2012 Nissan GT-R Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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When the Nissan GT-R first debuted, it was ceremoniously dubbed Godzilla. This was wrong for two reasons. First, "Godzilla" is a parable about western influence over Japan and the aftermath of the atomic bomb, with the great monster rising from the depths to invade Asian shores. The GT-R is certainly a monster, but it’s American shores it decided to stomp all over. Second, Godzilla dies at the end of the first movie, and certainly nothing can kill the GT-R.
With this, the first “update” to the mad monster, it seems Godzilla is raiding again, and just like in the sequel, this time there’s no way to kill it.
GT-R chief engineer Kazutoshi Mizuno always considered the first iteration to be a bit of a practice run, promising the “real” GT-R would arrive later. It seems he’s now happy with his creation. While the changes are small, the effects are big – big enough to drop 0-60 times down to 2.88 seconds. That’s fast enough to start causing blackouts in unsuspecting passengers. Power was bumped up 45 hp and 54 lb-ft of torque for new totals of 530 and 488, respectively. Those are massive number from a 3.8-liter V6, even with two turbos. Despite this, economy has increased as well to 16 city mpg/23 highway, with a combined 19 mpg, thanks to the tweaking and tuning the GT-R has received.
That comes in the form of ECU tuning and revised valve timing, as well as hardware upgrades like a larger intake and a redesigned exhaust system. To help bring things to a stop, there are now larger 15.4-inch front brake rotors (replacing 15-inch units from last year), lighter and stiffer wheels, and a carbon composite front strut bar to increase torsional rigidity. Aerodynamics were attended to as well, and new louvers in the front splitter channel cool air to the radiator and front brakes, while a new rear diffuser and further cooling upgrades can be found as well. This all increases downforce while decreasing drag coefficient and fuel consumption. Not a bad bit of changes at all.
If that wasn’t enough, the interior got some attention too, with Nissan looking to make the GT-R more visually representative of its monumental pricetag – which only continues to climb. That means a new carbon-fiber center stack, matte-black switches and a massaged instrument panel surround. Buyers who are trading in their 2011 GT-R will also notice reshaped front seats. On top of all that, the new GT-R Black Edition upgrades even further with lighter blackout wheels, a black and red interior, and leather Recaro seats.
Yes, it’s the GT-R that Mizuno always wanted, but it’s not sticking around for long. Nissan plans to switch to a new platform after 2013, and who knows what will rise out of the depths on that day? Hopefully the new version will offer a traditional manual as opposed to the dual-clutch system the GT-R gets, and a bit of weight shaved off this 3,900-pound behemoth wouldn’t hurt either. But then, Godzilla was never known for being svelte.
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2012 Nissan GT-R Pricing
Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: diversity · USB auxiliary audio input · Hard Drive: 9.3GB · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: Bose · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 2 subwoofers · Total Number of Speakers: 9
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Front brake diameter: 15.0 · Front brake width: 1.3 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Premium brakes: Brembo · Rear brake diameter: 15.0 · Rear brake width: 1.2 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Center console trim: leather · Dash trim: leather · Door trim: leather · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Foot pedal trim: aluminum · Parking brake trim: leather · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: rear · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Easy entry: manual driver seat · Multi-function remote: proximity entry system · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): two 12V · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: door pockets · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Power adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
4WD Type: full time · Limited slip differential: rear
Exterior Features
Door handle color: aluminum · Exhaust: quad exhaust tips · Exhaust tip color: alloy · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: grey · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: wing · Rear spoiler color: body-color
Headrests
Front headrests: integrated · Number of front headrests: 2
In Car Entertainment
Infotainment screen size: 7 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: MPG · Warnings and reminders: maintenance reminder
Lights
Headlights: Auto on/off · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power folding
Passenger Seat
Power adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: bucket
Safety
Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: rear
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Front seat type: sport bucket · Upholstery: leather · Upholstery accents: faux suede
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Steering
Steering ratio: 15
Suspension
Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: double wishbones · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Telematics
Navigation system: hard drive navigation system · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: summer performance
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Wheels
Wheel spokes: 10
Windows
Front wipers: speed sensitive · Power windows: front
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: element · USB auxiliary audio input · Hard Drive: 9.3GB · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: Bose · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 2 subwoofers · Total Number of Speakers: 9
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Front brake diameter: 15.0 · Front brake width: 1.3 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Premium brakes: Brembo · Rear brake diameter: 15.0 · Rear brake width: 1.2 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Center console trim: leather · Dash trim: leather · Door trim: leather · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Foot pedal trim: aluminum · Parking brake trim: leather · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Easy entry: manual driver and passenger seat · Multi-function remote: proximity entry system · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): two 12V · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: phone · Storage: sunglasses holder · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Power adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
4WD Type: full time · Limited slip differential: rear
Exterior Features
Door handle color: aluminum · Exhaust: quad exhaust tips · Exhaust tip color: alloy · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: grey · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: wing · Rear spoiler color: body-color
Headrests
Front headrests: integrated · Number of front headrests: 2
In Car Entertainment
Infotainment screen size: 7 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: MPG · Warnings and reminders: maintenance reminder
Lights
Headlights: HID · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Passenger Seat
Power adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: bucket
Safety
Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Front seat type: Recaro · Upholstery: leather-trimmed
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Steering
Steering ratio: 15
Suspension
Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: double wishbones · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Telematics
Navigation system: with voice recognition · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: summer performance
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Wheels
Wheel spokes: 6
Windows
Front wipers: speed sensitive · Power windows: front