The 2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R is Coming - Eventually
Thursday, May 11th, 2006Nissan president Carlos Ghosn has officially announced that the Skyline will finally make its American debut, and it will be under the Nissan badge, not Infiniti. After several years of rumors, speculation and pleading, testing has begun on the model that will be available here in the United States. Spy shot photos have been spread around the web since 2002, but the final production car is scheduled to make its official debut at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show.
Recently Car & Driver Magazine was able to catch some very recent spy shots, and the current look is nothing like what we had previously reported. According to Nissan, the American version of the GT-R will look nothing like the prototype that was showcased at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show. One look at the Car & Driver photo and it’s apparent that this is a very heavily modified G35 Coupe; wide wheels and body and a massive exhaust system. Rumors speculated that a V8 would be found under the hood, but weight is always a factor and instead it speculated that a 450hp to 500hp Twin Turbo V6 would propel this monster. Weight on the all wheel drive train is said to be a perfect 50/50, and it is rumored that the GT-R will employ a radically new in-wheel electric motor four-wheel-drive system.
The major set back seems to be in the price tag area; at $75,000 it falls between the BMW M3 and the Acura NSX, so don’t expect to see them regularly at your neighborhood Starbucks.
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