In news that is not going to impress Nissan Australia but make a lot of cashed-up enthusiasts feel a bit constricted in the 'pantal' region, the new GT-R has received SEVS (Specialist & Enthusiast Vehicle Scheme) approval.

This approval means that at least one importer, a company called GT Compliance according to the RVCS (Road Vehicle Certification System) web site, can now import and comply the new GT-R for road use in Australia as a low volume 'grey' import. It also opens the door for other grey importers, since they now know it's possible to do so.

Nissan Australia has been lobbying to stop the GT-R from obtaining SEVS approval. Nissan sees grey imports as a threat to business, despite the fact that grey import Skylines in the mid-90's have probably brought as many people to the brand as the 200SXs, Maximas and Pulsars that Nissan Australia imports. With a halo model as desirable as the GT-R, Nissan fears these early imports could take the wind out of their marketing sails.

Nissan Australia is also understandably twitchy about protecting the reputation of the GT-R before its official release in Australia. Grey import cars maintained in a less-than-perfect manner, may not meet the standards required to keep this pretty-much-perfect car running at its best.

Pressure from Nissan Australia, combined with Australia's at-times unique ADRs (Australian Design Rules) for road-going cars, has made complying the GT-R a painful and drawn-out affair. Several companies have been close to complying the car, only to be knocked back on one or more technicalities.

Under SEVS rules, the cars must be "new" (less than 300km on the clock) and importers can only bring in the GT-Rs until Nissan officially imports the vehicle. However, those who must have the fanciest toys immediately, and they don't get much more desirable than the latest GT-R, might now be running to their grey importer with a fistful of yen.

[Official SEVS Approval]

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• reply ” like !

  

  Trump says,
  4 years ago

  Should deliver some competition on price before Nissan lines their pockets with profit at an outrageous $170k.
  
  Stop being so greedy Nissan Australia and just get it here.
• reply ” like !

  

  Jeffske says,
  4 years ago

  agree with Trump 100%, how can Nissan Australia justify the premium over their Japanese domestic pricing ?
  just a money grab from Australian enthusiasts
• reply ” like !

  

  Godspeed says,
  4 years ago

  Awesome! Can't wait to start seeing these on the road at last.
  
  I've heard the car might otherwise not get here until 2010 (via Nissan Oz)!!! which is just plain ridiculous. Can you blame people for trying to bring them here privately?
• reply ” like !

  

  Flying High says,
  4 years ago

  Excellent. Nissan Oz sucked in you bunch of greedy aholes.
• reply ” like !

  

  PaulB says,
  4 years ago

  Agreed. Nissan are a bunch of self indulgent, greedy, selfish moneygrabbers.
• reply ” like !

  

  Tony says,
  4 years ago

  I sat in a GTR in Nissan's Ginza show room about a month ago. It had a sticker price of about 8 million yen (about 80 grand in our money). Practically giving the damned thing away!!!
• reply ” like !

  

  Brett says,
  4 years ago

  Don't get too excited guys, the importers(the one I asked in Melbourne) are asking $160k for them. They would cost around $110k to land and comply by my best guess. That means they may be taking a nice little profit per unit!
  
  Thats a lot to pay for a grey!
  • reply ” like !

    

    Alan Li says,
    4 years ago

    Its about normal. The first R34 GT-R that was imported into Australia cost the same amount.
    
    $160K is pretty expensive, but considering the fact that the grey importer needs to recoup the costs of going through all the SEVS rigmarole to get the car approved, there's more than just the shipping and physical modification costs to recoup.
    
    I'm sure the importers will make a good margin on the cars, being new and rare and desired.
    • reply ” like !

      

      Godspeed says,
      4 years ago

      And through some importers/resellers, you recently had to pay very close to $100,000 (fully complied) for the last of the line R34 GT-R (V-spec or M-spec) Nür.
• reply ” like !

  

  Nissan Blogga » Blog Archive » GT says,
  4 years ago

  [...] The Motor Report [...]
• reply ” like !

  

  Big Carl says,
  4 years ago

  It has now been over 7 months to get this car approved
  with numerious tests, endless rounds of paperwork & discussions inc modifications to meet the SEVS rules at great expence
  Now with the increase in our luxury car tax and low exchange rate this car will now have to be sold for over $175,000 + ORC
  Trust Me It is worth it !!! I drove this car for 2,000km
  and it is just Increadable
  It will be the First Registered R35 in Australia
  and is available FOR SALE NOW!!
  
  Interested Contact me on 0418 215 504
  
  Come to the Shannons Eastern Creek Classic this Sunday 24th August to See the "New" R35 GTR
  
  Come see My Skyline V35 535Kw that's also for sale
  (located on the Lotus Car Club Display)
• reply ” like !

  

  Alan Li says,
  4 years ago

  I should be there for a look Carl.
  
  I haven't seen you since the Skylines Australia dyno day 2-3 years ago, back when your V35 was still in its freshly-imported condition.