Most cars that boast upwards of 500 horsepower wear the names of upscale manufacturers, but not the Nissan GT-R: Amazingly, this super sports car is built by the same company that makes the tiny Micra and sedate Sentra.
For 2017, the GT-R gets a styling update and -- because it really needed it -- an extra 20 horsepower and a smidge more torque, for new totals of 565 hp and 467 lb-ft from its 3.8L twin-turbocharged V6, whose power goes to ground through a six-speed dual-clutch transmission tuned for smoother shifting and all-wheel drive.
Nissan calls the GT-R's makeover "thorough," but if you didn't have a 2016 model to compare it to, you might not notice the addition of Nissan's larger "V-motion" grille and new hood and front bumper, and you'd be less likely to call out the wider side sills Nissan says improve airflow around the car. GT-R trademark quad taillights are housed in a new rear fascia that incorporates functional air vents around the exhaust tips.
A highlight of the redesigned cabin is a dash wrapped in a single piece of hand-stitched Nappa leather, and the dash itself is simplified by the addition of an eight-inch touchscreen (replacing last year's seven-inch unit) that helps cut the number of buttons from 27 to just 11. Nominal weight reduction comes from a thinner piece of padding atop the gauge cluster, and new seats Nissan says provide better support during long stints behind the wheel.
Pricing for the 2017 model hasn't been announced, but expect it to be higher than the $110,000 Nissan charged for the 2016 model. Standard features include a three-mode driver-selectable suspensio system, lightweight 20-inch wheels, automatic LED adaptive headlights, LED taillights, power-folding heated side mirrors, navigation, Bluetooth, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, cruise control, tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, auto-dimming rearview mirror, heated Recaro sport seats with eight-way driver and four-way front passenger power adjustments, leather-trimmed steering wheel and shifter, 11-speaker stereo with active noise cancellation and tire pressure monitoring.
While Nissan's more pedestrian 370Z is a high-value competitor to entry-level versions of cars like the Porsche Cayman and Jaguar F-Type, the GT-R leapfrogs about three strata of performance to rival stuff like the Porsche 911 Turbo, F-Type R and the Chevrolet Corvette Z06. While it can't be called as pretty as many of its competitors, it is certainly is capable of holding its own in terms of performance.
Nissan's fuel consumption estimates are 14.3/10.5 L/100 km (city/highway).
