Nissan bids GT-R farewell with special edition T-Spec

NISSAN is commemorating the final consignment of its R35-series GT-R with the special edition T-Spec, which is also the last derivative to wear a compliance plate in Australia.

Priced from $256,700 (excluding on-road costs), the GT-R T-Spec slots between the Premium Luxury and NISMO in the MY22 range. The last-of-its-kind GT-R sports Brembo carbon-ceramic brake discs, Dunlop SP Sport Maxx high-performance tyres, a carbon-fibre rear spoiler and model-exclusive forged gold alloy wheels and a dark green interior treatment.

The T-Spec, which is powered by the 419kW/632Nm twin-turbo VR38DETT 3.8-litre V6, marks the R35-series’s more than 12 years of service. The “T” designation was inspired by “Trend Maker” and “Traction Master”, by which the concept model was promoted in 2001.

Two new T-Spec colours – Millennium Jade and Midnight Purple – pay homage to some of the hero colours donned by the R33- and R34-series Skyline GT-Rs.

Just 100 examples of the T-Spec will be produced by Nissan, with the company’s Australian arm securing “a few examples” for local enthusiasts.

“It’s often said that it’s best to save your best until last, and that’s certainly the case here,” Nissan Australia Managing Director Adam Paterson said.

“The GT-R is Nissan’s most celebrated vehicle, and while this isn’t goodbye forever, the T-Spec and NISMO SV models act as the closing of this chapter of the GT-R story in Australia.

“The fact that the last version of this generation of Nissan’s performance icon will also be the last to wear a label that’s been part of the fabric of Australian automotive history for more than 30 years is entirely fitting,” Mr Paterson concluded.

Car manufacturers have been fitting compliance plates or labels in Australia since 1989, but a recent change has seen the process digitised, with a full change-over to occur in December 2021.

As such, the final Australian Compliance Label applied to a Nissan vehicle occurred on October 29, at PrixCar in Altona, Victoria, ahead of the vehicle’s delivery to its new owner.

The GT-R T-Spec and recently announced NISMO SV expand the GT-R range to five. Nissan says the special-edition model marks the end of the road for the current generation vehicle, and says it will “close the gap between the regular GT-R range and the NISMO vehicles”.

GoAuto understands the next generation of GT-R Nissans will likely include 48-volt mild hybridisation upon its unveiling at the end of 2022. Nissan has yet to officially release any details of the successor to the R35-series, but with Japan’s new Corporate Average Fuel Consumption (CAFE) and noise regulations now in play, it’s anticipated that the “R36” will be both cleaner and quieter than the outgoing model.

Production of the current Nissan GT-R series began in 2007 with the first models entering Australian showrooms in early 2009. The long-serving R35-series GT-R was last refreshed in 2017 with an uptick in power, smoother transmission action, improved aerodynamics, and upgraded brakes. A mild change to the transmission tune, new paint colours and forged aluminium wheels were adopted in 2020.

2022 Nissan GT-R pricing*

Premium        $193,800    (unchanged)
Premium Luxury    $199,800    (unchanged)
T-Spec            $256,700    (new model)
NISMO            $378,000    (unchanged)
NISMO SV        $393,800    (unchanged)

*Pricing excludes on-road costs.