[dropcap]N[/dropcap]issan has announced that it will officially debut the new 2017 Nissan GT-R at the SA Festival of Motoring, where it says it is confident to shine, both on and off the track.
The SA Festival of Motoring which is scheduled for 31 August to 4 September will be the first and possibly the only public viewing of Nissan’s highly acclaimed new supercar. The first shipment of GT-Rs is expected to arrive in South Africa mid-September and all vehicles in this shipment is said to have been sold already.
“We cannot think of a more perfect setting to launch the new Nissan GT-R than at the refurbished Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit.” Managing Director of Sales, Marketing and Aftersales at Nissan South Africa, Xavier Gobille has said.
He revealed that “Visitors to the festival will not only have the opportunity to view the new model at our stand, but they can vie for a chance to go for a hot lap in a new GT-R around Kyalami”
The new GT-R was officially launched at the New York International Auto Show earlier this year, and features a comprehensive redesign, upgraded engine and new interior while maintaining its GT-R roots.
Highlights of the new model include an uprated version of the legendary hand-built 3.8 litre V6 VR38DETT engine with 408 kW and 632 Nm. The engine features redesigned twin-turbos and modified individual ignition timing on each cylinder for a wider torque spread which peaks from 3 300 rpm to 5 800 rpm and more power at high revolutions.
The engine delivers power to all four wheels through a refined six-speed dual clutch transmission, which is controlled from new moving paddle shifters behind the steering wheel; and the launch control of a 0-100 km/h acceleration run that has dropped even further to 2.6 seconds.
“Every dynamic element of this vehicle has been tweaked, improved or re-engineered. The front bonnet creases are deeper and ensures better airflow; the 20 inch wheels ride on lightweight forged alloys and the rear has been redesigned for even greater down force. This makes for a faster and even more sure-footed supercar,” Gobille says.
According to him, “a group of GT-R specialists will soon be assigned to pilot the 2016 model around the track as part of a special event at the Festival of Motoring. Throughout the festival a host of supercars will parade various lap times around Kyalami.
“Although not an official competition, it will certainly be a draw card and the new Nissan GT-R will be right there to show its steel.”
The director also said Nissan is talking to numerous GT-R owners and drivers who have performed so well in the Knysna Hill Climb, where Nissan came fourth overall and first in the supercar class.
He optimized that “With so many skilled owners, we will have our hands full to select the drivers for the Festival of Motoring.”
Gobille is positive that Visitors to the Nissan stand will have an opportunity to view the new GT-R both inside and out, with a selection of previous generation GT-R, from the infamous 1971 2000 GT-R, the birth of Godzilla in 1988 with the R32 GT-R to the newly unveiled MY17 GT-R also in display.
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