2015 Nissan GT-R in Randolph, NJ - $83,022

Everybody is familiar with Nissan's Z-cars – from the 240/260/280Z's of the 1970's to the Z-350/370 models of recent memory. What many consumers may not know is that Nissan sells a premium sure ‘enuf performance coupe designed and engineered to compete at the heart of the European performance genre of the Mercedes AMGs and BMW M-cars – the 2012 Nissan GT-R.

Now in its fourth year of availability in the North American market, the 2012 Nissan GT-R has a new look, new colors, new wheel design and, most important to fans of pure power, more horsepower under the hood. In addition, a new "Black Edition"– with unique seat trim, interior colors and wheels – joins the GT-R Premium model.

The newly refreshed front fascia features aggressive double aerodynamic fins and new integrated high intensity LED running lights. Additional plated parts are used for the headlight inner panels, enhancing the car's strong visual presence. The redesigned rear fascia features new venting and incorporates a sculpted lower section and extended length. Under floor cooling performance is also enhanced and air resistance reduced by extending the rear diffuser.

In addition, cooling performance for the muffler is improved and rear down force is increased by about 10% through use of a new rear fascia outlet and new vents on the lower rear fenders that help remove air from the rear wheel wells. Newly designed larger diameter tailpipe finishers are also adopted. Six exterior colors are available, including two new colors: Deep Blue Pearl and Jet Black which replaces Obsidian Black. Other available colors are Solid Red, Gun Metallic, Pearl White and a limited production 4-stage metallic Super Silver.

The 2012 Nissan GT-R's advanced VR38DETT 3.8L twin turbo V6 prime mover now produces 45 hp and 14 lbs-ft of torque more than last year - a result of modifying the boost pressure of the turbocharger, valve timing and air fuel ratio, and through reducing intake air resistance by enlarging the inlet pipe diameter. In addition, exhaust air resistance was reduced through use of an enlarged section of exhaust pipe.

The VR38DETT is backed by an advanced paddle-shifted sequential six-speed dual clutch transmission, which can be driver selected to shift at race car-like speeds. The sequential-shifting transaxle features separate wet clutches for the odd (1,3,5) and even (2,4,6) gears and pre-selects the next highest and next lowest gear for immediate shifts. It also features Hill Start Assist for easy starts on uphill inclines.

Communicating torque to the street is an electronically controlled ATTESA E-TS all-wheel-drive system specifically developed for GT-R. The rear drive-biased system can vary torque split from 0:100 to 50:50 depending on speed, lateral acceleration, steering angles, tire slip, road surface and yaw rate. Of note is a special GT-R-specific yaw-rate feedback control, which measures the differences between the target yaw rate calculated from steering angle and actual yaw rate detected by the yaw-rate sensor and G sensor to adjust torque bias.

The GT-R's handling duties are managed by a sophisticated four-wheel independent suspension system mounted to high-precision six-point front and rear subframes. The front suspension geometry has also been modified for 2012 to provide more balanced handling. A special Bilstein DampTronic driver adjustable shock absorber system utilizes multiple vehicle information systems to provide appropriate damping forces and high level of control for a variety of driving situations.

The DampTronic system features three driver selectable settings - Normal; Comfort, for maximum suspension compliance; or "R," for ultimate handling. The same three-stage adjustability is also available for the VDC system and transmission shift operation.

GT-R's already impressive aerodynamic performance has been improved for 2012 with downforce increased by about 10% and the coefficient of drag reduced to 0.26 (from 0.27). Enlarged fascia and grille openings also help reduce air resistance inside the engine compartment. The volume of air that passes through the radiator and cools the front brakes is also increased.

Inside, the revisions for 2012 include new carbon fiber trim and upgraded materials. The Black Edition adds custom red and black Recaro® leather-appointed seats, red and black interior trim and a dark headliner.

Dimensions & specifications

Wheelbase: 109.4; overall length: 183.1; width: 74.9; height: 54.0

All vehicle measurements are in inches.

Engine: 3.8L twin turbo V6 – 530 hp at 6,400 rpm and 448 lbs-ft of torque at 5,200 rpm.

Transmission: six-speed automatic

EPA Fuel Economy: 16 city/23 highway

Cargo capacity: 8.8 cubic feet

Safety features

Dual front airbags, dual front seat-mounted side-impact airbags, dual head curtain side-impact airbags, four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock, brake assist, electronic brake force distribution, Bluetooth hands free phone system, automatic high-intensity discharge headlamps, tire pressure monitoring system, navigation system, remote keyless entry, intelligent key system, HomeLink universal transceiver, vehicle security system, engine immobilizer, traction control, vehicle dynamic control, hill-start assist control, and side-impact door beams.

Warranty

Basic: 3-year/36,000 mile

Powertrain: 5-year/60,000 mile

Corrosion: 5-year/unlimited

Pricing

The base Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the 2012 Nissan GT-R sports coupe starts from $89,950 for the Premium and $95,100 for the Black Edition. Destination charges add $1,000.