Speed: | 205 mph |
| GT-R Nismo (2020-2022) | |
| Horsepower: | 600 hp |
| Torque: | 481 lb/ft |
| 0-60: | 2.5 s |
| 0-100: | 6.2 s |
| ¼ mile: | 10.5 s @ 129.89 mph |
| Lateral Acceleration: | 1.10g |
| Braking 70-0: | 130 ft |
| Nürburgring lap time: | 7:03 |
| Top Speed: | 205 mph |
Nissan GT-R Special Models
SpecV: A name closely associated with the GT-R nameplate throughout the history of both the GT-R and Skyline GT-R, the SpecV name represents a vehicle with some extra performance. While this vehicle didn’t have any changes in the engine itself, the turbos were increased in size and provided more boost in high gears. In addition, carbon fiber accents graced the interior and the special model featured the LAC Black Opal color.
Black Edition: When it comes to automotive cosmetics, plenty of fans have the well-loved aesthetic taste of betting on black. Seeing this, Nissan offered the special GT-R Black Edition with a dark configuration, featuring 20-inch wheels from Rays, and special seats that were a result of a collaboration between Recaro and Nissan that featured a 2-tone upholstery in both red and black leather.
Track Edition: With the Nismo’s chassis upgrades as its basis, this track-focused variant of the Nissan GT-R rids itself of many of the creature comforts that don’t contribute to its incredible performance. As a result, the spartan interior features 11 switches rather than 27, and there to assist are hollow sway bars as well as a more aggressive exhaust for increased power and a unique exhaust note.
Nismo: Nismo is short for Nissan Motorsport, and known for taking any Nissan to the next level of performance, the GT-R got the same treatment since 2014, with a power increase that brought the horsepower to a total of 600, and the total torque to 481 lb/ft. With that, the top speed came up to 196 mph, and now over 200, and the weight is decreased with stiffening throughout giving the car much more composure on the track. The Nismo is 38 pounds lighter than its other GT-R counterparts.
GT-R Nismo N-Attack Package: This car shows off the GT-R’s performance potential by replicating the setup that was used to achieve the GT-R’s incredible Nürburgring lap time. For Japanese customers, the conversion was done at the dealer, however, American customers are able to purchase the N-Attack Package at Stillen Motorsports.
Gentleman Edition: As its name suggests, the Gentleman Edition shows off the GT-R’s luxury and classic driver’s car character. With a Grey Squale exterior and red leather interior, the car features hand-sewn seats, as well as accessories that boast excellent craftsmanship. Only 10 of these beautiful GT-Rs were made and exclusive to France.
Midnight Opal Special Edition: Limited to just 100 units worldwide, the Midnight Opal Special Edition features a unique, two-tone paintwork. In addition, it gets special wheels, a unique spoiler, and a gold serialized plaque in the engine bay.
45th Anniversary Gold Edition: Featuring iconic paintwork in Silica Brass from the R34 model, the 45th Anniversary Gold Edition, with under 30 examples for the United States. The edition celebrates the 45th anniversary of the Godzilla car and its heritage for advanced performance.
GT-R50: This incredibly special GT-R, limited to just 50 units, was created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the GT-R nameplate, as well as the 50th anniversary of its designer, Italdesign. The car features futuristic looks and a bespoke, avant-garde body that pairs with the GT-R’s incredible performance ability to become a true collector’s dream, with a collector price tag of over $1.1 million.
Naomi Osaka Edition: Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka became a brand ambassador of Nissan after achieving great fame in the sport, and her partnership with Nissan resulted in an incredible special Nissan GT-R edition, with configurations curated by her. Only 50 examples are made, and they are only available in the car’s and Osaka’s home country of Japan.
50th Anniversary Edition: Featuring special paintwork and nostalgic touches throughout, the 50th Anniversary Edition of the Nissan GT-R celebrates half a century of the car’s influence on the performance world. For fans of the GT-R name, of which there are rightfully many, this is a celebration of 50 years of one of the greatest cars ever.
Nismo Special Edition: Made for the United States, this version of the Nissan GT-R features the upgraded performance of the Nismo model, as well as an array of special touches like an exposed carbon fiber hood, special paintwork, and 20-inch wheels.
T-spec: Featuring classic and iconic GT-R colors, like Midnight Purple and Millennium Jade Metallic, this special edition also boasts a green interior, and its performance bridges the cap between the grand-touring-focused Premium and the more brash and performance-ready Track Edition and Nismo.
Egoist: This 2012 Japan-only version of the Nissan GT-R was the GT-R’s most luxurious trim level available at the time. Carbon ceramic brakes, titanium exhaust, and revised performance throughout add to the GT-R’s performance. In addition, it features various interior configurations available and a Storm White exterior paintwork.
Images Sourced From Nissan