2024 Nissan GT-R First Look Review: Never Say Die
The R35 Nissan GT-R simply doesn't know when to call it quits. Although the legendary sports car has been discontinued in some markets in what seemed like a sign of things to come for Americans, a newly facelifted 2024 model has just been unveiled in Japan with redesigned, R34-inspired looks, the return of the T-spec trim level, and the familiar 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine that churns out 565 horsepower or 600 horses in Nismo guise, a high-performance model that we review separately. It's remarkable that a car that went into production late in 2007 has been given a new lease of life once more, but in an age of increasingly sanitized electrified cars, the frenetic GT-R with its shattering acceleration is a reassuring reminder of how things were. Let's see how competitive the iconic Nissan still is.
When Is The Nissan GT-R Coming Out?
The release date for the Nissan GT-R has been set for this spring, with the Nismo scheduled to arrive in the summer. In Japan, a Nismo Special Edition will also be coming out as part of a more comprehensive lineup than customers in the USA will see.
2024 Nissan GT-R Price And Competition
No price for the 2024 Nissan GT-R coupe has yet been published. For reference, the 2023 model begins at an MSRP of $113,540, increasing massively to $210,740 for the Nismo variant.
At these extreme prices, the GT-R finds itself competing with far more modern supercars like the Porsche 911 and Audi R8. These both have plenty of performance but the quality and technology to go with it, too. There is also the brilliant Chevrolet Corvette Z06 that will cost a lot less than the Nismo, but getting hold of the Z06 is no easy task.
New Nissan GT-R Exterior And Colors
While its profile remains unmistakable, detail changes to the exterior of the Nissan GT-R have nicely freshened up its appearance, but with a nostalgic twist. The car now has new front and rear fascias, with the split front bumper and slim grille resembling the R34 Skyline GT-R. The headlights have been restyled, and there are LED fog lights with a distinctive hexagon graphic. Together with optimized bumper sides, these changes successfully give the GT-R a more modern appearance than before.
Moving around the car, eagle-eyed GT-R fans will notice a reshaped rear wings which contributes to improved aerodynamics. The T-spec is distinguished by special badging, black hood ducts, and a carbon fiber rear spoiler. On the Nismo, the new wing has a surface area that's larger by nearly 10%. The Nismo also sports changes to the front lip, rear diffuser, and canards.
The standard GT-R Premium has 20-inch RAYS aluminum-alloy forged wheels, while the T-Spec gets lightweight nine-spoke RAYS forged wheels with a gold finish. Dunlop Sport Maxx GT600 ultra-high-performance run-flat tires are standard, with a Nismo-specific compound for the T-spec. As for the Nismo, it also has 20-inch forged wheels, replete with a black finish or optional red accents.
Some of the new Nissan GT-R coupe's colors serve as throwbacks to some of the rarest R34 models, including Millenium Jade and Midnight Purple, both exclusive to the T-spec. The latter, for instance, is a modern version of the Midnight Purple III shade found on the R34 GT-R V-Spec.
For the Nismo, there is a new Nismo Appearance Package that includes those red accents for the wheels, a special engine cover design, and a unique clear coat for the carbon fiber hood. This model also comes with an exclusive Stealth Gray color.
Nissan GT-R Dimensions
The primary dimensions of the Nissan GT-R have remained largely unchanged. It rides on a 109.4-inch wheelbase and measures 185.4 inches in length, 74.6 inches in width, and 53.9 inches in height. The Nismo differs slightly with its 184.6-inch length.
In terms of curb weights, the Premium and T-spec both weigh 3,935 pounds, whereas the Nismo comes in at 3,867 lbs.
Nissan GT-R Engine And Performance
The engine in the 2024 Nissan GT-R is the same VR38DETT 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 that generates specs of 565 hp and 467 lb-ft of torque. Last refined for the 2020 model year, the V6 directs power to all four corners and comes with a six-speed dual-clutch transaxle as standard.
As the car is mostly mechanically unchanged, we expect the same 0-60 mph time of around 2.7 seconds, something the GT-R has been able to achieve in real-world testing thanks to a very effective launch control system. The Nismo will shave another two-tenths or so off that time due to it carrying less weight around and having greater outputs of 600 hp and 481 lb-ft. If there is a downside to the V6, it's been noise levels when you're driving more sedately, but Nissan says that noise and vibration have been reduced in the latest GT-R.
As always, the GT-R is a blast to drive at speeds that would be terrifying in many other cars. In the context of modern sports cars, it feels alive and bristles with feedback, and there is grip aplenty to exploit.
All models have Brembo brakes, but the T-spec uses the larger, carbon-ceramic rotors from the Nismo. Speaking of the Nismo, it now comes with a front limited-slip differential for the first time, further enhancing this model's ability to put down its immense power.
Gas Mileage
Official EPA ratings have not been revealed yet but it shouldn't be any different from the latest available figures of 16/22/18 mpg city/highway/combined. With a 19.5-gallon gas tank, that translates to a range of 351 miles.
Nissan GT-R Interior And Cargo
The latest Nissan GT-R's interior has been the beneficiary of some very attractive seating and material upgrades. Visually, the Nismo's new Recaro seats (pictured below) with synthetic suede inserts and red stitching look fantastic. They have Nismo and Recaro insignia stitched into the upper portion, and minimal padding with several cutouts for a truly sporty, dramatic effect. The seats in the standard Nissan GT-R are bucket-style items with leather and synthetic suede, while the T-spec comes with semi-aniline and suede upholstery in Mori Green.
Elsewhere inside the cabin, woven carbon fiber, Alcantara, and leather are used liberally. Red is used to highlight the starter button, shift knob, and 12-o'clock marker on the steering wheel.
While it's a racy environment that gets one excited about the prospect of hard driving, the GT-R's technology continues to lag behind more modern alternatives. The NissanConnect system uses a small eight-inch touchscreen interface and Android Auto is noticeable by its absence, but at least Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM, navigation, and HD Radio are all included. All models have an 11-speaker Bose sound system that includes nine speakers and two subwoofers.
The cargo space in the Nissan GT-R measures 8.8 cubic feet, which is beaten by some other coupes but makes the Nissan more practical than several supercar rivals. The GT-R's coupe body also has the benefit of a second row, but it is far from spacious back there.