2017 Nissan GT-R Nismo breaks cover

Track-focused Nismo version of the Nissan GT-R has been unveiled at Nurburgring.

You’d hardly find anyone complaining about the Nissan GT-R not being ‘hardcore’ enough – except for its maker, perhaps. And that seems to be the case because Nissan has just unveiled the Nismo version of the sportscar, roughly two months after the debut of the facelifted GT-R. Billed as the 2017 GT-R Nismo, the new version is claimed to be more mental and faster than the standard car.

The new GT-R Nismo made its debut at the Nurburgring racetrack in Germany – a place where it’s been honed and perfected, says Nissan. Design wise, it looks largely similar to the standard model, save for a few vital details. For example, its bonnet has been restyled and made stiffer than before so as to cope with the aerodynamic pressure. The front bumper has also been given a similar treatment, but unlike the standard model, it is layered with carbon-fibre on the Nismo derivative. The canards have also been redesigned to generate more downforce, thereby, improving road-grip, allowing drivers to tear up any racetrack around the globe. Nissan also claims that this model generates more downforce than any other Nissan production car to date.

The engine remains unchanged from the outgoing Nismo version, which is not a bad thing. The 2017 GT-R Nismo incorporates the same 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6 that develops 592bhp of maximum power and 652Nm of peak-torque. Power is sent to all four wheels via a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Thanks to that, the GT-R Nismo will do 0-100km/h within 2.6 seconds before hitting a top-speed of 315km/h.

To put the power down effectively, Nissan engineers have made some significant chassis revisions by fitting uprated dampers, stiffer springs and anti-roll bars. All of this combined has made the new GT-R Nismo 2 per cent quicker in slalom and cornering tests, claims Nissan.

Interiors of the new GT-R Nismo have also been revised, sporting the same design and layout as the facelifted model. The Nismo version, however, comes with Alcantara-trimmed dashboard, carbon-fibre console and Recaro leather seats with red synthetic suede inserts.

The 2017 Nissan GT-R will be assembled in Japan and shipped out to other parts of the world. It’s unlikely that we will see the Nismo version make it to India, but don't be disappointed since the ‘standard’ GT-R is anyway headed our way this September!

Also read: 2017 Nissan GT-R unveiled