Nissan GT-R Nismo gets 591bhp

The Nissan GT-R Nismo will become one of the world's fastest accelerating cars when it goes on sale next September, priced at more than £100,000. The car, created by Nissan's performance arm Nismo, is one of the stars of this week's Tokyo motor show.

Power comes from an uprated version of the standard GT-R’s twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V6 engine. Peak power now stands at 591bhp at 6800rpm, up from the 542bhp at 6400rpm in the standard GT-R. Torque is rated at 481lb ft.

The extra power and torque are the result of larger-diameter turbos taken from Nismo’s GT3 motor racing efforts. Optimised ignition timing control for each cylinder is another new feature, as is an upgraded fuel pump, all of which helps improve breathing and combustion. 

No performance figures have been released yet, but the all-wheel-drive GT-R Nismo is expected to improve on the standard car’s 0-62mph time of 2.7sec, dropping it to about 2.5sec.

Nissan has also announced that this is the fastest Nissan GT-R to date, with a version of the car with 'track options' lapping the fabled Nürburgring circuit in 7min 8.679sec - some ten seconds less than the previous model. For comparision, even the likes of the Lexus LFA with the Nürburgring package takes 7min 14.64sec.

CEO Carlos Ghosn said: "With this lap time, we can authoritatively say that the 2014 Nissan GT-R Nismo [with track options] holds the volume production car lap record at the Nordschliefe, which is the gold standard of high performance achievement."

The chassis changes are derived from Nismo’s 2012 entry into the Nürburgring 24 Hours in 2012, including a new suspension set-up converted from race to road use. Changes include new rear anti-roll bars, new springs, custom Damptronic dampers developed by Bilstein, exclusive Nismo tyres developed by Dunlop and special links in the front double wishbones.

All changes are said to improve rigidity, reduce road noise, increase roadholding, add more finesse to the handling, withstand greater cornering forces and cut roll.

Exterior changes include a new carbonfibre body kit with rear spoiler, front bumper and front undertray that produce 100kg more downforce than the standard car at 186mph. Other features include a Nismo colour scheme and six-spoke gloss black alloy wheels inspired by Nismo’s GT500 racer, which competes in Japan.

Inside, there are carbonfibre-backed Recaro seats, a new Alcantara-trimmed three-spoke steering wheel and red Nismo stitching. It is also possible for the driver to download data from the Advanced Performance Telemetry System. 

Read more 2014 Tokyo motor show news.