Nissan sports cars adding sizzle to showrooms

Nissan Australia has admitted it will be forced to raise the price of the GT-R because of the dramatic changes with the exchange rate between the yen and Aussie dollar. But the company has vowed not to do so until it hits showrooms in April.

That's good news for those who have already placed an order for the twin-turbo super coupe but bad news for Nissan because it's likely that the company will take a financial hit on those sales because of the strength of the yen.

"I've just got a problem with turning around and saying to people who've placed orders in good faith that the car is going to cost you more," Nissan general manager of marketing, Ross Booth, tells the Carsales Network.

Booth says that the company is still finalising just how much the price will go up but indicated that it will be in line with the rest of the market and somewhere in the region of 1-2 per cent.

"Unfortunately on a $150,000 car two per cent is quite a bit of money," Booth says.

The company has already pre-sold 140 of the 200 GT-Rs that are headed to our shores for the first year but Booth says orders are slowing.

But the GT-R isn't the only sports car headed to Nissan showrooms this year as the brand tries to add "sizzle" to its range following the launch of the Dualis, Micra, X-TRAIL diesel and new Murano in the last 12 months. The 370Z is due for local launch in May after earning strong initial reviews overseas (see here).

Booth wouldn't reveal pricing, saying it was still be finalised, but says it will remain "in the ball-park" of the outgoing 350Z.

Despite the uncertain economy Booth is confident that the new Zed won't be the right car at the wrong time.

"We're certainly going to sell them," he says. "There is always a market for sports cars. We're still selling between 20 to 40 a month with the 350Z. We shouldn't have a problem selling between 50 to 70 with the new car."

But for those looking forward to the convertible model will need to be patient because Booth confirmed that the drop-top Zed is still at least 12 months away. Until that time the 350Z Roadster will remain on sale locally alongside the 370Z hardtop.