NOT content with presenting pin-sharp pricing for its upcoming new X-Trail, Micra and Dualis models, Nissan used last week’s Australian International Motor Show opening to announce, with moody music and a historic video of the original Skyline GT-R at Bathurst playing, that the new-generation GT-R supercar would, in fact, be sold in Australia from 2009.
“You guys call it Godzilla, we call it breathtaking,” said Nissan Australia boss Shinya Hannya.
“The GT-R is coming in 2009. The world holds its breath. The legend is real.” The only problem was, we already knew that.
Then-new global Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn announced the next-generation GT-R would be a global model six long years ago at the concept-previewing 2001 Tokyo motor show and GoAuto reported in May 2006 that Nissan expected the new GT-R on sale in Australia by early 2008.
Rather than being confirmed for Australia earlier than expected, as some reports have stated, the GT-R appears to have been delayed from Australian showrooms by 12 months - although Nissan Oz says it will lobby to have the vital new halo model here from late next year.
Websites around the world this week have revealed limited specifications of Nissan's new-generation GT-R ahead of their full official announcement next Monday (October 22), as well as embargoed images prior to their official relese next Wednesday (October 24), when the production-ready GT-R appears in the metal at Tokjyo.
Read more:
First look: Nissan begins production GT-R revealFirst look: GT-R Proto a production showcaseDesigns on Nissan's futureNissan to apply GT-R power to next-gen ‘370Z’Here comes Godzilla MkII!First drive: Nissan winds up the 350Z wickNissan looks over the Skyline