Nissan GT-R Review
Car Tested: 2016 Nissan GT-R Road Test No. 658
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 2 crores (est.)
The GT-R is engineering excellence at its best with mind blowing performance & dynamics
Performance cars are expensive and thus not many really wait for them to be launched in India. But there is an exception, the Nissan GT-R. Showcased at multiple Auto Expos in India, the Japanese supercar killer has a massive fan following, all thanks to its predecessors, the Skyline which movies like the Fast and the Furious have highlighted very well. Nissan has finally decided to launch the GT-R in India and we sample the Godzilla in its natural habitat, the race track.
The first glimpse of the Nissan GT-R in recent times happened at the 2016 Auto Expo when the Japanese car maker made its launch plans official. The same car was used for the drive at India’s only Formula 1 circuit, the BIC. Being a new car with just 200 odd kms on the odo and due to time constraints, we had only 1 flying lap in the car with the in-lap being a cool down lap. The Buddh circuit has some interesting corners along with a 1.2 kms long uphill straight, enough to test the mettle of the flagship Nissan.
Floor the throttle hard in R mode and the GT-R takes off like a javelin throw
As I exited the pit lane in race mode, I had to contain myself from pinning down the throttle. But as soon as I exited, floored I did and the GT-R leaped ahead, first gear 7000 RPM, second gear 7000 RPM and before I could grab third, the first corner was fast approaching. As I turned in, the grip from car made itself amply available, holding the tarmac like a leech with tremendous feedback. Coming to turn two and taking a wide line to carry as much speed on the long straight made me realise the 4-wheel drive system keeps the car very planted but there is understeer at the limit.
With the throttle fully pinned and me shifting gears at slightly above 7000 RPM, the Nissan GT-R hit 260 km/hr on the speedometer when I stood on the brakes to shed speeds confidently. It was at this point that I completely forgot which is the next corner and started taking things as it is, because I got soaked in the GT-R experience completely. The motor just revs and it does so blisteringly fast and although there are twin turbos in this V6 mill, on the track, no lag could be felt. Just accelerate and the car takes off in a jiffy.
The Nissan GT-R’s gearbox is lightning fast, shifting cogs in just 0.15 seconds
What is interesting to note is the low co-efficient of drag on the Nissan GT-R, which at 0.26 CD not only beats most other supercars from Italy but is also lower than a bullet. Stability is just surreal, the car hugs the road and doesn’t waver one bit even when doing the double ton. What is really fantastic is the steering, it feels pin point accurate, giving loads of feedback to the driver. The Pirelli tyres too, have loads of grip on offer. So without doubt, the standout is the handling. There is oversteer when you go heavy on the gas around corners and catching the tail can be a whole lot of fun too.
Being a 6-cylinder engine, the Nissan GT-R’s hand crafted 3.8-litre engine does well to pump out 550 PS and 632 Nm, resulting in the 0-100 km/hr sprint coming up in a blisteringly fast 2.7 seconds (thank you Launch Control). The gearbox is super quick with shifts and the steering mounted paddles feel amazing to use. Where the GT-R lacks is exhaust note, it’s not loud enough for a car of this magnitude of performance. Mileage is around 3-4 km/l and high octane fuel is needed to run this car at its optimum.
Peak torque of 632 Nm is produced from 3200 RPM, all the way to 5800 RPM
The interior is all black, sporty and has a ton of buttons on the centre console. There is also a tech fest happening on the infotainment screen which shows the G forces you encounter while driving. The tyre pressure monitoring came to help as the tyre pressure started to increase after a few laps. Although tagged as a 4-seater, the Nissan GT-R is best used as a 2-seater as the second row is both difficult to get into and lacks headroom. The front seats hug the occupants and through the inside rearview mirror, you get to see the rear spoiler at all times, neat.
The Nissan GT-R isn’t a volume product and given the pricing expectation and made to order system, this car isn’t going to sell much and it’s not intended to either. What the GT-R will do for Nissan is be a brand builder. It shows what the Japanese automaker is capable of to those who don’t know much about the Yokohama headquartered company. As for the buyers of the Nissan GT-R, they are one lucky bunch to own the Godzilla as this is one rare Japanese car which blends technology, performance, handling and appeal in one splendid package.
