On the 19th day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a new ’09 GT-R! Yeah right, but who doesn’t wish for that? Official launch details on the release on the almighty Nissan Skyline GT-R’s successor have finally emerged from the 2008 Tokyo Motor Show floor. Nissan has confirmed the 2009 Nissan GT-R will go on sale in Japan on December 6th. The North American launch will likely follow four to six months later. Rest assured the waiting list will fill up fast.
The all-wheel drive two-door super sedan known as the Nissan GT-R will boast an all-new twin-turbo 3.8-litre V-6 engine with plasma-sprayed bores and unique twin-turbo exhaust manifold. The new engine, codenamed VR38DETT, has us really excited for a test drive; and, with its rated 473 hp at 6,400 rpm and 433 lb-ft of torque coming on from 3,200 to 5,200 rpm, the potent combination ought to yield some serious gut-wrenching g-forces. A new GR6-type dual clutch transmission with paddle shifting and a Borg Warner six-plate dual clutch will put down the power while a secondary air management system enables the newly-designed powerplant to sustain about 290 lb-ft of torque for ordinary low-rev daily driving behaviour. The resulting air-fuel ratio is optimal for around-town efficiency and therefore helps the Nissan GT-R meet ultra-low emission vehicle (U-LEV) standards in Japan.
For a vehicle with a rich racing history like this one, it’s fitting that the new Nissan GT-R will run in the GT500 class in the 2008 SUPER GT Championship series in Japan with Nismo. The successful GT-R moniker last competed four years ago, winning the Japan GT Championship in 2003. Testing is slated to be getting underway very soon, however, details on the vehicle’s specifications and team are being withheld until February 2008.
Plus, I found this video of me riding shotgun in a HKS-tuned Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 at the 2005 SEMA Show while partaking in a Pioneer press event. Check it out!