Nissan GT-R Gold Edition Comes for 2016
Nissan has managed to update their GT-R supercar every year since its debut in 2007. This week they’ve unveiled specs for their updated 2016 model year, and with it a new limited edition variant. It’s the Nissan GT-R Gold Edition, and it’s a commemoration of the GT-R’s 45th anniversary.
Just to set the records straight, the R35 GT-R (the model we’ve loved since 2007) was the first GT-R under Nissan’s primary marque. However, it succeeded the R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R, aka. the Skyline GT-R, which was the car that originally earned the “Godzilla” nickname. In fact, first references to the GT-R as “Godzilla” can be traced all the way back to 1989 when it was in its R32 form. The original PGC10 Skyline GT-R was produced from 1969 to 1973 as a way to showcase Nissan’s racing prowess.
We mention this tidbit of history because the “Silica Brass” paint job that Nissan has used for the limited edition exterior is the exact same hue they used back in 2001 for the first R34 Skyline GT-R model.
So, how do you get one of these golden supercars for yourself?
Starting price for the standard Nissan GT-R Base Premium is the same as last year at $101,770. The Black Edition and NISMO models also stay the same at $111,510 and $149,990 respectively. If you’d like one of the Gold edition models, you’ll have to order a Base Premium trim and pay an extra $1,000 for the gold paintjob and a 45th anniversary plaque on the center console.
Just $1,000 extra for a limited edition model sounds like a good deal to us, and it is, so you should contact your dealer ASAP since Nissan’s only planning to sell 30 Gold Edition models in the US.
Other than the Gold Edition, both the Premium and Black Edition models will get a slight 5 hp power increase for 2016, up to 542 hp (550PS) thanks to a few engine tweaks. However, pumping more power through the GT-R’s twin-turbocharged engine hasn’t made the car any more efficient, so fuel economy is still rated at 16 mpg city / 22 mpg highway.
Finally, Nissan’s also added some slick-looking Rays 20-spoke forged aluminum alloys to the Premium trim (which also get carried over to the Gold Edition).
Japanese Car Auction Find – 2002 Nissan Skyline GT-R
The folks over at Car Throttle just published a really cool side-by-side comparison between the old R34 GT-R and the current R35.
Naturally, the R35 won out in every single area; the only close comparison was in braking ability, which is due to the exceptionally large brakes of the R34 and the increased weight of the R35.
Still, R34 GT-Rs like the one up for auction here are an awesome collector’s car. This is a car with soul, and it’s the car most people think of when they hear “Godzilla”. They’re hard to find, the look is iconic, the performance is nostalgic and fun, and you’ll be impressed by just how fast you can go with the manufacturer-stated 280 hp. Despite being nearly a decade and a half old, it can still blast from 0 to 60 in 4.5 seconds.
For more information, checkout the auction sheet translation below:
“Interior B, exterior condition B, first registered July 2002, GT-R model, 6-speed manual, AC, Endless brake calipers, HKS turbine and intercooler and computer and adjustable suspension and muffler and injectors and EVC, Trust radiator, ATS clutch (carbon fiber), LSD, Kin Pro 600 HP specification, lots of modifications, odometer replaced with Nismo item on October 2 2011, there is a sticker showing the odometer replacement record, the odometer was replaced at 24147KM and the current odometer reads 1342KM, lots of matt carbon fiber parts, stone chips in front windscreen, interior grime, end panel distortion, rear bumper reinforcement replaced, light scratches and waves, marks as per map”
