ARTICLE LINKY
Any Nissan GT-R enthusiast will tell you, the most potent variant has always had a "Spec V" emblem on it. It was true with the R34, and it's true with the R35, the current GT-R. We didn't know if Nissan was even going to build a SpecV variant of the new GT-R until several months ago, and since then, information about the car had been sketchy. Well, there's some good news and some bad. The good? The SpecV is officially on sale, and it's every bit as good as you would expect. The bad? It's not going on sale in the U.S.
When you look at the new GT-R's specifications, they don't seem that different from the base car's. Under the hood is the same VR38DETT engine, with output increased a mere 5 bhp to 485 bhp; torque remains at 434 lb.-ft. But when you drop your butt down into the seats and get the car going, it's immediately apparent that this is far from the base GT-R.
The first thing you notice when you climb into the SpecV is it's a 2-seater. The rear seats have been removed, leaving two large crevices lined with what Nissan claims is the same quilted fabric used inside fighter jets. Push the Start Engine button, and the V-6 lets out a deeper and more melodic song, thanks to a new exhaust with titanium-coated dual pipes. As in the 2010 GT-R, the GT-R SpecV's "launch control" has been reprogrammed to work at slightly lower rpm.
There's no wheel chirp when the SpecV leaves the line, just a smooth non-dramatic pop. When the engine is fully unleashed, it revs so fast that you have to anticipate reaching the rev limiter, flicking the upshift paddle just as it hits 7000 rpm. The SpecV is more than 130 lb. lighter, and you can feel the difference when leaving the line. Our black test car hit 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. Once the upshift to 4th was made, the car's High Geared Boost Control kicks in, giving you an added shot of power in gears 4, 5 and 6. This technology was created to help the SpecV squirt out of medium-speed corners, providing an extra helping of torque at lower engine speeds. It also helped the car post an impressive quarter-mile time of 11.3 seconds at 124.8 mph.
The SpecV's stopping power was phenomenal. Giant carbon ceramic vented discs have been installed front and rear, along with special ceramic pads. They combined to provide amazing stopping power and little fade, even after extended hot-lapping. By themselves, these brakes cost an astounding $50,000 per set.
On a handling course, the SpecV handled like a lightweight sports car, with improved steering feel and response. The car's basic suspension setup remains the same, but the SpecV gets special Bilstein shocks, which kept the GT-R SpecV composed through all types of corners and provided a surprisingly even ride. And it scorched our handling tests, weaving through the slalom at 74.6 mph and circling the skidpad at 1.10g.
No word as to when, or if, the SpecV will come to the U.S., but we're keeping our fingers crossed. As of now, Japan is the only country where it is being sold. The GT-R SpecV is one of those special cars that don't come by very often, and it would be a shame if the Americans were left out of this party.
