Nissan GT-R facelift: old vs new compared

Nissan has released official details of the 2017 GT-R at the 2016 New York Auto Show. It hopes a number of exterior modifications and mechanical upgrades should keep this technological marvel ahead of the competition. We take a look at the old and new models side by side to show you exactly what’s changed…

If you can’t wait until 2017 to get your hands on this brutally fast sports car, our Nissan GT-R car configurator can help you get the current model for a fantastic price.

Nissan GT-R old vs new Styling

The new 2017 GT-R features only minor changes to the exterior. The front grille is now less square than before and features a V-shaped chrome piece below the badge that mirrors the rest of the Nissan range. The daytime running lights are now mounted within new air intakes, below the unchanged headlights.

The rear bumper features new air vents behind the rear wheels and a large contrasting silver strip between the exhausts. This feature, along with new horizontal creases below the brake lights, helps to make the car look less weighty than before. The side skirts are now more heavily sculpted than the old model but the familiar rear spoiler remains.

Nissan will offer the 2017 GT-R in a selection of new colours, including the eye-catching ‘Katsura Orange’ shown in these pictures. If you choose the ‘Prestige Edition’ GT-R you get the choice of four different leather trim options for the interior – Tan, Red, Ivory and Black.

Nissan GT-R old vs new interior

The interior has received some obvious modifications, most notably a larger eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system that sits on top of a new leather-trimmed centre console. Nissan has reduced the number of buttons required to operate the sat nav and stereo by more than half and the gear-change paddles are now mounted to the steering wheel rather than the steering column to make shifting up or down when cornering more intuitive.

A rotary controller mounted on the carbon fibre centre console should make navigating through the infotainment system far easier while on the move and we expect this system to make an appearance in other Nissan models in the future.

Nissan GT-R old vs new engine and driving

The new car features the same twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V6 engine as the old model but produces 20hp more (562hp instead of 542hp) thanks to revised ignition timing and higher boost pressure from the turbos. The six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox has been slightly revised to reduce noise and provide smoother shifts between gears.

The chassis has been made stiffer and the suspension tuned to offer greater stability when turning – allowing the 2017 GT-R to corner faster than the current model. The new exhaust system is made from titanium and features what Nissan calls an ‘active sound enhancement system’ to further enliven the driving experience.

Nissan GT-R price and release date

Nissan has not revealed any prices for the new GT-R but we expect it to cost approximately the same as the current model – between £78,000 and £88,000 – when it goes on sale in autumn 2016.

Save money on your Nissan GT-R

If you can’t wait until autumn to get behind the wheel of a GT-R, our Nissan GT-R car configurator can help you get a great deal on the outgoing model. If you’re not sure what car to buy, our car chooser tool is here to help.