“The real car will arrive in three years.” Quite a famous quote in Automotive circles. Especially so as it was mentioned at the launch of the car that changed the face of what a sports car should be capable/able to deliver. Said quote came out of the mouth of the Nissan GT-R’s chief engineer Kazutoshi Mizuno and if what he says was true… the car we have here is it!

The first surprise is that there is visually little, if anything, different to the outgoing model. Mind you… if it isn’t broke?! There are some slightly odd looking LED daytime running lights that have found a home in the front spoiler, which in turn has been fettled to increase the downward push and reduce any drag from the large front end. One other change that is a touch more obvious is the new and super sexy set of lightweight Rays alloys. The geeks amongst you will like the fact that they save a couple of kgs of unsprung mass over the outgoing wheels all while looking great.

When it comes to the inside, the changes are almost even more mild. A slightly softer and more touchy feely quality of leather is there as is some rather non carbon looking carbon.

Ok, boring stuff over. Time for the good stuff! If there was one thing you couldn’t claim the GT-R to be was slow. But as Kazutoshi Mizuno mentioned… This is the real car! So now the twin-turbo V6 has ruffled it’s feathers and arrived on the scene with 523bhp, up from 478bhp. The guys from Nissan indicated that a tweak with the boost pressure, revised valve timing and a freer-flowing exhaust helping to liberate the extra horsepower. Freer-flowing yes… Fast!? Oh Yes!

However anyone can generate grunt. Where the GT-R really excels is in the chassis department. This particular GT-R has had extensive revisions that really make the car even sharper to drive. Changes designed to improve the ride and body control, which we must admit where never a failing, include a carbon fibre strut brace at the back of the engine bay, aided by new dampers and some new black stuff attached to the wheels.