Nissan GT-R receives a nip-and-tuck

Nissan has introduced a series of minor but key updates to the GT-R as it enters its second year of production. The updates available only for European GT-Rs include new front spring and damper rates, which are said to improve ride comfort and stiffer suspension bushes at the rear giving improved feel and responsiveness during cornering.

The logic which controls torque distribution between the front and rear axles when the GT-R is manoeuvring at low speeds when fluids are cold, has been altered to reduce rear-axle ‘binding’. Also, the logic in the gearbox has been changed to give a later downshift from 6th to 5th when driven in automatic mode, but a more aggressive downshift pattern when changing down from 4th to 3rd, and from 3rd to 2nd gear.

To improve cooling around the rear of the car, two additional NACA cooling ducts have been added to the carbon fibre underfloor diffuser which will provide additional cooling to the exhaust and gearbox. Furthermore, a new, larger diameter pipe connecting the oil cooler will reduce gearbox temperatures.

Earlier this year some problems were reported by US GT-R owners which related to the first gear cog in the gearbox, which under stress can develop cracks and then fail entirely, causing destruction of the gearbox. Part of this problem appeared to be due to the over-use of launch control, but some owners have chosen to upgrade first gear and the input shaft with stronger parts anyway.

Nissan took the decision to remove the launch control function in response to these issues, and now this improved cooling and reprogrammed logic control should have banished these issues for good. Hopefully.

Another small, but significant update has been to the front transmission mount, which has been stiffened, reducing vibration through the drive-line under high-load conditions. Also, the balance of the electronic brakeforce distribution bias has been moved slightly rearwards, giving greater braking stability in dry conditions, while a change in design of the rear brake cross spring has reduced noise and a modified air deflector increases rear brake cooling.

Changes to the engine management systems now ensure that the GT-R is Euro 5 compliant, without a loss of performance, whilst CO2 emissions have dropped by 3g to 295g/km.

Visually, front and rear bumpers now benefit from a double coat of clear paint, providing a deeper finish to the base colour, while inside the speedometer and rev counter now sport gun metallic finish surrounds.

Finally, uprated insulation has been fitted to the rear seats, which is said to improve cabin refinement.

A number of additional improvements have been made inside the GT-R, which is now equipped with Nissan’s latest generation combined audio and navigation system featuring a 40GB Hard Disk Drive (HDD), improved 3D maps, touch-screen interface and the option to select on-screen instructions in 8 different languages and voice recognition in a choice of 7 languages.

Since the start of European sales earlier this year, Nissan has delivered a total of over 1600 GT-Rs to customers, with waiting lists continuing to grow.