Nissan GT-R NISMO Confirmed for 2014
Apparently it’s Nissan week here at Integrity Exports, because we just can’t stop talking about them. But it’s not our fault – are we supposed to NOT cover confirmation that the Nissan GT-R is getting NISMO treatment? I don’t think so!
We first heard the news about the new addition to the NISMO lineup earlier this week when Nissan’s motorsport division opened their new headquarters in Yokohama, Japan. Nissan’s CEO, Carlos Ghosn, made a presentation on the Japanese brand’s performance arm, discussing what the new headquarters meant for Nissan and where drivers can expect NISMO to go in the coming years. Apparently, NISMO will become Nissan’s exclusive developer of high-performance vehicles. It was in this presentation that Ghosn confidently exclaimed that, “it would be unthinkable for us to develop a range of NISMO road cars without including the GT-R.”
Some of you will remember that just last year – almost a year ago today, in fact – Nissan unveiled the GT-R Track Edition. However, the GT-R in all its varieties has continued gaining popularity, and I agree with Ghosn that it just seems ‘right’ to produce a NISMO-tuned version of the Japanese brand’s primary performance car. Nissan says that the GT-R NISMO will be the flagship vehicle for the entire NISMO lineup. You can expect the ever-more-popular Nissan GT-R NISMO to go on sale sometime in 2014.
Other than a nonspecific release date, we really don’t know very much about what the Nissan GT-R will get from its NISMO tune-up. However, we do know where engineers will be drawing their inspiration from… Actual motorsport events the GT-R has recently competed in, such as the Nürburgring 24 Hours race. They will then use that information to develop a race-worthy vehicle accessible to the everyday buyer.
Still, it’s hard to imagine what more Nissan could pump into the GT-R. The newest model, which is technically dubbed the 2014 Nissan GT-R, just received a massive refresh this year. The 2014 GT-R features an improved aesthetic, better aerodynamics, a more stable chassis, and an incredibly powerful engine with 545hp. Even after all that, Nissan says the NISMO version will leave the current, already-impressive GT-R in the dust.
With any luck Nissan will allow us to see a concept prototype of the GT-R NISMO sometime during the first half of 2013. They certainly have their hands full with the upcoming Leaf NISMO, but when the CEO himself can’t wait to get behind the wheel of an upcoming vehicle, you know it’ll get the fast-track – “The GT-R NISMO will be special and I can’t wait to drive it,” said Carlos Ghosn. I’m sure a few of you feel the same way.
If you’re really desperate, check out the Nissan 370Z NISMO that’s already available – It may suffice until the GT-R NISMO comes out next year.
Image: The Motor Report
Sources: Car and Driver, Motor Authority
