2012 Nissan GT-R

POWERTRAIN

Beyond Powerful
Press the Nissan GT-R’s accelerator and you feel more than raw power.  The 530-hp twin-turbo V6 may be massive in strength, yet it’s highly refined, even in earning ULEV-II emissions rating.  Rather than traditional cast-iron liners, each cylinder features a unique plasma coating on cylinder walls, with an independent intake system for each bank of cylinders.  Then GT-R’s powerful twin turbo takes advantage of a Premium Midship design for balance, where much of the engine sits back in the chassis.  Uniquely brilliant, built to perform. 

One man, one engine
From start to finish, each GT-R engine is handcrafted by its own master engine-builder in a climate-controlled “clean room.”  Each twin-turbo V6 is precisely assembled from lightweight, highly durable aluminum and magnesium parts.  It takes the exacting standards of the plant’s most talented and devoted engine builders to produce the engine that has redefined what a supercar can be. 

Born ready to race
Outside the clean room, technicians install the external components, including a magnesium oil pan and lightweight, racing-derived twin turbochargers, which are integrated with the intake manifolds for high strength with lighter weight.  Once complete, an hour-long test provides initial break-in of the engine and verifications of key specifications.  A total of 44 minutes of operation from idle to holding at redline for 10 minutes helps provide instant assurance of lasting durability. 

Shifts the world of transmissions
Two clutches, no clutch pedal.  GT-R’s paddle-shifted 6-speed sequential dual clutch transmission shifts as quickly as 0.2 seconds when in R-Mode.  Inside are separate clutches for the odd and even gears.  When in an odd-numbered gear, the adjacent even-numbered gear is “pre-selected,” ready to make the shift immediately.  Then to achieve ideal front-to-rear weight distribution, GT-R’s clutches, transmission and transfer case are mounted in the rear of the chassis, creating the world’s first independent rear transaxle for an All-Wheel Drive Vehicle. 

DRIVER SETTINGS

Optimizes on the fly for custom performance
At the heart of the Nissan GT-R’s “anyone, anytime, anywhere” performance is an innovative system of three switches that lets you redefine your driving experience with on-the-fly adjustment of the transmission suspensions and VDC stability control.  Supercar performance with amazing flexibility at the touch of a switch.

Transmission
Flip a switch, engage R-MODE, and paddle shifters are at their quickest.

R-MODE
For maximum performance with quickest shifts
NORMAL MODE
For maximum smoothness and efficiency
SAVE MODE
Alters the transmission characteristics for gentler torque delivery for smooth driving on slippery surfaces.

Suspension
Always light on its feet, the system can self-adjust on the fly or be locked into track settings to minimize lean and help ensure composure

R-MODE
Engages maximum damping rate for high-performance cornering
NORMAL MODE
For automatic electronic control of damping
COMFORT MODE
To minimize freeway hop and ride harshness on rough roads

VDC
Accelerate out of a curve with even greater control.  Set the VDC-R to R-mode and it teams up with the AWD to actually send more torque to a specific wheel. 

R-MODE
For ultimate performance.  Raises the threshold at which the system intervenes.
NORMAL MODE
For daily driving.  Controls brakes and engine output.
OFF MODE
Disengages the VDC system. 

AERODYNAMICS

Air becomes power
Low drag, minimal lift, or effective cooling of the running gear: the laws of aerodynamics say choose one.  Nissan GT-R’s engineers refused to comply, refining every body detail to optimize the airflow over, under and through the vehicle.  Even the underbody is fully sheathead, including a rear diffuser tray made of carbon fiber.  So despite its 0.26 drag coefficient, the GT-R harnesses the wind to run cooler and not just eliminate lift but actually generate downforce. 

Making performance out of thin air
- Rear spoiler creates downforce
- Creased “Sword-edge” C-pillars help direct air
- Vents  at the back of front fenders reduce pressure in front wheel arches and help vent the brakes
- Blades on the edges of the front fenders provide optimum airflow
- Grille opening and functional hood scoops optimize cooling

Use the air to your advantage
- A series of composite panels help create a smooth surface to reduce obstructions
- Front and rear air diffusers help funnel air, creating downforce
- Air enters 3 intake ducts, channeling it to cool the transmission and transaxle. 

STRUCTURE

Challenging tradition at every point
The GT-R combines all of Nissan’s best thinking.  Building one true supercar that has performance in its DNA.

Advanced to its very core
To provide a rigid platform, Nissan engineers pioneered a unique hybrid body using high-strength steel, die-cast aluminum, carbon fiber and composite materials.  The front shock housing is a single die-cast aluminum structure.  A lightweight carbon-composite radiator crossmember helps keep weight off front wheels.  Then for maximum performance, the chassis utilizes lightweight but super-strong aluminum.  Even below the chassis, lightweight carbon fiber, polypropylene and fiberglass are used to create aerodynamic downforce.

Lean and Mean
Key suspension components and wheels made of lightweight forged aluminum help reduce unsprung weight, allowing the suspension to respond more quickly to the road, and the steering respond more quickly to driver input.  By reducing rotational mass with items like a carbon-fiber driveshaft and lightweight engine components, the engine not only spins more freely but the weight reduction also improves vehicle performance.  And lightweight wheels turn more easily, allowing quicker acceleration and braking. 

Virtuoso Performance
During assembly, “jigs” are used to hold body panels and components precisely in place.  After construction, every single GT-R body undergoes a grueling vibration test.  With sensors attached in numerous locations, the shaking of the body helps assure that every weld is solid, and that the body is ready to begin a life of enthusiastic use.

The ultimate finish
Unique to the optional Super Silver paint color is its extensive hand-polishing between each coat – performed under three different light sources, to reveal any imperfections. 

DYNAMICS

Smart shocks
The Bilstein® DampTronic® system uses computerized control to continually adjust shock absorber damping.  It constantly monitors 11 elements, including vehicle speed, lateral acceleration, torque, engine rpm and braking behavior to help provide the ideal ride/handling balance.

Biased Performance
Instead of the traditional 50/50 torque split between front and rear axles, GT-R’s All-Wheel Drive system provides up to 100% of available torque to rear wheels, and can send up to 50% of torque to the front wheels.  Providing the steering feel and response of a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, while giving the added confidence that only AWD can offer.

Huge in every way
GT-R’s massive 15.4’’ front rotors and 15.0’’ rear rotors are designed to shed high speeds, so they can easily tame a long downhill run.  As the brakes heat up, unique “floating disc” rotors expand freely from their hubs.  Diamond-pattern ventilation inside each disc rapidly extract heat and ducting in the wheel wells sweep it away.

Born to perform
Track time is every GT-R’s birthright.  Fresh off the production line, its first drive is an eight-lap break-in run on Nissan’s Tochigi test track.  Tuning and turbo boost are verified at every range of rpm.   Three hard laps bed the brake pads to the rotors.  A few hard corners seat the suspension bushings.  After a post-run realignment, your Nissan GT-R is ready to play, right out of the box.

DATA CENTER

Virtual meets reality
Like everything else in the GT-R, we rethought the way the driver receives information.  And we collaborated with Polyphony Digital®, the creators of the world-famous Gran Turismo™ driving game in the design of this system.  To be engaging and informative.  GT-R’s Multi-Function Display system provides quick readability with the flexibility of multiple customizable displays.

Seven factory preset screens give you quick access to key driving information, including acceleration, braking, steering, gear position and lap time. 

Four customizable performance screens are designed for organizing key information to personal tastes.  Choose from several engine performance and efficiency parameters to cornering and acceleration/braking G-forces.  Even keep a driving record of laps, to analyze and improve. 

INNOVATIONS

Brake Override Technology
A vital component of the Nissan Safety Shield, Brake Override Technology has been standard on every Nissan vehicle since 2005.