
Nissan’s ‘Godzilla’ Turns 50: The Marque Launches a New Commemorative 2020 GT-R to Celebrate
It has the signature raucous growl and a formidable 447kW.
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Half a century ago, it would have been impossible to conceive of a 477kW sports car for the street, let alone one wearing a badge from Nissan, the company then known in Australia as Datsun. But since 1969, the Nissan Skyline GT-R has been Japan’s most formidable sports car nameplate. In 2007, that model morphed into an all-wheel-drive monster and descended on the supercars of the world. Simply called the GT-R (no longer the Skyline), it has earned the nickname Godzilla because of its brutal performance and appetite for decimating far costlier competitors on road and track.
The 2020 Nissan GT-R 50th Anniversary Edition takes the nameplate to a level that was unimaginable when it was first introduced 50 years ago. To celebrate the half-century of the GT-R, engineers challenged themselves to find undiscovered performance potential while still making sure the car can be enjoyed by drivers at any level.
To commemorate 50 years since the first iteration, the 2020 Nissan GT-R 50th Anniversary Edition is offered in all three GT-R variants: Premium, Track and NISMO versions. The commemorative package also offers a choice of three “heritage” liveries: Bayside Blue (a bright metallic shade, shown above) with white stripes, Pearl White with red stripes and Super Silver with white stripes. A special grey interior— which seats four—complements each exterior without distraction.
The 2020 Nissan GT-R 50th Anniversary Edition takes the nameplate to a level that was unimaginable when it was first introduced 50 years ago. To celebrate the half-century of the GT-R, engineers challenged themselves to find undiscovered performance potential while still making sure the car can be enjoyed by drivers at any level.
What’s under the hood, however, defines the beast; a 3.8-litre, twin-turbocharged V-6—each one assembled by its own dedicated master technician. In street form, the engine delivers 421kW and 633Nm torque, but that bumps to 477kW and 652Nm torque in the Track and NISMO editions—and all models benefit from improved turbochargers. A 6-speed, dual-clutch, paddle-shift transmission; electronically controlled suspension; and steering have all been tuned for improved performance. A new titanium muffler system delivers the signature exhaust note of the GT-R, a sound both gravelly and raucous, with an aggressive snarl that suggests it could easily chew a keg of nails while mopping the tarmac with more delicate machines. Although the Anniversary Edition’s pricing is yet to be announced – we do know it is due to arrive in late 2019.
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