The complete 2011MY Nissan GT-R model line-up now includes six versions – the “Pure edition,” “Black edition,” “Premium edition,” “SpecV,” “Club Track” and “EGOIST” – allowing customers to choose the exact level of dynamic performance and style to meet their various needs. The “Club Track” version is for racing use only, whilst the “EGOIST” version that can be custom-ordered according to the precise desires of each individual customer. I’m not sure I’d want to brag about my car being called the Nissan GT-R EGOIST though…

The 2011MY GT-R features improved engine output and torque (Now 522bhp and 612Nm), greater fuel efficiency, revised handling, a refreshed exterior with improved aerodynamics, revised interior treatment and new wheels and tires. The large number of enhancements for the new model year is part of the continuous advancement of the GT-R design, technology and performance since its debut in December 2007. Nissan has also enhanced the level of after-sales support for GT-R owners.

The GT-R receives subtle improvements to its exterior design – downforce is increased by about 10%, while the coefficient of drag is further reduced from 0.27 to 0.26. Stability is also improved by enlarged bumper and grille openings. You’ll noticed the new front-bumper design with double rectifier fins and high-intensity daylight running lights – the design increases front downforce by about 10%, while also reducing air resistance inside the engine compartment. Rear downforce is also increased by about 10% through use of a new rear bumper air outlet and this features a lower centre of gravity than the previous design.

The newly designed tailpipes now ape those first launched on the SpecV and adopt a enlarged diameter.

Interior changes are widespread, designed to lift the quality of the GT-R and includes a newly shaped instrument panel pad and navigation system display finisher, velour-like coating for the GT-R steering wheel emblem, a new seatback design with leather-appointed Recaro bucket seats on the Black Edition, based on the structure of Pure edition and Premium edition seats.

The SpecV receives the same engine modifications as the base model, except maximum torque is improved to 632Nm when high geared boost is used.

Perhaps the most interesting news is the rumour that the 2011MY GT-R has improved upon its Nürburgring lap time, dropping it from 7:26.4 to 7:20 and bettering the time set by the latest 911 GT3 RS. It looks like 2011 might well be another bumper year for face-offs at the The Green Hell.

Nissan UK have confirmed a new on the road price of £69,950 (incl 20%VAT) for the base GT-R, with prices for more extreme versions reaching over £130,000 in the markets in which they’re sold. The standard ‘no extra cost’ specification list remains as strong as always with Premium Connect HDD satellite navigation, Bose stereo system, iPod™ connectivity, hard drive music storage, Bluetooth phone connection, 20” alloy wheels, runflat tyres, and individual climate control air conditioning. Add that to the performance delivered from the V6 twin turbo through the GR6 twin clutch system, with the aid of the 4 wheel drive system, and the GT-R remains untouchable at the price.

Source: GTR Owners Club UK

The order books are open now and will close on 22 January 2010, with just 40 cars being available for sale. Whilst a limited production run highlights the exclusivity of Nissan’s supercar, it is perhaps more dictated by the SpecV’s price, which at £124,900 in the UK makes it more than ‘twice’ as expensive as the standard GT-R.

Interestingly Nissan describe the limited run of 40 examples in Europe as reflecting that “2009 is the 40th anniversary of the launch of the first Nissan to wear the GT-R badge”. Hmmm, we’ll leave it up to you to judge which is most likely reason for such a small allocation of cars.

Developed as the ultimate iteration of the GT-R, the SpecV model builds on the original GT-R’s by changing and enhancing key components that help deliver the SpecV’s philosophy of being for skilled drivers who are ‘at one’ with their vehicle.

Incorporating all of the product enhancements recently announced for the standard MY10 GT-R, these changes are based around the SpecV’s ability (in the right conditions and environment) to brake later and harder, corner faster and accelerate sooner than the standard car.

Although maximum horsepower remains the same, engine performance is enhanced with a new high-gear boost control device, which briefly increases boost of the twin turbochargers for greater torque in the intermediate-to-high speed ranges to provide greater in-gear acceleration. Braking and cornering performance is improved by the fitting of a carbon ceramic brake system jointly developed by Nissan and Brembo, revised springs and fixed-rate dampers. Other performance modifications include a titanium exhaust system.

Externally, the SpecV is also equipped with lightweight, racing-style forged aluminium wheels that were developed uniquely for this model by Nissan Motorsports International (NISMO), the sports car and motorsports arm of Nissan in Japan. The SpecV’s exterior also features a carbon fibre rear spoiler, a carbon fibre grille, and carbon fibre brake ducts. All of these changes amount to a weight saving of 60kg.

Inside, the SpecV is offered uniquely as a two-seater (standard GT-R models include ‘plus-two’ sized rear seat) with bespoke Recaro carbon fibre bucket seats trimmed only in black leather, while carbon fibre is also used for the surround of the rear Bose speakers, instrument panel and other trim areas.

In addition to a revised paint colour line-up (Ultimate Metal Silver and Titanium are not available) the SpecV is available in optional Ultimate Black Opal (RP), a unique chromaflair paint for this version.

The SpecV will be only available through one Nissan High Performance Centre in the UK – Middlehurst Motorsport GT-R, St Helens, Merseyside and in recognition of the car’s indelible link with the Nordschleife circuit in Germany, the SpecV is only being displayed in Europe at the new Nissan Sports showroom in the new Nürburgring complex which was opened last July.

The logic which controls torque distribution between the front and rear axles when the GT-R is manoeuvring at low speeds when fluids are cold, has been altered to reduce rear-axle ‘binding’. Also, the logic in the gearbox has been changed to give a later downshift from 6th to 5th when driven in automatic mode, but a more aggressive downshift pattern when changing down from 4th to 3rd, and from 3rd to 2nd gear.

To improve cooling around the rear of the car, two additional NACA cooling ducts have been added to the carbon fibre underfloor diffuser which will provide additional cooling to the exhaust and gearbox. Furthermore, a new, larger diameter pipe connecting the oil cooler will reduce gearbox temperatures.

Earlier this year some problems were reported by US GT-R owners which related to the first gear cog in the gearbox, which under stress can develop cracks and then fail entirely, causing destruction of the gearbox. Part of this problem appeared to be due to the over-use of launch control, but some owners have chosen to upgrade first gear and the input shaft with stronger parts anyway.

Nissan took the decision to remove the launch control function in response to these issues, and now this improved cooling and reprogrammed logic control should have banished these issues for good. Hopefully.

Another small, but significant update has been to the front transmission mount, which has been stiffened, reducing vibration through the drive-line under high-load conditions. Also, the balance of the electronic brakeforce distribution bias has been moved slightly rearwards, giving greater braking stability in dry conditions, while a change in design of the rear brake cross spring has reduced noise and a modified air deflector increases rear brake cooling.

Changes to the engine management systems now ensure that the GT-R is Euro 5 compliant, without a loss of performance, whilst CO2 emissions have dropped by 3g to 295g/km.

Visually, front and rear bumpers now benefit from a double coat of clear paint, providing a deeper finish to the base colour, while inside the speedometer and rev counter now sport gun metallic finish surrounds.

Finally, uprated insulation has been fitted to the rear seats, which is said to improve cabin refinement.

A number of additional improvements have been made inside the GT-R, which is now equipped with Nissan’s latest generation combined audio and navigation system featuring a 40GB Hard Disk Drive (HDD), improved 3D maps, touch-screen interface and the option to select on-screen instructions in 8 different languages and voice recognition in a choice of 7 languages.

Since the start of European sales earlier this year, Nissan has delivered a total of over 1600 GT-Rs to customers, with waiting lists continuing to grow.

If you’re a fan of the GT-R or just interested in how Nissan are charging 80% more for the SpecV over the regular GT-R, then watch this video.

Feel free to ask any further questions or highlight aspects of the SpecV that you would like us to investigate.

Click on the image below and visit DR TV

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