Motoring News

The Mayans were Right: the new 2012 Nissan GT-R

By Ryan Konko

Posted on November 8, 2011

Godzilla is back with a vengeance for 2012.

Hide your kids! Hide your wife! Godzilla is back for 2012 and this time he’s even more powerful! The Mayans were on to something when they predicted the end of the world on December 21st, 2012. Isn’t it awfully coincidental that the new 2012 Nissan GT-R has been introduced and is looking to topple the establishment of supercars around the world? We think not.

OK, we may be a year early with the whole “December 21st” thing, but this makes a little more sense than Harold Camping’s multiple Rapture predictions. The 2012 GT-R may just be the bringer of end times for the world of supercars.

After the R35 GT-R was introduced it brought down the likes of Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari, and others with outrageous Nürburgring times and incredible acceleration. Since then, the aforementioned companies seemed to have caught up and regained their control of the supercar world. But this is the 2012 model-year Nissan GT-R; it’s what the Mayans and Nostradamus had predicted, the so-called “Anti-Christ” of super cars.

There’s more evil under the hood for the 2012 GT-R. The 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 is more potent and also more efficient because if you’re going to end the world, you might as well do it in a “green” way, right? The engine of the 2012 Nissan GT-R is more responsive and torquey at lower engine speeds then swells with even more power as the RPMs reach the redline. Nissan has reworked the engine so that the intake and airflow is more efficient with new manifolds and ducting. Emissions are reduced by a new lightweight catalytic converter, and fuel economy has been boosted to an even 24 mpg. The 2012 Nissan GT-R specs are even more impressive than before with a whopping 542.46 horsepower at 6,400 RPM and 466.08 lb-ft. of torque from 3,200 to 5,800 RPM. With the incredible power and lightning-fast transmission, the 2012 Nissan GT-R can accelerate to 60 mph in a mere 2.7 seconds.

Even the transmission, the Achilles heel of the GT-R, has been improved for the end of days. The shift fork arm has been strengthened and a new timer fixing bearing has been added to improve shift feel and reduce noise. Nissan’s R35 Competition Type 2189E (75W140) differential oil is now standard on all 2012 GT-R models.

Nissan didn’t just focus on the drivetrain for the 2012 GT-R. Much of the body and internal chassis components were reinforced to improve handling and grip. The technology that made the GT-R so competitive against other super cars has been revamped for better accuracy and sensitivity. On the right-hand-drive (RHD) models for Japan and the UK, the chassis has been tuned to compensate for the extra weight on the right side due to the propeller shaft placement. The suspension is firmer on the left and the rear suspension arm was installed upwards on the left and downwards on the right. This leads to a balanced wheel load at speed.

The interior of the 2012 Nissan GT-R has been given higher quality materials and subtle improvements. The gauges feature new blue lighting, a rear camera is now standard, and the sound system has been upgraded with Bose Precision Sound System Woofers.

Were the Mayans and Nostradamus right when they predicted Armageddon in 2012? The 2012 Nissan GT-R may be a year early with its Japan and UK release in December of this year, but it could be a precursor to the end times as Nissan is working on a RHD track-version of Godzilla to be released later. Either way, December 21st, 2012 will be marked on our calendars.

2012 Nissan GT-R Specs

Engine:
Displacement: 3.8 liters
Number of Cylinders: V-6
Aspiration: Twin-turbocharged
Maximum Horsepower: 542.46 (550 PS) at 6,400 RPM
Maximum Torque: 466.08 lb-ft. (632 Nm) from 3,200 top 5,800 RPM

Transmission:
Type: Six-speed dual-clutch semi-automatic
Drive: All-wheel

Performance:
Acceleration 0-60 mph: 2.7 seconds

Interior:
-Blue gauge lighting
-Bose Precision Sound System woofers
-Standard rear-view camera