Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Nissan GT-R Spec V (2009) CAR review


This is the ultimate GT-R. While Porsche has RS, Lamborghini has SV and BMW has M, Nissan’s best GT-Rs (or Skylines) have come with a V-Spec designation. Now reversed, the Spec V is Nissan’s newest GT-R, with carbon brakes, a stripped-out interior and a bank balance-breaking £115k price tag.


So what turns a ‘regular’ Nissan GT-R into a Nissan GT-R Spec V?
At the current exchange rate? Somewhere in the region of £55-£60k, or the price of a second GT-R on your driveway. Gulp. Most of that cost comes from the Spec V’s carbon brakes, which cost around £35k. The reason for the extra expense, says Nissan, is that the discs feature a higher carbon content than you’ll find in the equivalent Porsche, Lambo or Bentley stoppers.
Along with the brakes, the Spec V also features a new front splitter with carbon ducts to help cool the carbon discs, a carbon rear wing, some more black stuff to replace the hefty rear seats, and a special steering wheel-mounted boost button. Very KERS.


All the above is exclusive to the Spec V, but the rest of the tweaks – including manually adjustable carbon Recaro seats, a new diffuser and titanium-coated exhaust, black forged Rays wheels, performance-orientated rubber and fixed-rate suspension – are available for your regular GT-R through Nissan’s Nismo motorsport outfit.