January 8 next year has been confirmed as the release date for Nissan’s hottest R35 GT-R yet, the Spec-V. Boasting a plethora of performance enhancing additions, the Spec-V is based on the Series II GT-R and further adds to features list with the intent squarely focused on improved performance.
Check out the list of confirmed changes.
Engine/Drivetrain:
- Engine output increased to 357kWs (Same as Series II GT-R’s)
- Transmission mode selection button has been removed (R-Mode only?)
- Overboost button for increased midrange boost during overtaking
- Carbon brakes
Interior:
- Carbon fibre Multi-Function Display surround
- Carbon fibre mirror switch surround
- Black interior only
- Silver painted panels are now chrome
- Carbon fibre front seats
- Carbon fibre rear shelf replaces seats
Exterior:
- Carbon fibre grille painted matte clear
- Carbon fibre rear wing painted matte clear
- Carbon fibre ducts in front lip spoiler
- New colour available: Ultimate Black Pearl, this is said to be a purplish black (Midnight Purple version 3 anyone?)
- Available colours: Ultimate Black Pearl, Brilliant White (new for MY09), Red, Dark Metal Gray, Black
Wheels and Suspension:
- Rays 20″ Forged Aluminium Wheels
- Bilstein Damptronic suspension upgraded, superior in performance to the Nismo ClubSport package suspension
Optional Extras:
- Dunlop Tires (no cost option)
- Thatcham alarm system
- BOSE Sound System and ETC (Electronic Toll Card system)
- Ultimate Black Pearl Paint - a 577,500 yen option (AUD$9240)
The Bottom Line
- Base Price: 15,750,000 yen excluding tax (AUD$ 252,000)
- Fully Optioned: 16,978,500 yen excluding tax (AUD$271,656)
Easily the biggest surprise from this news is the unchanged power output, as earlier rumours suggested a significant ’power-up’ for the Spec-V.
The carbon fibre fueled weight loss and improved grip-levels appear to have proven their performance enhancing potential, with Nissan recording the Spec-V lapping the Sendai Highland Raceway a full two seconds faster than the Series II GT-R. There’s no word yet, on just what the Spec-V might be capable of at the Nurburgring.
There is no mention of any gearbox improvements or updates. We do know that Series II GT-R’s will not be featuring the ‘launch control’ function that is currently part of the package on Series I cars, so maybe this will be enough to ensure the GT-R’s Borg Warner Dual-Clutch box keeps it cool.
On the subject of launch control, Jeff Fisher, Nissan Australia’s Senior Manager for Corporate Communications, recently had the following to say to TMR;
There is no “launch control” switchgear on GT-R per se. “Launch Control” is a vernacular given to a state of readiness in which the GT-R has been placed (including disabling of VDC – which is also not in accordance with the owners manual) in order to create perceived performance gains. Repeated use of “launch control” status is being discouraged in the US and we are most likely to adopt the same stance with customers to protect their investment and maintain warranty support.
Reading between the lines, it would appear that at least the first batch of Australian delivered GT-R’s will be Series I cars, with the ability to engage ‘launch control’. Will this lead to the Series I cars being the most collectible of the standard R35 GT-R’s?
[Source: GTRBlog]
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The overboost function will give it more power in the midrange, where you’re most likely to need it in the street……but this thing is meant to be a Spec-V. Where’s the extra top-end shove?
Soft, Nissan. Soft.
In years gone by the V-Spec did not get any extra power either, simply suspension and aero upgrades and the occasional part revision for strength or for added features (like the A-LSD).
The overboost function is a good idea but I agree that more power would have been better, especially given the price premium over the standard car.
“Ultimate Black Pearl Paint - a 577,500 yen option”
Oh man, that’s absurd. Nissan have gone bonkers on this one, and not in a good way!
Almost sounds like they’ve gone for the ’stripe package’ approach, that’s alot of cash for some fancy paint! Don’t suppose it actually has crushed up pearls in it for AUD$9240?!?!?!
The midrange over boost should provide much more power through the rev range even if the peak power figure is the same.
If manufacturers quoted average power from idle to redline, you’d find the spec-v would perform much better than the series I or II
In years gone by, Nissan claimed the V-Spec did not get any extra power because the base-model car was already at the gentleman’s agreement power cap.
Now with that agreement nullified, they were free to open up the taps on the engine honestly.
And? Saying why the old one did not get any extra power back in the day is largely irrelevant, and not entirely accurate anyway.
The V-spec was always about improved performance through handling and aero not power, look at every V-spec made and that’s evident.
Nissan very clearly made each GT-R model with more power than the gentleman’s agreement anyway so they could have just has easily done this with any V-Spec back in the day. The fact was this was not the goal.
This new Spec-V is true to form and follows the V-spec lineage pretty well.
More power is always great and I certainly would have expected to see some more but in reality it’s already better than previous V-specs as far as mods go. Better suspension and aero was always a given but the focus on weight reduction and the superior brake setup is the real boon here.
Dunno if it’s worth the extra $$’s though…
I agree that the over boost will provide much power thru the mid range area and the weight loss will help the V-Spec to perform better than both Series.