Skip to main content

With 600 hp, Nissan’s track-ready 2015 GT-R NISMO is the most hardcore yet

How do you improve on perfection?

Since it launched in 2008, the Nissan GT-R has offered an impressive blend of supercar performance and everyday civility. Yet Nissan has steadily improved the car throughout its life. That trend continues with the 2015 Nissan GT-R NISMO, which was unveiled today at the Tokyo Motor Show.

The NISMO is GT-R that moves a the needle further into hardcore territory, sacrificing some comfort for track-bred performance.

That’s immediately apparent from the first glimpse. As revealed in leaked photos, the GT-R NISMO features more aggressive aerodynamic aids, including revised front and rear bumpers, engine undercover strake, and a massive carbon fiber rear spoiler. Together, Nissan says the additions add about 220 pounds of downforce at 186 mph, sticking the GT-R to the road.

Nissan also tweaked the GT-R’s 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6. It now produces 600 horsepower and 481 pound-feet of torque, thanks to larger-diameter turbochargers from Nissan’s GT3 racing GT-R.

The chassis features custom Bilstein DampTronic dampers with three settings: Comfort, Normal, and R. The latter is reserved strictly for racetracks, or commuters who enjoy torturing themselves.

Even with the suspension set in “Comfort,” drivers will probably be more focused than relaxed. European and Japanese drivers will get carbon fiber-backed Recaro sport seats (as with the original GT-R, Americans will get different seating).

There’s also a steering wheel trimmed in Alcantara, and plenty of red stitching to remind passengers that they’re in a performance car. As if the crushing G-load wasn’t enough.

The GT-R NISMO rides on a specially-developed set of Dunlop tires, and black six-spoke wheels inspired by the ones on Nissan’s GT500 racer.

The result is what Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn calls “the fastest Nissan GT-R ever.”

Nissan hasn’t released acceleration times, or the top speed, but it did let slip that the GT-R NISMO lapped the Nurburgring in 7:08.679. The company calls that a record for a mass-produced car, but the overall record still belongs to the Porsche 918 Spyder, which did the deed in 6:57.

The 2015 Nissan GT-R NISMO will go on sale in the U.S. in late February 2014. It will be joined in showrooms by a refreshed 2015 GT-R, which features re-calibrated suspension and steering, new multi-LED headlights, and slightly more upscale interior trim.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Trump administration prepares to end Biden’s EV tax incentive, report says
president biden drives 2022 ford f 150 lightning electric pickup truck prototype visits rouge vehicle center

If you’re looking to buy or lease an electric vehicle (EV) and benefit from the Biden administration’s $7,500 tax incentive, you’d better act soon.

The transition team of the incoming Trump administration is already planning to end the credit, according to a report from Reuters citing sources with direct knowledge of the matter.

Read more
Kia EV4: everything we know so far
Kia EV4 Front

Kia is continuing to expand its electric car lineup. The EV6 and EV9 have both been out for some time now, and the company is in the middle of rolling out the EV3 in Europe, with a North American release expected next year. After that, it's likely the company will turn to the EV5. But what about after that? Well, that could be where the Kia EV4 comes in.

Kia announced a concept version of the EV4 at its EV Day in 2023, showing off a futuristic-looking hatchback that's seemingly a little smaller than the EV6, but keeps many design elements. Since then, Kia has confirmed very few details about it, though we have seen it shown off at other automotive events. Here's everything we know about the Kia EV4 so far.
Kia EV4 design
The Kia EV4, or at least the concept version of it, is smaller than the EV6, and much smaller than the EV9. It's actually closer in size to a sedan than anything else, though with its open trunk, it could be considered a hatchback. Regardless, it certainly blurs the line between the two. So much so, that in recent months we've actually seen a full hatchback version of the EV4 being tested -- and it's possible that Kia is pivoting the design of the EV4 entirely to be a hatch, or will be releasing both hatchback and sedan versions.

Read more
Hertz is selling used Teslas for under $20K, Chevrolet Bolt EVs under $14K
2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV

Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently nixed hopes of a regular Tesla model ever selling for $25,000.

But he was talking about new models. For car rental company Hertz, the race to sell used Teslas and other EVs at ever-lower prices is not only still on but accelerating.

Read more