08.01.2009
It feels like we’ve been waiting an eternity to hear details of Nissan’s more-focused version of its R35 GT-R, and at last the official silence has been broken.
We’ve become used to the leaner and meaner version of the GT-R being referred to as the V-Spec, but true to form (with this R35 model at least) Nissan have decided to break away from the past and this time call it the ‘SpecV’.
Read the remainder of the article and then let us know what you think
About Steve Davies
Steve is a media, venture, and technology advisor and a former Partner at KPMG Consulting, PriceWaterhouse Coopers and Managing Partner at EIM - his clients range from global web and media companies to small start-ups. He formed Drivers Republic (DR) in 2007, the UK's first digital automotive magazine, with a team of EVO and Autocar writers before creating SkiddMark, and also writes as a guest contributor on Unruly Media’s Meme Machine blog and for Econsultancy’s digital marketing blog.
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16 Comments
Arthur
January 8, 2009On the website of a Dutch car magazine the spec-V is reported to have exactly the same power as the standard car, whilst weighing in at 1680 kgs instead of 1740. And yes, costing twice as much. Mighty expensive carbon brakes, I reckon.
Even Porsche doesn’t double the price of an RS over the regular GT3, but there is a big similarity in the ridiculous premium one is to pay for no extra power and a minimal weight saving.
Buy a regular GT-R and ditch the electrically operated and heated seats for Recaro buckets and you won’t be far off the weight of a spec-V. Better looking wheels on the standard car as well.
Arthur
January 8, 2009On the website of a Dutch car magazine the spec-V is reported to have exactly the same power as the standard car, whilst weighing in at 1680 kgs instead of 1740. And yes, costing twice as much. Mighty expensive carbon brakes, I reckon.
Even Porsche doesn’t double the price of an RS over the regular GT3, but there is a big similarity in the ridiculous premium one is to pay for no extra power and a minimal weight saving.
Buy a regular GT-R and ditch the electrically operated and heated seats for Recaro buckets and you won’t be far off the weight of a spec-V. Better looking wheels on the standard car as well.
Steve
January 8, 2009@Arthur: You have to assume that Nissan are mighty confident in the SpecV’s abilities compared to the standard GT-R, otherwise they’ll have a very limited marketplace for it.
I’ve heard that volumes of the limited edition SpecV will be less than 300 units per year, but even so the equivalent of £100,000+ is taking the GT-R into a whole different territory.
Still can’t wait to drive it though.
Steve
January 8, 2009@Arthur: You have to assume that Nissan are mighty confident in the SpecV’s abilities compared to the standard GT-R, otherwise they’ll have a very limited marketplace for it.
I’ve heard that volumes of the limited edition SpecV will be less than 300 units per year, but even so the equivalent of £100,000+ is taking the GT-R into a whole different territory.
Still can’t wait to drive it though.
Pedro Sousa aka Ginga
January 8, 2009Are we talking an all-time record at the Nurburgring?!
The GT-R is a great machine but surelly there will be more to say about what’s offered with a doubled price tag for the SpecV!!
Lets wait for it…
Pedro Sousa aka Ginga
January 8, 2009Are we talking an all-time record at the Nurburgring?!
The GT-R is a great machine but surelly there will be more to say about what’s offered with a doubled price tag for the SpecV!!
Lets wait for it…
TragicallyHip
January 9, 2009It isn’t even officially on sale in the UK yet and I’m already bored of the design. It looks dated and I couldn’t really care how fast it is if it doesn’t inspire me aesthetically.
TragicallyHip
January 9, 2009It isn’t even officially on sale in the UK yet and I’m already bored of the design. It looks dated and I couldn’t really care how fast it is if it doesn’t inspire me aesthetically.
Archie
January 10, 2009Shame they couldn’t of got it any lighter. not so keen about the looks though. the standard GTR look much less bity
Archie
January 10, 2009Shame they couldn’t of got it any lighter. not so keen about the looks though. the standard GTR look much less bity
Ricard S
January 12, 2009Sorry,however good the spec-v is the GTR has been damaged irrepairably by photos in the tabloids of the first ‘celebrity’ owner…Kerry Katona and Maaaaark!
Ricard S
January 12, 2009Sorry,however good the spec-v is the GTR has been damaged irrepairably by photos in the tabloids of the first ‘celebrity’ owner…Kerry Katona and Maaaaark!
chris harris
January 12, 2009Hmm, I noticed this too. Not ideal branding, but perhaps Nissan could attempt some affiliate relationship with Iceland?
chris harris
January 12, 2009Hmm, I noticed this too. Not ideal branding, but perhaps Nissan could attempt some affiliate relationship with Iceland?
Lou
January 17, 2009It would have been nice to see the two radiator vents like the N1s of old on the bumper. On a serious note, does this car need to be under 7:29 at the ‘ring given it’s more specialized nature?
Lou
January 17, 2009It would have been nice to see the two radiator vents like the N1s of old on the bumper. On a serious note, does this car need to be under 7:29 at the ‘ring given it’s more specialized nature?