Tokyo show: Get set for Nissan’s 2.8-second Godzilla

NISSAN’S howling GT-R coupe is set to confirm its mantle as the swiftest mass-produced car on the Australian market when the 2012 model arrives in local showrooms next March with a price tag of $170,800 – just $2000 more than the current model.

With a claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of just 2.8 seconds, the tweaked R35 ‘Godzilla’ shaves 0.2 seconds off its already quick 3.0-second blast from zero to 100km/h for the MY11 GT-R launched in Australia just seven months ago.

This means the Japanese-made super-coupe will go even further ahead of Germany’s current champion, the $423,300 Porsche 911 Turbo S, which is said to bolt to 100km/h in 3.1 seconds.

Only hand-made supercars such as the hugely expensive Bugatti Veyron or super-lights such as the Ariel Atom V8 – both of which do the sprint in 2.5 seconds but are unavailable in Australia – are quicker.

Nissan Australia today confirmed the new model for Australian sale, announcing a $170,800 price tag for the new model that again will be available in a single all-wheel-drive specificationHowever, Nissan Australia manager corporate affairs manager Jeff Fisher told GoAuto the company had no plans to import an even harder-edged track-focused version that is expected to appear at this year’s Tokyo motor show late this month.

From top: Nissan Esflow, Pivo 3, NV350 and Townpod.

The track car will be made in right-hand drive for Japan and the UK, but so far it is off the agenda for local distribution.

Instead, Nissan Australia will count on the regular road-going version to elevate sales of the earthquake-battered sports flagship from its current seven or eight a month.

Nissan had planned to sell about 100 GT-Rs this Japanese financial year (ending March 31, 2012) but the Japanese earthquake last March put paid to those plans when the GT-R plant was put out of action for a time.

So far this year, Nissan has sold 75 GT-Rs, including 58 since the start of its current financial year on April 1.

In Japan, Nissan announced details of the ‘standard’ 2012 GT-R last night in Japan, saying it would offer more power, improved fuel economy and lower emissions.

Power from the twin-turbo V6 jumps from 390kW to 404kW at 6400rpm, while torque has been boosted from 612Nm to 632Nm between 3200rpm to 5800 rpm.

Nissan claims the engine is not only more powerful but also has significantly improved response at low-to-mid speeds, as well as at the top end, thanks to improved intake efficiency and reduced exhaust resistance from a new catalyser that is also smaller and lighter.

Fuel consumption has been improved from 12.0 litres per 100km to 11.8L/100km.

Sodium-filled exhaust valves improve cooling performance, while the valve timing and air mixture ratio have been adjusted.

The twin-clutch transmission gets a stronger shift fork arm and other tweaks to improve shift feel, while race-style oil is used in the differentials.

The body has been reinforced around the rear of the engine and dash to enhance rigidity for more responsive handling and driver feel.

Nissan has also taken into account the adjustments made for right-hand-drive versions, tweaking the suspension to make up for the extra weight of the driver and front prop shaft on the right-hand side of the vehicle.

Inside, the instruments gain blue lighting inside the tacho to match the shift indicator light, while a rear-view camera will be standard.

The new GT-R is expected to feature on the Nissan stand at the 2011 Tokyo motor show, where the Japanese giant will also show a range of electric concept cars – some of which have already been seen at motor shows elsewhere – and a new large van, the NV350.

Fresh for the 2011 show is the latest Pivo urban EV, the third in a line of concepts trialing Nissan ideas for electric commuter cars.

The three-seat all-electric Pivo 3 gets automated valet parking that can locate a parking space in special parking lots and park the car without driver input.

The car – which has in-wheel electric motors and can turn almost in its own length – can be re-called to the car-park entrance via a smart-phone app.

Also on display will be Nissan’s Esflow EV sports car that made it first appearance at this year’s Geneva motor show in March.

The rear-drive, mid-engined two-seater can accelerate to 100km/h in under five seconds and cruise 240km on a single charge of its lithium-ion batteries.

Another previous motor show star, the three-door EV Townpod city car boasting a flexible interior, will also been shown to Japanese showgoers for the first time.

In its commercial vehicle area, Nissan will reveal the production-ready next-generation NV350 commercial van with a cargo length of three metres.

The van is off the radar for now in Australia, where Nissan is eyeing the smaller NV200 – the van now being introduced as a New York taxi.