It's been 7 years since the last Nissan Skyline GT-R rolled out of the production line. Then,Nissan kept teasing us with sketches of the next GT-R,which honestly,was more suspenseful than watching Star Wars movies. In 2005,the Japanese car firm unveiled their prototype version of the upcoming GT-R at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show,which was named fancifully as,uh,Nissan GT-R Proto. It looked nothing like I had hoped to see,but in a good way. It was boxy yet aerodynamic. The 350Z-style headlights with drooping carbon fibre finishes were epic. The large 20 inch alloy rims were aerodynamically designed to channel cool air onto the brakes. But what won my heart was that Nissan has remained faithful to the past generation GT-Rs and retained the trademark tail lights. Fantastic.
3 years on,the GT-R debuted at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show. It turned heads,attracting fans of the marque and car enthusiasts alike. It looked similar to the GT-R Proto but took a safer design route,losing the CF* panel under the headlights. It housed a 470hp VR38DETT V6 engine,much to the dismay of traditional GT-R fans. They had hoped that Nissan continued using the RB26DETT,the main engine that powered the Nissan Skyline GT-R to multiple victories from 1990-2004. The vehicle had an aerodynamic design,so the overall shape is an acquired taste. It had adjustable suspension and quad exhausts. It also had 4 seats to complete the "Grand Tourer" badging.
Inside,the the seats are wrapped with such soft leather that you begin to forget that this is a car designed to race. Looking at the dashboard,one might probably say,"My word!" At the centre of the dashboard is a multi-function display,which can track the amount of G-Forces you make to timing your car on a Hot Lap. Many things can be done too,like adjusting your suspension,keeping track of how much pressure you put on the accelerator or brake,and having the car check the water temperature all at once. Everything in the MFD was designed by the creators of the Gran Turismo franchise. The seats and panels are all wrapped in leather. Although not as well made as a Merc,they are definitely better than the interior of a Corvette. Oh,and heated seats and a BOSE sound system come as standard for the Premium version. The Black Edition,however,has red trimmings along the seats and specially painted alloy rims. Again,the BOSE sound system comes as standard.
