What Five Years Have Brought

It's hard to believe that five years have passed since the debut of the Nissan GT-R.

As you know, the world has changed dramatically during this time. These changes should have created a harsh headwind for a sports car like this. Yet, the GT-R continues to maintain a strong presence in the global market. Perhaps the reason for this has been remarkably simple until now.

The GT-R's performance, which stunned us at its launch, has lost none of its brilliance over these five years. While rivals fiercely competed to match its Nürburgring lap times, the GT-R consistently set new benchmarks, solidifying its identity.

In other words, the GT-R has strived to guarantee 'the fastest' for its users at an exceptional value.


It's undoubtedly a car I could recommend to anyone as Japan's premier machine, but whether it's 'interesting' is another matter. For me, the GT-R remained in that position as these five years passed.

What is the 2013 Model?

Compared to the evolutionary leaps of the past two to three years, the mechanical changes in the 2013 GT-R are not particularly significant. They fall more into the category of fine-tuning.

The engine, still rated at 550ps, features minor improvements to the high-output injectors and intake passages, designed to enhance the feeling of acceleration through the higher rev range. Furthermore, a redesigned oil pan improves lubrication under heavy load, allowing for more stable power delivery.

The suspension for the Japanese market adopted an asymmetrical setup in the 2012 model to compensate for weight differences between the left and right sides of the vehicle. The 2013 model continues this philosophy, with minor adjustments to the bush positions and reaction forces of the suspension links, slightly lowering the roll axis. The damper, coil, and stabilizer rates have been reset accordingly. New reinforcements have also been added to the body, particularly around the dash panel.


While there are no exterior changes, the interior gains a new option called "Fashionable Interior." This is a more versatile version of the "Egoist" full custom interior system, featuring luxurious stitching with thick thread on semi-aniline dyed amber red leather. The seats are distinguished by differing upholstery stitching and urethane materials for the driver and passenger sides, with the driver's seat optimized for support and the passenger's for comfort.

Refinement Born from the Pursuit of Speed

Reflecting on the past five years while seated inside the car, one is struck anew by the advanced nature of the GT-R.

For example, the multi-information display, co-developed with Polyphony Digital, the creators of the "Gran Turismo" game series, still feels remarkably current in its quality of information. In recent years, information display technology has advanced rapidly, with many cars now replacing physical gauges with LCD monitors for enhanced expressiveness. However, few offer the breadth and precision of information found in the GT-R.


And as you begin to drive, you realize that the daily accumulation of effort towards achieving ultimate speed has, in turn, translated into a refined driving experience in everyday conditions.

Specifically, the 2013 GT-R offers an even more comfortable ride than the 2012 model. While the car's vertical movement in response to large inputs was already exceptional, the annual refinements have extended this controlled damping to lower speeds. In the 2013 model, the ride feels not aggressively firm, but pleasantly taut with softened edges across the entire range.

Simultaneously, a significant reduction in mechanical noise is noticeable. The operating sounds from the transmission, in particular, have been dramatically reduced, and the low-frequency vibrations from the rear have largely subsided. The engagement feel of the gear shifts also seems slightly smoother. The improved refinement, resulting from cleaner intrusive sounds, contributes to the perception of an improved ride, even if it's partly an illusion.

The Key to the GT-R's Evolution

Incidentally, the 2013 GT-R's Nürburgring lap time is 7 minutes and 18.06 seconds. This is an improvement of over 10 seconds compared to the initial model.


The evolution of this car, as noted earlier, is not merely due to increased engine power or improved suspension, but rather to enhanced precision in perfectly transferring its capabilities to the road. There's no doubt that improvements in manufacturing precision have played a significant role.

We hear that the engines, hand-assembled by six craftsmen, exhibit such minimal variation in their output curves that they fall within the range of a solid line drawn by a printer. While assembled on a standard production line, the vehicle's assembly precision, which the development team has consistently emphasized as being beyond that of a mass-produced car, has been meticulously absorbed by the workers.


In fact, the key to the GT-R's evolution lies in this assembly precision. The passion of the creators, pushing the boundaries of Japanese "monozukuri" (manufacturing excellence), has ultimately imbued the car with a sense of emotional engagement. While this may sound conceptual, it is the most fitting explanation for the characteristics of the current GT-R.

If you have the opportunity, I urge you to try it, especially if you have owned or experienced an earlier model. The difference will undoubtedly resonate deeply with you.

NISSAN GT-R Pure edition｜Nissan GT-R Pure Edition
Body Dimensions: Length 4,670 x Width 1,895 x Height 1,370mm
Wheelbase: 2,780mm
Vehicle Weight: 1,730kg
Engine: 3.8-liter V6 Twin-Turbo
Transmission: 6-speed Dual Clutch Transmission
Maximum Output: 404kW (550ps) / 6,400rpm
Maximum Torque: 632Nm (64.5kgm) / 3,200-5,800rpm
Fuel Economy (JC08 Mode): 8.7km/ℓ
CO2 Emissions: 267g/km
Price: ¥8,694,000

---

---