Nissan GT-R NISMO 2017 Track Test Review

Made for the track – it’s a fitting analogy for Nissan’s latest offering, the long-awaited and scintillatingly quick GT-R NISMO.

Just like a hard-charging race car driver who exerts every inch of effort with the suit on, Nissan has wicked up its halo model to a hard-edged, no nonsense powerhouse. And the result shows in the way it drives.

The GT-R NISMO’s arrival also represents a hard-fought coup for Nissan in Australia. The on-again, off-again project has been heralded as the first of “several” NISMO models soon to be offered locally, the next of which is likely to be a wicked-up 370Z, motoring.com.au understands.

What the GT-R NISMO emphatically screams to the world is that the performance brand isn’t simply a stickers and badging exercise.

Bearing the efforts of an extensive in-house program, the GT-R NISMO’s hand-built twin-turbo V6 engine boasts 441kW and 652Nm outputs -- up 22kW/20Nm over the donor car. The key: high-flow, larger diameter turbochargers shared with the Nismo GT3 race car.

In addition, engineers have fettled the car’s suspension with NISMO-tuned componentry, including shock springs and stabilisers. The car’s body is stiffer thanks to adhesive bonding, which works in unison with traditional spot welding, and aerodynamics and down force are enhanced with the fitment of a carbon fibre boot lid and spoiler, carbon-fibre front and rear bumpers and lower front undercover.

A titanium exhaust releases a shrieking and addictive soundtrack at noise, combining air intake noise that sounds almost akin to a jumbo jet under full acceleration.

The biggest fillip over the garden-variety GT-R is price. At $299,000 (plus on-road costs), the NISMO is up to $110,000 more than the entry-level donor car, and up around the same heady territory as the Porsche 911 GT3, Mercedes-AMG GT S and Jaguar F-TYPE SVR.

At that price, it is also one of the most focused track models on the market.

During an extensive track session at Mount Panorama, Bathurst, the NISMO showed exactly why it deserves its place among the supercar elite.

Few road cars can turn up at a race track, especially on one such as The Mountain, and perform so impressively and confidently.

First, the speed. NISMO unofficially offers a zero to 100km/h time well under the regular GT-R's 2.7-second post, but what we found more impressive is the GT-R’s in-gear acceleration. Middling to upper revs are particularly strong – peak power arrives at 6800rpm and torque at 3600-5600rpm – meaning the NISMO makes a strident march towards its 7100rpm cut-out and 315km/h top speed.

Similarly important in garnering speed is the car’s clever all-wheel drive system. It felt unflustered at Bathurst, providing clean conditions for the staggered Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT600 rubber to ply for adhesion.

Working in unison with the NISMO’s multi-stage traction control settings, the car faithfully laid down its surfeit of power without a hiccup – the only flickering from the system oddly coming out of Forrest’s Elbow and into Conrod Straight in fourth gear. Obviously the system detected more bumps and camber than we could.

A six-speed dual-clutch transmission carries over from the donor GT-R, and like that vehicle, possesses an inherent mechanical feel in the NISMO. In fact, it soon becomes apparent that using the steering wheel mounted shifters is more effective than the automatic left to its own devices.

The sequential-style transmission clunks and grinds at low speeds but provides clean if dim-witted shifts when pushed.

In fact, that’s a familiar theme across the entire vehicle. The GT-R NISMO breathes with speed. Its additional aerodynamics and downforce serve it well at speeds of over 270km/h and through tighter corners alike. It’s a car that instils confidence in the way a regular hot hatch would, albeit while offering seemingly untouchable limits for everyday drivers.

The steering retains a nice, mechanical feel from the donor vehicle, and the chassis communicates track feedback clearly.

Tipping the scales at 1739kg, the NISMO is no featherweight, and only fractionally lighter than the regular model. But its masks its weight well up through The Cutting and back down Skyline, with minimal roll and no understeer to speak of.

Lateral grip is also immense; in heady circumstances, the car will move and wiggle – even occasionally power oversteer - but always in a controlled manner. The only real dynamic gripe is its propensity to become taily under the otherwise strong steel brakes – however, this could be more driver error than car.

Back-to-backing the NISMO against the ‘garden-variety’ Track edition GT-R, which costs $72,000 less and is fitted with the less powerful engine, you can feel subtle differences between the two. Enough to help the former get around the racetrack more confidently, but probably not enough to warrant the added expense – unless you are a genuine track day warrior.

On the road, there’s no easy way to put this – the Nismo is unapologetically stiff. At no point on B-grade roads do you think ‘gee, my kidneys feel great!’, such is the firm ride.

Rather, the GT-R NISMO is busy over bumps, even when set to its softest comfort setting.

I wouldn’t even say it follows road imperfections faithfully, or that its dampers give some semblance of comfort. Instead, the pumped-up version jostles occupants over pockmarked country roads, bobbing and weaving with the rhythm of the bitumen. At least it does so controllably, resisting the temptation to crash or fumble.

Similarly, road noise is a continued Achilles Heel of the flagship. Noise from the run-flat tyres is ever present, particularly on coarse-chip bitumen.

Subtle interior changes, namely the fitment of grippy Recaro buckets and generous lashings of suede material, help bolster the appeal of the NISMO. Its 8.0-inch screen clearly conveys information, including performance numbers, and the instrument cluster is clear, if a little bland.

Safety is limited to your typical passive features. Naturally, those who want ultimate speed aren’t as worried about automated emergency braking or blind spot monitoring.

The car’s deep boot wins it brownie points, undone by a small aperture. But you question why NISMO didn’t just delete the rear seat; it’s virtually redundant for carrying passengers.

Instead, this is a vehicle demonstrably produced to go fast on a race track. The NISMO’s one-mindedness does leave mixed feelings, but the over-riding sentiment is that if you have facilities like Mount Panorama regularly at your disposal, the fettled flagship won’t disappoint.

2017 Nissan GT-R NISMO pricing and specifications:
Price: $299,000 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol
Output: 441kW/652Nm
Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 11.7L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 278g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: N/A