2020 Nissan GT-R Adds Track-Ready Upgrades and 50th Anniversary Edition

From Car and Driver

• The Nissan GT-R has updated engine components, refined transmission settings, and revised suspension tuning.

• The Track Edition and the hard-core NISMO model get redesigned turbochargers from the latest GT-R GT3 race car.

• The 2020 GT-R commemorates 50 years with a special edition that offers distinct liveries.

Much like the king of monsters it was named after, the Nissan GT-R is an incredibly powerful beast capable of destroying its toughest foes. The vehicular Godzilla also has a rich history that goes back 50 years from when the car was first introduced. The 2020 GT-R celebrates the past and champions the present with a 50^th Anniversary Edition and several significant performance enhancements. While the Nissan supercar has slowly evolved since being resurrected over a decade ago, it's a primeval monster that continues to learn new tricks.

Powertrain Improvements and Race-Car Technology

The 2020 GT-R receives a host of updated engine components and revised chassis tuning. Its hand-built twin-turbo 3.8-liter V-6 continues to make a potent 565 horsepower and 481 lb-ft of torque. However, Nissan traded out the old turbos for a pair of new ones that the company says make the engine more efficient and responsive at low revs. It also breathes through an updated exhaust system that includes new titanium components with burnished blue tips.

A six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission continues to direct power to all four wheels, but its track-ready R drive mode features different programming. Nissan says the automated gearbox will downshift more aggressively in this setting and better adapt to the driver, reducing the need to switch manually back and forth from the more subdued A drive mode. The GT-R's chassis is enhanced with a retuned suspension that should help the car ride smoother and corner better. Likewise, the steering and braking systems have been optimized to be more responsive.

Along with these comprehensive improvements, Nissan tweaked the GT-R Track Edition and the hard-core NISMO models. The Track Edition now features the specially tuned version of the twin-turbo V-6 that was previously reserved for the NISMO, which means horsepower rises by 35, to 600 ponies, and torque increases by 14, to 467 lb-ft. Both models benefit from a new turbocharger design courtesy of the Nissan GT-R GT3 race car, which should improve engine response and acceleration. Another race-car-inspired upgrade on these hi-po GT-R models is new carbon-ceramic brakes. These Brembo stoppers provide bigger discs up front (16.1 inches) and out back (15.3) as well as less weight and more stopping power. We hate to think how much they'll cost to replace, though. The Track Edition can also be outfitted with a carbon-fiber roof for reduced weight. Likewise, the NISMO benefits from a more serious diet that helped it shed about 67 pounds. These weight savers include more extensive carbon-fiber in the front end and lighter components elsewhere. The NISMO's front fenders in particular now feature scalloped vents as seen on the GT-R GT3 race car that aid aerodynamics and engine cooling and add downforce. The ultimate street-legal GT-R also gets lighter 20-inch wheels with a new nine-spoke design. They're wrapped in a set of newly designed Dunlop tires that provide a bigger contact patch for higher cornering force and better steering response.

Godzilla Celebrates 50 Years of History

The 2020 GT-R marks the 50^th anniversary of the legendary nameplate, and Nissan commemorates this milestone with a special edition. Based on the Premium trim level, the 50^th Anniversary Edition is available in three distinct two-tone exterior color combos. Nissan says each one represents a livery from the Japanese GT series that the original GT-R competed in. There's Pearl White with red stripes and Super Silver with white stripes, but the Bayside (Wangan) Blue with white stripes is arguably the most significant. This color combination was last seen on the famous Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 that was sold exclusively overseas from 1999 to 2002 and now returns from retirement for 2020.

Inside, every special edition features a unique gray color scheme, which is also available on select other 2020 GT-R models. Additional 50^thAnniversary features include special trim on the shift knob and steering wheel as well as distinct embossed seats, a faux-suede headliner, and more. While official pricing on the 2020 GT-R hasn't been released yet, we expect that to be announced before it goes on sale this summer.

You Might Also Like

• Unclogging Streets Could Help City Dwellers Save 125 Hours a Year

• The 10 Cheapest New Cars of 2018

• Get Out Early, Get In Late: What to Know About Auto Lease Transfers