Few vehicles in the world can be instantly identified by just three letters. But to motoring enthusiasts everywhere, "GT‑R" has become synonymous with excitement, high performance and unparalleled refinement. Unveiled at the 2019 New York International Auto Show, the 2020 Nissan GT‑R 50th Anniversary Edition takes the nameplate to a level that was unimaginable when it was first introduced 50 years ago.
To celebrate the half-century of the GT‑R, engineers challenged themselves to find undiscovered performance potential while still making sure the car can be enjoyed by drivers at any level. "A GT‑R is about total balance management," said Hiroshi Tamura, chief product specialist for the GT‑R. "It is not about chasing a power figures, but creating a new GT‑R, where no aspect has been overlooked. This is appropriate to celebrate the GT‑R 50th anniversary."
A 50th Anniversary Celebration
The 2020 Nissan GT‑R is available in two trim levels in Canada: GT‑R Premium and GT‑R Track Edition. It is the 50th Anniversary Edition (based on the GT‑R Premium) that truly celebrates the GT‑R's rich heritage.
The special GT‑R 50th Anniversary Edition is offered in three heritage-era, two-tone exterior colour combinations meant to represent the GT‑R's liveries from the Japan GP series – of which the original GT‑R was born to dominate in. Retired since the GT‑R "R34" model, Bayside (Wangan) Blue makes a return, complete with white racing stripes. A four-coat, double-heat treatment process ensures a vivid blue with striking highlights and deep shadows. Blue accents on the wheel spokes are among several fine touches made to celebrate the GT‑R's milestone. Pearl White with red stripes and Super Silver with white stripes round out the 50th Anniversary liveries.
Inside, the 50th Anniversary Edition is a special gray interior colour scheme, which gives the cabin a sense of luxury, reminiscent of the atmosphere of the night sky after the twilight hour (the colour is also available on select other 2020 GT‑R models). Additional 50th anniversary features include unique steering wheel and shift knob trim, special embossed seats, an Alcantara® headliner with unique stitching, Alcantara®-wrapped sunvisors, and more.
"The Nissan GT‑R has been the icon of our company's driving performance for the past half century," said Shinichiro Irie, program design director for the GT‑R. "We were highly motivated to ensure that the GT‑R 50th Anniversary Edition stands out. While the exterior and interior changes may seem subtle at first glance, they're still impactful, especially with the new paint schemes, keeping the car's lines and overall presence modern and edgy."
Upgraded performance, born from racing
While many believed that the refinement and performance of the GT‑R's 565-horsepower 3.8-litre V6 24-valve twin-turbocharged engine – each handcrafted by its own takumi technician – were so high that there was no room for improvement, the car's engineers had a few tricks up their sleeves. Among them was incorporating new turbochargers, which help increase the engine's low rpm response due to an abradable seal, providing tighter clearances and a 5 per cent increase in efficiency. Overall, they provide even sharper engine response in and out of corners, making the driving experience more rewarding and richer than ever before.
The exhaust manifolds, inspired by racing technology, have optimized turbo flange attachment points, which allow for easier servicing and potential tuning, without touching the exhaust manifold. In addition to the engine's 565 horsepower at 6,800 rpm, torque is rated at 467 lb-ft at 3,300 – 5,800 rpm.
The standard titanium exhaust system better manages the high temperatures of the exhaust gases from the engine (versus non-titanium). The system includes a duct on the vehicle's undertray just forward of the muffler, which guides air into the rear diffuser section to help cool the muffler and evacuate hot air.
Engine power is transferred to all four of the GT‑R Premium's wheels via an independent rear transaxle, the ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive system. During normal driving, the GT‑R behaves like a rear-drive vehicle, with the torque split set at 0:100, but it can be automatically diverted up to 50:50 depending on speed, lateral acceleration, steering angle, tire slip, road surface and yaw rate. A special GT‑R-specific yaw-rate feedback control measures the differences between the target yaw rate calculated from the steering angle and actual yaw rate detected by the yaw-rate sensor and G sensor, and adjusts the torque bias accordingly.
The 2020 GT‑R Premium also features a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission with a refined "R mode," made for both road and track. It features more aggressive downshifts to better anticipate swift cornering exits, with gear selection happening during ABS engagement, resulting in reduced understeer and a more driver-intuitive feeling. The adaptive shift control is programmed to change shift schedules to fit the user's driving style, making it possible to drive according to the law on public roads, with full brute force available on the race track, without needing to manually change shift modes (in A mode/R mode).
The GT‑R's signature exhaust note is the product of a new titanium muffler, featuring titanium finishers with burnished blue tips.
The electronically controlled suspension has been tuned to provide better cornering stability and a smoother ride. The steering is more linear and precise than ever, requiring minimal corrections at speeds of up to 186.4 mph/299.98 km/h. Braking is provided by Brembo® six piston monoblock calipers, full-floating, vented and drilled rotors in front and Brembo® four piston monoblock calipers, full-floating, vented and drilled rotors in the rear.
The GT‑R's Premium Midship Platform layout places the transmission, transfer case and final drive at the rear of the vehicle, without the use of traditional torque tubes, allowing the suspension to operate independently while optimizing weight distribution and maximizing tire grip at each corner.
The GT‑R's Bilstein® DampTronic driver-adjustable shock-absorber system – which utilizes information from multiple vehicle systems to provide appropriate damping forces and high level of control for a variety of driving situations – includes a valve housing system that reduces resistance losses. Also, rigid attachment points for the suspension system enhance cornering stability and turning response by allowing all of the wheels to be placed under even a greater load while maintaining optimal contact with the road surface.
The DampTronic system features three driver selectable settings: Normal; Comfort, for maximum suspension compliance; or R. The same three-stage adjustability is also available for the VDC system and transmission shift operation. The "R" and "Comfort" settings offer the driver enhanced sportiness and a smoother ride quality. Because of the increase in structural rigidity, the "R" mode enables the vehicle to achieve the same yaw rate with reduced steering angle for a crisper, more communicative steering response, while the "Comfort" suspension setting produces less vertical G-loading in testing when compared to the "Normal" suspension setting. Lightweight 20-inch 15-spoke forged alloy wheels by RAYS® – newly designed for 2020 – offer exceptional strength and rigidity.
The 2020 GT‑R's steering system – a speed-sensitive power rack-and-pinion design with aluminum steering rack, four-point mounting and stiff insulators – possesses sharp response during spirited driving, with reduced effort for around-the-town commutes and exceptional feedback on the open highway.
In addition, the GT‑R is designed to invigorate the senses while maintaining a quiet cabin at cruising speeds. The Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) system identifies and reduces unwanted low-frequency sounds by using strategically placed microphones within the cabin and using a sound wave at the same amplitude through noise cancellation speakers to offset unwanted sounds. Sound absorption material behind the instrument panel, an acoustic windshield, a dashboard insulator and noise insulators housed within the rear fenders have been engineered to act as countermeasures to remove undesirable noise from the engine compartment, as well as the rear tires.
Additionally, the electronic control valve housed within the titanium exhaust helps to control muffler resonance, which could otherwise create an unwanted "booming" sound from the exhaust system; ANC and the exhaust's electronic control valve essentially eliminate this issue by controlling such unwanted low frequency sound.
Also, thanks to the fitment of titanium mufflers with an electronic control valve, Active Sound Enhancement (ASE) brings the engine's power directly into the cabin. ASE defines the sound frequency and volume of specific targets (such as the exhaust note) while simultaneously comparing it to pertinent information including engine speed and other key vehicle parameters. It processes the sound signal through the audio system's amplifier, and then releases it into the passenger compartment through the speakers.
The driver can vary the sound control capability through the different vehicle mode settings – Normal, Comfort and R. Also, an exhaust sound control switch allows for a quieter engine start. By pressing the exhaust sound control switch prior to engine start, this will close the electronic valve within the exhaust system for more quiet operation at engine startup and continue for a brief time while the vehicle is driven with the engine running at low rpms. There is a 10 dB difference between having the electronic valve within the exhaust system closed and opened – a substantial difference in volumetric sound quality to the human ear.
Aggressive Exterior Design
The GT‑R's dynamic styling is both attractive and functional. The V-motion grille, one of Nissan's design signatures, features a matte chrome finish and mesh pattern. The hood, with its pronounced character lines flowing flawlessly from the grille, is reinforced to enhance stability during high speed driving. By essentially eliminating hood deformation, testing has shown that the hood design greatly improves aerodynamic performance at the front of the vehicle at high speeds.
The GT‑R's aerodynamic exterior focuses on three key areas: downforce generation, drag reduction and cooling of vital vehicle systems. The goal is to maximize cooling airflow, while at the same time keeping aerodynamic drag in check – for example, not increasing drag in one area of the vehicle as a result of improving cooling performance/airflow in another.
In addition to the grille and hood, the curving profile of the front under spoiler is slightly extended and lowered to maximize airflow at its lower edge. By carefully shaping the sill cover along the lower portions of the sides of the car, the amount of air being drawn underneath is reduced, countering vehicle lift and improving stability. The C-pillars' upper portions are shaped to deliver better airflow management by preventing the generation of a smaller vortex.
The rear of the GT‑R continues to be defined by its iconic round taillights. A silver-finish diffuser and side air vents are incorporated next to the quad titanium exhaust tips to improve the car's aerodynamics. Also, the character line that separates the lower black section from the body panel is heightened to make the car look wider and more aggressive. The result is an aerodynamically efficient overall exterior with enhanced stability at high speeds, while keeping a 0.26 drag coefficient.
In addition to the 50th Anniversary Editions' special livery colours, the 2020 GT‑R Premium is available in seven exterior colours: Solid Red, Blaze Metallic, Jet Black Pearl, Super Silver QuadCoat (premium colour), Gun Metallic, Pearl White TriCoat (premium colour), and Deep Blue Pearl.
A cabin worthy of GT‑R
The 2020 GT‑R Premium's superbly crafted interior delivers an unparalleled degree of comfort, luxury and everyday usability. Seamlessly wrapped in one continuous hide of the highest quality Nappa leather, the instrument panel adopts a "horizontal flow" to deliver a sense of high stability for the car's front-seat occupants, while the line from the instrument cluster to the center console provides a distinct driver-oriented environment for those behind the steering wheel. The 8.0-inch touch panel monitor features large icons on the display screen to allow the user to easily manage the audio system, navigation system, telephone controls and other infotainment functions.
In keeping with the all-out performance targets for the GT‑R, the seats' layer of cushioned material found beneath the leather appointments is a thin material to help keep overall weight down, while still providing the highest quality of texture. The driver and front passenger seatbacks for the Premium model are engineered to provide a premium ride experience and ample torso support, resulting in less slippage during spirited driving and reduced fatigue on long commutes. By configuring the support wires within the seatback frame, the engineering team was able to reduce the weight of each seatback while simultaneously reducing pressure points upon the torso of both the driver and front passenger for a more relaxed seating position.
The leather itself is artfully stitched together throughout the cabin by a master craftsman. Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters allow drivers to make mid-turn gear changes without taking their hands off the wheel. The interior features leather-appointed seating and available semi-aniline leather appointments, finished in four different colour options: Amber Red and Rakuda Tan, "Kuro Night" and Hai Grey.
Standard on all 2020 GT‑R models is NissanConnect® with Navigation and Services featuring Apple CarPlay™, with 8.0-inch colour display with multi-touch control, Nissan Voice Recognition for navigation and audio, SiriusXM® Satellite Radio, SiriusXM® Traffic, SiriusXM® Travel LinkTM (weather, fuel prices, movie listings, stock info and sports) (SiriusXM® subscription required, sold separately), Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System, Streaming audio via Bluetooth®, Hands-free Text Messaging Assistant, NissanConnect Services Powered by SiriusXM® (SiriusXM® subscription required, sold separately). A Display Command control on the carbon-fibre center console allows easy operation without having to touch the monitor.
Other convenient information features include an innovative multi-function meter that allows the driver to customize the layout of important vehicle-specific performance parameters/information, such as coolant temperature, engine oil temperature, engine oil pressure, transmission oil temperature, transmission oil pressure and turbocharger boost pressure. The GT‑R's steering wheel-mounted shift paddles allow drivers to change gears mid-turn without taking their hands off the wheel.
Standard safety equipment includes a Nissan Advanced Air Bag System for driver and front passenger, front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags for driver and front- passenger and standard roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags for front seat occupant head protection – along with front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters and three-point ELR/ALR rear seat belts.
Other technologies include Advanced Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) stability control system with three driver-selectable modes (Normal, R-Mode, Off), Electronic Traction Control System (TCS), Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD), RearView Monitor, Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and automatic on/off headlights.
Models and Options
The 2020 Nissan GT‑R is available in Premium and Track Edition models.
The full list of 50th Anniversary Edition equipment, in addition to the exterior two-tone paint, includes unique exterior badge on rear; anniversary logo in meter cluster; unique 50th Anniversary steering wheel; Alcantara® headliner with unique stitching; Alcantara® sun visors; unique 50th Anniversary shift knob; exclusive seat/trim colour and contrasting stitching; 50th Anniversary logo embroidery on front seats; unique 50th Anniversary interior badges; and 50th Anniversary kickplates. The Bayside Blue exterior also includes unique blue wheel colouring.
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