Drooling Over the 2013 Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3

For the past few years Nissan has been recognized among racers both amateur and professional for its development of the Supercar Killer, or more officially recognized as the Nissan GT-R. Since the GT-R debuted in December 2007 (replacing the Skyline model), Nissan and its highly respected racing division – Nismo – have labored to bring the car dubbed Godzilla to its peak performance potential and beyond.

This month marks the newest chapter in Japanese car manufacture as Nissan is now taking orders for their 2013 GT-R NISMO GT3. Are you drooling yet? No? Just keep reading…

What Difference Does 1 Year Make to a GT3?

While the Nissan GT-R was originally manufactured from late 2007, it wasn’t until March of 2012 that the car was available in GT3 configuration. In its first official racing debut at the Magny-Cours Circuit last August, the GT-R GT3 easily placed eighth out of 35 entries, and sixth in its class.

All that to say, the 2012 model of Nissan’s GT-R GT3 has proven itself nothing short of excellent, so you might be wondering what could possibly be improved in the span of just one year.

Well, have a look for yourself: The 2013 GT-R GT3 boasts several significant improvements over its predecessor:

The Engine – Obviously in any performance car the engine will be the primary focus for improvements. Due to the FIA GT3 regulations, the engine for the GT-R GT3 must remain relatively untouched compared to its streetcar counterpart, although it can be slightly adjusted for racing performance. So, the 3.8 Liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine has been retuned to output 543hp and 637Nm. In addition, several of the engine’s moving parts have been complemented with various reinforcements to allow for more vigorous use on the racetrack.

The Body – NISMO has upgraded many of the GT-R GT3’s aerodynamic components from 2012. For example, the front canards have been significantly enlarged for increased control at high speeds. The louvers on the front fender have also been widened to force more air through the braking system for increased reliability at high temperatures. You will also notice more prominent rear wings for maximum downforce.

The Internals – Across the board the internals of the 2013 Nissan GT-R GT3 have been adjusted to ultimately give the driver the ability to fine-tune their vehicle. Everything from the brakes to the suspension to the dashboard have been redesigned with the intent of maximum control. The transmission has been made more durable, but otherwise remains the same.

How Do I Get One?

Well, you can’t actually have your own just yet. As with the 2012 model, the newest GT-R will be built on demand to avoid any excess production. This month marks the period when Japanese car manufacturer Nissan will begin taking orders for the 2013 GT-R GT3 from all over the world, and actual production is expected to begin very early next year (assuming the same schedule as 2012).

As far as price is concerned, next year’s GT-R will cost about $430,000 depending on whether you live in Japan, North America, or Europe. That’s about $40,000 more expensive than the 2012 GT-R GT3, but hopefully by now you see that the price hike is with good reason.

In the end, the 2013 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 is a spectacular Japanese car that is sure to make waves in the racing world. After all, that is what Nissan is all about. Expect to see this car placing in GT3 races throughout Europe and Japan in 2013. And in the meantime, watch this video of the car being tested and tweaked on the Fuji Speedway:

SOURCE: Carscoop