Skip to main content

Nissan’s 2015 GT-R, unlike NISMO, keeps evolving toward comfortable superpower

The 2015 Nissan GT-R NISMO may be grabbing the spotlight at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, but the standard GT-R will also get a few upgrades for the 2015 model year.

As Nissan put it in its Tokyo press release, “evolution never stops.”

Nissan just gave the GT-R a refresh for the 2014 model year – and the car was pretty amazing to begin with – so the changes for 2015 are relatively minor, further sharpening an already rapier-like performance machine.

According to Nissan, the suspension was “fine-tuned” for increased grip which also improves ride comfortable. That’s not something you hear often in the world of performance cars, where improved handling usually means sacrificing one’s spine.

The steering and brakes were also adjusted for increased civility in everyday driving, and the 2015 GT-R rides on a new set of Dunlop SP SportMaxx tires.

The exterior tweaks are similarly subtle. For 2015, the GT-R gets LED headlights that create a “lightning” pattern visible in low-light conditions. They also have an “Adaptive Front lighting System” that adjust the angle of the beam according to the car’s speed. Can they keep up?

The interior also gets a few updates, including a leather-trimmed steering wheel and stitched accents for the semi-aniline leather seats.

The important bits remain the same, though. Under the hood is a 3.8-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 with 545 horsepower and 463 pound-feet of torque. That’s still much more than the 480 hp and 430 lb-ft the GT-R produced when it arrived in North America as a 2009 model, and shows just how dedicated Nissan is to perfecting the GT-R.

The power gets to the wheels through a six-speed dual-clutch transaxle and all-wheel drive. It will sprint from 0-60 mph in around 2.7 seconds. It’s also the perfect car if you’re looking to drive across a frozen lake.

The 2015 Nissan GT-R goes on sale in Japan December 2, followed by other markets.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Hyundai 2025 Ioniq 5 is under $44,000, with more range and NACS port
hyundai ioniq 5 44000 nacs 64149 large631652025ioniq5xrt

Hyundai is on a roll. In October, the South Korean manufacturer posted its best U.S. sales ever, largely driven by sales of its popular Ioniq 5 electric SUV.

Now, all eyes are on the Ioniq 5’s 2025 model, which is set to become available at dealerships before year-end. As Digital Trends previously reported, the crossover model adds a more rugged-looking trim level called XRT and provides additional driving range as well as new charging options.

Read more
Mazda confirms a hybrid CX-5 and electric SUV are on the way
mazda hybrid cx 5 electric suv 2024 arata concept 4

Mazda might be making headway in the pursuit of bringing back an electric vehicle (EV) stateside.

Ever since it discontinued the MX-30 EV in the U.S. last year, the Japanese automaker has had zero EV offerings for potential U.S. customers.

Read more
Range Rover’s first electric SUV has 48,000 pre-orders
Land Rover Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition

Range Rover, the brand made famous for its British-styled, luxury, all-terrain SUVs, is keen to show it means business about going electric.

And, according to the most recent investor presentation by parent company JLR, that’s all because Range Rover fans are showing the way. Not only was demand for Range Rover’s hybrid vehicles up 29% in the last six months, but customers are buying hybrids “as a stepping stone towards battery electric vehicles,” the company says.

Read more