2011 2012 Nissan Auto Cars Reviews

Nissan turned up at the Nurburgring in force recently, armed with no less than three GT-Rs, one white with left-hand drive. and two right-hand drive silver-colored test cars. This test is rather timely given that chief engineer Kazutoshi Mizuno announced earlier in June at a launch in Australia that his R&D team is currently testing alternative powertrains “to keep the GT-R relevant,” as he put it.

Given the company’s recent tie-up with Daimler, hybrid and electric motivation is not out of the question. “While we have several options, we haven’t decided which way we will lean,” Mizuno says. Mizuno did hint that it was unlikely that a diesel or a flex-fuel powertrain would power a future GT-R.

We’d heard rumors about two more special edition models — a Cup Car and the SpecM — under development, and now we have evidence in the sheetmetal. According to an insider close to Nissan, the test mules are still powered by Nissan’s gas-powered 3.8-liter twin turbo V-6. Mizuno has said in the past that his team would regularly launch special-edition GT-Rs. So far we have officially seen the limited-edition $150,000 SpecV fitted with six-piston carbon ceramic brakes and a unique boost mechanism. The new Cup Car competition prototype, which will employ lightweight body parts including a new carbon-fiber rear wing, is the right-hand drive silver coupe you see pictured here. It employs the SpecV’s brake package, white brake calipers, and unique lightweight wheels. The SpecM gets standard wheels and more luxurious front seats, and a left-hand drive model (the white car pictured) is destined for the U.S., European and Middle East markets.