What began as a machine built to humiliate supercars by showing them that class-leading performance could be had at half the cost has splintered to become a family of Nissan GT-R variants, some of which are priced high enough to do away with the thrift argument that favored the speedy Japanese supercar. Now it seems that Nissan wants to seal the gap between the standard GT-R and GT-R NISMO with a new car, the GT-R Track Edition. Think of it as a GT-R Grand Sport if you will.

That's because, as with the Corvette Grand Sport, power output remains what it is in the base car while chassis tweaks and aerodynamics hardware is borrowed from the more hardcore vehicle, in this case the GT-R NISMO. With the former of the current GT-Rs starting at $109,990 and the latter coming in at no less than $174,990, there is a canyon of a price difference between the two cars, one that will now be bridged by the Track Edition's $127,990 base price. Changes from the standard GT-R start with the additional adhesive bonding on the body, which combines with spot welding to increase body shell rigidity. This is all done to make a good foundation for the GT-R NISMO suspension that's added to the Track Edition.

That upgrades the GT-R Premium by adding four-wheel independent suspension tuned by NISMO, reducing weight, adding roll stiffness, and installing NISMO-spec tires to help turn the GT-R into the GT-R Track Edition. Dipping down from the GT-R NISMO range are the wide front fenders, 20-inch wheels, carbon fiber rear spoiler, and a red and black interior color treatment with high-grip Recaro seats. Nissan's signature V-motion grille has been revised to offer better engine cooling while adding a matte chrome finish and a new mesh pattern. Aft of that is a reinforced hood that helps stability during high speed driving, which is a good thing considering it's housing the familiar 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 engine underneath.

No tweaks occur here because the engine makes the same 565 horsepower and 467 lb-ft of torque as the GT-R Premium. Other GT-R goodies are thrown in including a simplified switch layout along with an 8-inch touch panel monitor, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, NissanConncet and its associated suite of apps, a Bose Active Noise Cancellation system, and a titanium exhaust. If this is the defining GT-R you were waiting to for in order to be convinced to buy Nissan's super sports car, then be sure to rush to the dealership soon because the GT-R Track Edition will be available by the end of summer following a first sighting at the upcoming New York Auto Show.