I really hope this is inaccurate. Edmunds Inside Line just posted today the official production photos of the GT-R - one week early of its official world debut at the Tokyo Motor Show.

According to Edmunds, the car will have a 3.8L TT V6 with 473hp & 434 lb.-ft. of torque that will take the car from 0-60 in about 3.5 secs. Top track speed will be 192 mph. As expected, the car will be driven by all four wheels via a dual clutch 6-speed transmission. Unexpectedly, the transmission will be an automatic, apparently the only option.

As much as I've enjoyed the iPhone-esque preproduction hype, the concept photos, the carbon fiber body panels, etc., the lack of a 6-speed manual is a real turnoff. And that rear seat is just way too retro for me.

Didn't they turn to Lotus to help them tune the suspension? I mean, serious money went into developing this car. If they were going w/ an auto, why not throw in another gear? If the manual on the G37 was unsuitable (the shifter vibrates too much), then why not at least outsource the tranny from somewhere reputable? Omitting the manual tranny seems way too half a.ss for me. What next, a foot brake instead of a hand brake (like the G37 journey)? (The car offers a hand brake.)

If I were spending this kind of money on a car, I might just save up and spend the extra ~$40K on the real target - the 911 Turbo. Or, better yet, daytrade my way for another $100K and get the 911 GT2.

I can see why they're branding this a Nissan instead of Infiniti, but I can also imagine how pis.sed off an owner would be if s/he dropped off the $80K car for servicing at the local Nissan dealer and all they got was a free shuttle, or, worse, a Versa or a Sentra as a courtesy car. Ugh! At least at Infiniti you get a G35 as a courtesy car.

Sorry guys, but it seems like, transmission-wise, they were more inspired by the IS-F than the 911.

Here's the article and pics:

Photos courtesy of Nissan Motor Corporation, Japan























http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...topanel..1.*#2

Breaking News: Undisguised 2009 Nissan GT-R

Date posted: 10-16-2007

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — The wait is over. Undisguised 2009 Nissan GT-R photos have now become available prior to the car's official debut at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show.

Numerous GT-R prototypes have been caught testing around the world, including at Germany's Nürburgring and California's Laguna Seca Raceway, but this is the first look at the rocket coupe's completely undisguised sheet metal.

Most of the specifications aren't expected to be announced until Nissan's Tokyo show press conference on October 24, but today we know that the all-wheel-drive 2009 GT-R will get a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 that produces 473 horsepower and 434 pound-feet of torque. It'll drive all four wheels through a rear-mounted transaxle. The only transmission will be a GR6 dual-clutch six-speed automatic. And of course there will be paddle shifters for your enjoyment — the same leather-wrapped aluminum paddle shifters as Nissan uses in the G35 sedan.

Nissan says the GT-R will accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, finish the quarter-mile in 11.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 192 mph. Base price is expected to be less than $80,000.

If true, the GT-R will be serious competition for the Porsche 911 Turbo, which it has been routinely seen testing alongside.

What this means to you: It's here. And it's hot.

 

all the people complaining about the lack of 6 speed manual transmissions for this car gotta get with the times, paddleshifters are the fawkin future and by far a better performing system than good old clutch depression/stick shiftin..
and you can bash this car all you want, and yes the Porsches ARE legendary but I'm annoyed at how much they're hyped... and around my parts a lot of people drive one, and mostly mid life crisis older men, and being 24 I dont fit in that category so I would pick this GTR over the 911 turbo simply for the fact that when I pull up next to a 911 turbo, if he knows what I'm rollin in, I guarantee he's gonna have second thoughts on whether he wants to drop that clutch and race me, and I'm not even gonna mention the endless tuning possibilities with this car, I just hope they're in the same price range they were for the R-34..

 

I'm not a mechanical engineer or anything, but I think the case for the transmission to replace the manual transmission is some sort of dual clutch, sequential manual transmission (sort of like the SMG) - not a literal automatic.

Yeah, Porsches are overrated, but then again 3-series coupe owners tend to say that about G35 coupes and the new G37. It's personal pref.

I'm going to reserve further comment on the car until this car is officially released in N.A. - who knows, maybe they'll throw in a stick or something else in there - like what BMW did after it threw in the 6-speed manual for its M5 after everyone b.itched about how bad the 7-speed SMG was. I'll compare driving dynamics with the Porsche after I return from their driving school sometime next year. I'm not going to pretend that I'm any expert.

It remains to be seen how Nissan is going to handle/treat their GT-R clientele at the dealerships. I used to own a Nissan I bought new, and the level of service varied widely by dealership. Price-wise, this is Audi RS4/entry-level Porsche 911 territory. People with that kind of money tend to have certain expectations. I'd be pretty peeved if the dealer treated me the same way they treat/handle the guy who bought a $10K Versa.

But aside from that, the car does look great and I can't wait to see it in person/track it, etc.

 

thats a daaaamn good point man, missed that, I hadnt thought of it like that, I guess I'm gonna have to start strutin in like a gangster when I walk in for my services. It might be the only way you'll get respectable stand up services and not tried to be taken advantage of or screwed around with like the guy next to you who's in to get his 94 maxima fixed.. I'm getting this car soon as it comes out if I can get my hands on it, if not then I'm getting the second year model..

 

I thought it was going to be an Infiniti... Either way people will buy this car regardless of the service department. There are people with Corvettes that have to stand in line next to people with Cobalts all day long so I don't see the dealer experience being a deal breaker when it comes to a true sports car for less than 100K. I can't wait to see these cars in Nissan show rooms.

 

Seems like you missed this part when you read the articles:

"The only transmission will be a GR6 dual-clutch six-speed automatic."

Does that not say dual-clutch six-speed automatic? I would assume its like a DSG.

 

They are going to be treated the same as any other car at Nissan...Just like NSX owners from Acura...They get an integra to drive or at best maybe a rental from Enterprise...Anyhow Nissan dealership don't have the funds to cater to someone that spends 80K on a Nissan...Same as ACURA even tho it is a semi-lux car company...I know...I worked at Acura...They treat their NSX customers the same as the rest. Maybe better then Honda customers but no where near Infiniti, Lexus, BMW, etc....

 

I cant lie... I am going to fornicate with these pics burned into my mind...

 

Lotus tuned suspension yes. Cosworth worked on the engine and I would guess helped with the rest of the powertrain too.

It's already going to be $80k+ for the top trim level. Some guys will be sucking gas to get that car and and extra $40k for a 911TT or more for a GT2 is not an option.

 

I'm still planning to buy one despite it's automatic transmission, but not the first release model, will wait to late 2009 for Nissan to work out the new car issues.

MportPunk brought up a good point, forgot that the Nissa dealer here doesn't have loaners, that's going to be a huge problem. Another issue I came across today is that only 10% of the dealerships in the US will be able to service the GT-R (and allow to sell it). Just hoping that one of the Hawaii dealerships will get certification for the GT-R.

 

keyword is dual clutch... these shift faster than any human can shift... and like someone said up top it is the future in transmissions. wanna try it? think the cheapest car with dsg is the new gti... its pretty sweet.

were you saddened as well when the ferrari came out with a clutchless paddleshift, straight up out of a formula one car?

 

i had read that nissan is still having problems with the MT meeting emission standards, and that there will be a MT in the future.

agree that these tranny systems are better, performance-wise; but in terms of driving enjoyment, i personally prefer MT. in fact, i think a majority of ferrari/porsche/bmw buyers who have the option of chooing MT or the clutchless, go with MT.