The GT-R perfectly embodies Nissan’s philosophy of delivering great performance at an affordable price. Introduced first in Japan in 2007, the GT-R made its debut the following year in the United States and Canada. It was released in other markets a year later. The car’s history, however, can be traced back to the performance-enhanced version of the Skyline range, which was called the Skyline GT-R. It was produced from 1969 to 1974 and then from 1989 to 2002.
The post-2007 GT-R is part of the same heritage, although it does not have the ‘Skyline’ nametag attached to it. The 2013 Nissan GT-R is very close to the Japanese carmaker’s roots in that it offers performance and power that can easily rival those of superior European sports cars without the six-figure cost that comes with them.
New For 2013
The 2013 GT-R receives updated suspension tuning, and engine output rises from 530 hp and 448 lb-ft to 545 hp and 463 lb-ft. A backup camera becomes standard on all models, and the Black Edition gains an exposed-carbon-fiber rear wing.
Exterior
The 2013 Nissan GT-R has a distinctive exterior that makes it unlikely to be confused with any other car. Unmistakably flashy and true to Nissan’s over-the-top styling sense, the GT-R has an aerodynamic look overall. The shape of the car is designed to root cooling air when required and maintain strong downforce on the front and rear. The car comes with lightweight 20-inch wheels along with a combination of carbon fiber, aluminum, and steel construction to reduce weight and improve handling. This includes an all-carbon fiber rear spoiler for the GT-R Black. The headlights are narrow and wide to give out super wide beams.
Interior & Cargo
When compared to the exterior of the 2013 Nissan GT-R, the interior is a lot more toned down and somber. It gives a sense of the technology present inside the car and the performance that it can deliver. The front seats get faux suede inserts and bolsters for keeping the occupants firmly in place no matter how much the car twists and turns. Despite the firmness, the seats are also rather comfortable even for long drives. The cabin has been constructed rather well overall with soft-touch materials used in lots of places. The dash is well-placed with solid controls. With the Black Edition, the quality and design of the 2013 Nissan GT-R’s cabin improves even further.
The car has a navigation system with a screen up front that displays a number of parameters like gear position, lap times, steering input, and even g-force. It may sound a little gimmicky, but it adds to the overall atmosphere and personality of the car. Unlike most other sports cars of the same dimensions, entry and exit is not much of a problem for the GT-R. Occupants can easily get in and out of the front seats. The rear seats, of course, are expectedly small and more difficult to access. At best, they are suitable for accommodating children. On a positive note, cargo space is quite good with around 8.8 cubic feet of space and a deep trunk area.
Safety
The 2013 Nissan GT-R is fitted with a number of standard safety features like anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control, full-length side curtain airbags, and front seat side airbags. The car has a stopping distance of 98 feet from 60 miles per hour, which is one of the best braking performances seen in sports cars today.
Driving Experience
The GT-R gets a twin-turbocharged, 3.8-liter, V-6 engine that delivers 545 horsepower and 463 lb-ft of torque. It is combined with a six-speed automated manual transmission with dual-clutch system, along with all-wheel drive. Performance is absolutely stunning; the car goes from zero to 60 miles per hour in just 3.1 seconds, and it crosses the quarter-mile mark in only 11.1 seconds. For this performance, fuel economy is pretty impressive too at 16/23 mpg city/highway. Despite its size, the car is quite nimble because it achieves its performance using technology rather than a large engine. While other carmakers would go for a brutish V-8 engine, the 2013 Nissan GT-R has a twin-turbo V-6 that sounds like a jet. The all-wheel drive is a necessity with the kind of power offered by the V-6 too.
The 2013 Nissan GT-R works best on racetracks and smooth roads. It handles as well as the best supercars, and thanks to the strongly built suspension the car can tackle the tightest curves with great precision at high speeds. The steering is responsive too, but one of the biggest complaints about this car is the lack of refinement. The heavy curb weight of the GT-R makes it a lot less nimble than similar supercars like the Porsche 911. The ride can be harsh at times, and the road noise can sometimes go up to distracting levels. The lack of refinement in the GT-R really shows when it is driven around the city. In stop-and-go traffic, the transmission gets especially problematic because gearshifts are clunky. The transmission rattles and clanks a lot when the car is being driven at slow speeds, but everything disappears when it reaches the open road. At highway speeds, the downshifts are perfect and smooth and the upshifts are incredibly quick. In other words, the 2013 Nissan GT-R has been designed for one thing only- going incredibly fast and being pushed to the limit in terms of speed. Put it in any other situation, though, and it seems less like a good choice.
Key Competitors For The 2013 Nissan GT-R
- Audi R8
- BMW M3
- Chevrolet Corvette
- Porsche 911