2008 Nissan GT-R: 3.8-litre engine based on VR LeMans racer engine

TMR News and Features

2008 Nissan GTR Engine and Pricing Details Emerge

Aug 15th, 2007 • 11 comments • Link to Article • by Steane Klose

Godzilla fans world wide will be marking their diaries for the official unveiling of the much anticipated Nissan GT-R at the Tokyo Motor Show on October 24th.

A ‘base’ model will be shown with the standard GT-R features including four wheel drive and twin-turbos. Expected to be packing 350kW a top speed of around 300km/h is expected, although sadly, buyers in Japan will have to settle for their usual 180km/h speed governor.

The part that gets me excited is the latest news regarding the GT-R’s engine. It is now rumored that it will be 3.8-litres in capacity and not part of the conventional VQ family of engines (350Z, V-series Skylines, Murano) as thought until recently. Instead it may be designated with a ‘VR’ code suggesting it will have more in common with the VRH35L from Nissan’s Le Mans Contender, the R390 GT1 (see below).

With a 7800 red line, titanium intake valves and an updated version of Nissans VVEL (Variable Valve Inlet and Lift) technology, our source mentions that the engine is being built to withstand upwards of 450kw but will be detuned to around 350kw for the base model.

The new GT-R platform is what Nissan call a ‘Premium Midship’ design as Nissan have focused heavily on weight distribution to ensure the ultimate handling package for the enthusiast. Pricing is expected to be 7,700,000 Million Yen or $80,000 AUD for the base model when it goes on sale in Japan early next year.

If the GT-R does make it to Oz at all (they would be stupid not to) expect it to land in the second half of 2008 with pricing well above $100,000.

Darcy

[Source: 7Tune.com]

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Comment by mua
15 August 2007

What a loser.This is old news!!!!

[Reply to this comment]
Comment by Gunnar Heinrich
16 August 2007

Am I correct in thinking that the last GTR the world knew was in the 1990s?

[Reply to this comment]
Comment by Nextinline
16 August 2007

Gunnar Heinrich, I think you are right. I can’t wait for next year.

[Reply to this comment]
Comment by steane
16 August 2007

Hi Gunnar - The last GTR we knew was the R34 which made it through into the first years of the new century. The GTR lineage goes back a long way but arguably the first ‘modern’ GTR was the R32.

By modern I mean it featured AWD with a similar setup to Porsches 959 and the twin-turbo RB26 engine which is now legendary.

[Reply to this comment]
Comment by Darcy
16 August 2007

mua i think you should start writing for a blog site if this is old news to you as it only emerged a few days ago now from the guys at 7tune. They actually translated it from a recent Japanese magazine scoop! here is the link http://www.7tune.com
Cheers

[Reply to this comment]
Comment by Darcy
17 August 2007

Gunnar, i actually heard last year that Nismo had purchased a limited number of R34 platforms from japenese wreckers and rebuilt a very lethal version of the late R34 GTR penned the Z2 tune, in order to satisfy customers untill the arrival of the above beast. R34 production ceased in 2002.

[Reply to this comment]
Comment by Wishbone
26 September 2007

Yes Darcy Nismo produced 20 Z-Tunes. The cars where bought back from fastidious R34 owners and completely rebuilt to show what they could do not governed by the Japanese Domestic vehicle power output of 280BHP (206Kw). The Z-Tune destroyed all with mind blowing lap times and a 10.04 sec 1/4 mile all on street legal tyres.

The engine was called “Z2″ - a 2.8ltr version of the RB26 with a GT500 block and internals pumping out over 500BHP and still meeting strict output emissions. WOW.

I used to own a R33 GTS-t, a single turbo baby brother of the GTR. I love the Nissan Skyline. If I had AU$120 000 and they bought the new GTR into the country (Nissan Aust are considering it) I would buy an R34 and tune, tune, tune !!!

[Reply to this comment]
Comment by Darcy
27 September 2007

I hear ya wishbone, there is something crazy about GTR’s that makes my hair stand on end.
Ultimate GTR at the moment would have to be the Z tune, 10 sec 1/4 miles? that is huuuge!
Nissan’s mini site for the new GT-R has an australian link on it, so if that is something to go by then bring it on, and with a price like that its not hard to guess that they will move some serious numbers.
Cheap supercars seem to be the flavour of the month! Hoorah!

[Reply to this comment]
Comment by max
28 March 2008

This is an outstanding Japanese car. I hope Nissan Australia will import some of these cars. If not as many as 1000 i think will be selling good marketing and efficient delivery procedure. Well I ll get R33 GTR or R34 GTT knowing that IT IS CHEAPER to insure Both cars compare to SUBARU’s WRX and WRX sti…”By GIO” I will definitely without doubt purchase Skyline which looked down by a term GREY IMPORT. Where as the car has state of art technology power and image no car maker can match for same price.

[Reply to this comment]
Comment by jason
15 September 2008

wat would the maximum cost be for importing a GTR from japan to nz is it cheaper than 80k?

[Reply to this comment]
Comment by p
2 November 2008

i doubt it dude, wishful thinking eh

its over $100k to buy here (when it comes out), and since it is sold locally, i dont think you can import. at least that’s the rule in aus, not sure about NZ…

[Reply to this comment]