Nissan unleashes Godzilla in Manila: 2017 Nissan GT-R hits Philippine roads

Japanese fans call it “Gojira,” which is how they call the big screen monster Godzilla. The rest of the world calls it the Nissan GT-R—quite literally a fire-breathing supercar that has set records on racetracks all over the world and become legend in just about every automotive circle.        

And it’s now—officially—In the Philippines.

Nissan Philippines Inc. (NPI) once again brings Innovation that Excites as it unveiled last week at the 6th Philippine International Motor Show in World Trade Center in Pasay City the 2017 edition of the Nissan GT-R. The legendary super sports car showcased an exciting new look both inside and out, as well as major driving-performance enhancements and key new features. These represent the most significant changes made to the model since it was introduced in 2007.

“We are very excited to introduce the iconic Nissan GT-R to the Philippine automotive market, as we continue on our quest to deliver innovation and excitement for everyone” said NPI President and Managing Director Ramesh Narasimhan. “These are certainly exciting times for Nissan. We have experienced phenomenal growth in the past few months, achieving record-breaking sales two months in a row and a market share increase to 4.1 percent, growing faster than the automotive industry as a whole. And with the addition of this highly anticipated vehicle into our expanding product line-up, we are looking forward to saying that Nissan truly is back and better than ever.”

Introduced in 2007 as a successor to the famous Nissan Skyline GT-R, the Nissan GT-R soon attracted the attention and loyalty of racing aficionados, who were drawn by the vehicle’s vaunted speed and driving performance. The vehicle’s legendary performance on and off the racetrack soon earned its reputation as a machine that can hold its own versus much more expensive European supercars pitted against it.

Hiroshi Tamura, Nissan’s Chief Product Specialist of the GT-R, explains: “The new GT-R delivers a heart-pounding driving experience at all times and on any road for whoever sits in the driver’s seat. We have continued to push its performance boundaries to the outer limits—it’s even more potent than before. At the same time, more refinement has been added to take the entire driving experience to an entirely new level. We’re proud to bring you what we feel is the ultimate GT that possesses amazing performance, newfound civility and a rich racing history.”

The new GT-R’s exterior has been revamped across the front end with most of the rear end undergoing a total redesign as well. The new “V-motion” grille, one of Nissan’s latest design signatures, has been enlarged to provide better engine cooling and features an updated mesh pattern. A new hood, which flows flawlessly from the grille, has been reinforced to enhance stability during high-speed driving. The freshly-designed front spoiler lip and front bumpers with finishers situated immediately below the headlamps give the new GT-R the look of a pure-bred racecar, while generating high levels of front downforce.

The GT-R’s familiar wind-cutting shape defines its profile, but the side sills have been pushed out to improve air flow. The rear of the car also received a thorough makeover. While the GT-R’s hallmark four-ring taillights remain, the new bodywork, together with the side air vents next to the quad exhaust tips, help improved air flow. Also, the belt line that separates the lower black section from the body panel has been heightened making the car look wider and more aggressive from the rear. These changes results to a sportier-looking, more aerodynamically efficient car.

Inside, a redesigned dashboard, along with an instrument panel wrapped in a single, seamless piece of high-quality leather artfully stitched with Takumi precision, catches the eye. The center dashboard layout has been simplified with an integrated cluster of the audio controls, reducing the number of switches from 27 in the previous model to just 11. An 8-inch touch monitor replaces the previous 7-inch one and now features large icons on the display screen to make it easy to operate. Also new is a Display Command control on the carbon-fiber center console for greater convenience.

The shift paddles are now mounted to the new steering wheel, allowing for easier gear shifting. The paddles, along with the ventilation controls, have improved feel and better sound when engaged or adjusted.

The 2017 Nissan GT-R features the award-winning VR38DETT engine, a 3.8-liter V6 24-valve twin-turbocharged, handcrafted and overseen by a Takumi technician, delivering 570ps and 637Nm of torque. It comes mated to a thoroughly refined 6-speed dual-clutch transmission that features smoother shifts and less noise.

That familiar GT-R tone also has been upgraded with an engine that has never sounded better. The resonance of the new titanium mufflers and Active Sound Enhancement (ASE) enhance the driving experience during acceleration.

The GT-R has always been regarded as one of the world’s best handling machines and for 2017, its cornering abilities have become even better. A more rigid body structure and new suspension result in better stability through quick lateral transitions and higher overall cornering speed. Providing grip are sticky 20-inch tires wrapped around new “Y-spoke” machine-finished forged aluminum wheels.

Despite the higher performance, the 2017 GT-R is the most comfortable model to date. It exhibits a smoother ride quality and its cabin remains much quieter at all speeds with new sound absorption materials.

The 2017 Nissan GT-R will be available exclusively at the Nissan High Performance Center in Quezon Avenue, QC and comes in Katsura Orange, Vibrant Red, Pearl Black, Ultimate Silver, Gun Metallic, Pearl White, and Pearl Blue.

The 2017 Nissan GT-R is available at what Nissan calls a drive-away price of P7,350,000. The price includes the vehicle’s price and government taxes, plus miscellaneous cost including handling charges and accessories, ensuring the unit is ready for use upon release.