2020 Nissan GT-R Nismo brings lighter weight, sharper dynamics

The 2020 Nissan GT-R Nismo made its world debut today at the New York International Auto Show, with race car-inspired upgrades and tuning improvements for even more extreme performance.

The updated GT-R Nismo was showcased alongside the new GT-R 50th Anniversary Edition as Nissan celebrates 50 years of GT-R heritage this year.

“The 2020 GT-R Nismo has evolved into a balanced, yet extreme, performance car,” said Hiroshi Tamura, chief product specialist for the GT-R.

“Pursuing driving pleasure is the most important concept behind GT-R, and the new Nismo’s performance suggest it is a car that belongs on the race track – but is also at home on the open road.”

For the 2020 model, Nissan says its engineers set out to take race-proven technology and make it accessible and comfortable for drivers of all skill levels.

Vehicle control and predictability were critical in achieving this; thus, they adopted the theme “absolute street and track performance” when developing the car.

Setting the most potent and exclusive of all GT-Rs apart from the rest of the pack is the amount of carbon fibre found throughout the car, including the front and rear bumpers, front fenders, bonnet, roof, side sill covers, boot and rear spoiler.

Each component has been improved to cut weight, increase downforce and enhance aerodynamics.

These exterior parts alone have resulted in a total weight savings of 10.5kg, in addition to nearly 20kg of reductions from other upgrades and new components.

The front fenders now resemble those on the GT3 GT-R race car. Scalloped vents help funnel hot air away from the engine bay and provide extra downforce onto the front tyres, without additional drag.

They also improve aerodynamics by smoothing out airflow along the body, with special consideration given to avoiding the rear spoiler, promoting high-speed stability. A new compression process gives the carbon fibre roof a lightweight, tight weave.

The new GT-R Nismo’s exclusive 20-inch RAYS forged aluminium wheels are lighter than before and incorporate a nine-spoke design that enhances their rigidity.

Newly designed Dunlop tyres, with a wider tread and fewer grooves, are claimed to increase the contact patch by 11 per cent. This results in higher cornering force, enhanced steering response and improved rolling resistance when compared with the previous model.

Nissan’s 3.8 litre V6 twin-turbocharged engine remains the heart of the GT-R’s drivetrain with 447kW of power and 652Nm of torque. The Nismo version features an exclusive turbocharger design – direct from the GT-R GT3 race car – with a modified turbine shape and fewer blades. This optimises the flow rate and enhances the acceleration response without a loss of horsepower.

The car’s revised 6-speed dual-clutch transmission features a refined “R mode” that not only shifts faster but also optimises gear selection, especially when exiting corners. This enhances the feeling of acceleration and deceleration on both road and track.

The adaptive shift control has also been programmed to adapt shift schedules to the user’s driving style. Nissan says this makes it possible to “drive in a law-abiding way on public roads and in a highly spirited fashion on a race track, without manually changing modes”.

The car’s exhaust note is the product of a revised titanium exhaust with handcrafted burnished blue tips.

When it comes to handling, the 2020 GT-R Nismo gets an updated suspension tuning which improves cornering stability, with enhanced yaw rate response and smoother ride quality. The steering features better linearity and precision than ever, requiring minimal corrections at speeds of up to 300k/h.

The absolute performance theme is also fittingly reflected by the addition of a carbon ceramic brake system.

The combination of the Brembo carbon ceramic rotors – 410 mm up front and 390 mm at the rear – and Brembo calipers improve reaction time, durability and overall stopping performance. Their lightweight nature also decreases the unsprung weight on each wheel.

The new materials also help decrease braking footwork by shortening the brake pedal stroke. The newly developed high-rigidity calipers are dipped in bright yellow paint that can resist temperatures of more than 1,000 degrees Celsius.

“We have built the 2020 GT-R Nismo for our customers to be the ultimate track and street vehicle,” Tamura said.

“It is about total balance management, not just chasing power figures. The new Nismo has been brought to a new level, with enhanced engine, handling, braking and aerodynamics.”

The new GT-R Nismo is expected to arrived on Australian shores in early 2020.

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