pricing is strange, who the heck would buy the base or mid when the top model is 3-5k more, and youre already spending 67k on a car

I WANT A MANUAL! Even though a CVT will probably be faster, manual is just so much more fun =(

LOL ya, since they're selling it under nissan, they arn't charging an arm and a leg for options like forged wheels. I was hoping there were going to make a carbon fibre trim of the car to make it lighter since its a little beefy. I'm just glad its not that expensive, hopefully I can get my hands on one once it comes out.

no manual?

for shame. i don't care if that triptronic-paddle-shifter-whatever-you-call-it is faster. unless it has three pedals on the floor, i don't even look at it.

that's it automakers, just keep sucking all the pleasure out of driving, one feature at a time...

I can't wait to see how the 3.8liter performs. It's up a liter and some from the old Neo6, but it is a "V" config so who knows. Probably won't rev as high or as smoothly, but might make a ton of torque down low to push around the heavy chassis... maybe this should have been the Z replacement...

for those hating on non-manuals, I guess you still have your pride even though you will be beaten by a faster transmission. I drove manual but I cant begin to compete with these new transmissions. Embrace technology. I use a calculator to do derivatives and integrals even though I know how to do them by hand. Ask yourself can you even handle 500 hp and 400+ torque effectively on a clutch to even begin to care about driving this car in manual. I bet very few of us can answer yes

amen to you zzz, i ike to drive manual but on a beast of a car like this...i prefer something a little more tame

I also agree with you, zzz. But Calvin, please never associate the word 'tame' with this vehicle ;-)

I can't wait for the day when I can refer to this car as, "not that expensive."

You think it could beat a Corvette? Since I know those are the best performance per buck.

this car is suppose to go against the 911 turbo, some unofficial lap times (spy photographers using a stopwatch) placed it ahead, heck even coming close to the carerra GT

No.... manual? ...... waaaaaaaaaahhhhhh

Even it beats the Vette, it costs more so what do you expect. For $66,000 you can have one nice Corvette that'll kick the crap out of this thing. And like it'll actually sell for that.

And $71,000 is in Z06 territory.

Ultimate Metal Silver is 300,000 Yen? So I converted that to 2600 dollars to get this color.

3500 lbs? What a fat pig!

Z06 will eat it up...any other questions?

The weight reminds me of the same issue that's plagued the 350z. Don't know why people are still buying those. I don't know if a z06 would beat it on a track, though. Probably off the line, for sure.

I'm not even sure if the Z06 will beat it off the line. Isn't it AWD, if that is the case the GT-R will beat it out of the hole.

NO MANUAL????!!!!

Renault has killed all things good in Nissan....

The Silvia is dead and will never return the same. The Skyline has gotten it's balls cut off. Only pussies are afraid to drive a manual car with a lot of power. If they made this change for the American market then they are sorely wrong. We love to drive manuals with as much power and we can have. Thats why God made the triple plate clutch!

The Corvettes will rape Skylines now because this will mean most Skylines will not be piloted by SKILLED drivers.

@ JohnnyNismo

Z06 does a laptime of ~7:42, GTR has been seeing doing laptimes in ~7:25 - 7:30, nurburbring laptimes

How is doing derivatives and integrals by hand working out for you? Pussies with calculators are finishing homework before you, thats too bad. I guess you still have your pride. Take any skilled driver, put him in a manual car then the same car with s DSG, guess who wins.

You are comparing the GT-R to the current Z06 wich is going to be phased out. Try comparing it to the new Z06 and see who is faster then.

Z06 weighs 400 lbs less with more hp. Stick that in your calculator and figure which is a faster car. I don't give a crap what times it ran at that track, it just happened to have a batter driver if it got better times than the Z06 or a Porsche.

Its a fat heavyweight pig end of story. It will go down in history just like the 350z....LOL

They are going to make a manual version of the car but it currently doesn't meet emissions testing. So you'll get your friggin' manual and get beat by the automatic version......but you'll have your choice. And no, it won't go down like the 350z.

"There is no Manual transmission option"

Sorry, I prefer a real car. I don't care if a sequential is a tenth of a second or two faster - it's not as fun and doesn't require as much skill.

$20 says the next "big thing" is to get rid of the steering wheel, pedals, and shifting all together and they just hand you a wireless PlayStation controller to use to drive the car since it will be "easier".

there is just no way in hell this car is running a 7:25-7:30 its heavier then the old r34 and makes just a bit more power. A corvette is lighter and makes more power runs 7:42
A zonda makes alot more power and runs a 7:44
A konigsegg ccr with 800 hp and about the same weight runs 7:34 so I really doubt anything less then 7:35 for a vspec of this car

The lap times will be decided SOON ENOUGH. I can't wait to see how fast this thing will go. I REALLY hope they come out with a manual tranny, they're going to eventually since everyone keeps asking for it. I also hope the V-Spec comes with carbon fibre body panels to save some weight.

Better power to weight doesn't automatically mean it's a faster car. Some people's thinking is just dumb. While I'm sure a Vette could eat one up on the straights, it's going to have a hard time keeping up in the twisties.

I don't care who you are or how good you drive a modern AWD system will have better lap times. You can push the car into a corner faster and not spin out. Simple physics. Old school AWD didn't help as much but with computers controlling power distribution it's very effective.

I think some of you guys are missing an important piece of info...

For the record, I have a 6sp 383 C5 Vette (480hp) and a 5sp dual-disco potato 300Z (550hp on C16 gas @ 18psi).

While I love driving a manual (and only own cars with them), you have to know something about turbos to understand Nissan's decision. Their choice is probably entirely about boost, and not the nonsense reasons cited so far.

Boost is only generated when the engine is under load, so on a shift, boost is lost. Yes, the noise from the BOV is cool, but it's also completely wasteful. The best transmissions for turbo cars are automatics and CVTs... the next best would be a clutchless sequential... then manual.

And Gary... interesting that you call other people's thinking dumb. AWD, modern or not, does not always result in faster lap times. Proper entry and exit technique on a RWD car can yield better times than an AWD car. The repeatability is tougher with a RWD car, however - and you are more likely to burn through tires and brakes faster, but your statement is not absolutely accurate. If you want that from someone who would know better than either one of us, ask Steve Millen.

I would bet that Nissan's using a sequential has nothing to do with minor performance increases (that would just be a side-effect). It's most likely for the same reason that Ferrari, BMW, and other companies selling high priced performance cars started selling sequentials........because a large number of Americans are too dumb to know how to drive a manual and the company wants the sales...so they put in something any idiot can operate. I was quite sad when I found out that BMW had sold out and stopped having their M series be manual only. *sigh* I understand why they do it - they're in the business of making profits, not upholding ideals.

See the things you are forgetting are Nissan can engineer suspensions way better than Chevy - also Z06 is 2WD not 4WD like the GTR. Hillbillys in the US only care about 1/8 1/4 drag times as most of them wreck when the turn the wheel .. my supercharged pickup with NOS can bone a Z06 at the drag strip. And finally with a small mod chip the GTR can probably lock down another 200 BHP easy.

Isn't the '08 Corvette still a pushrod motor? C'mon

See the things you are forgetting are Nissan can engineer suspensions way better than Chevy - also Z06 is 2WD not 4WD like the GTR. Hillbillys in the US only care about 1/8 1/4 drag times as most of them wreck when the turn the wheel .. my supercharged pickup with NOS can bone a Z06 at the drag strip. And finally with a small mod chip the GTR can probably lock down another 200 BHP easy.

Isn't the '08 Corvette still a pushrod motor? C'mon

Nürburgring is the ONLY true test of a car IMO

Wow.. the rampant ignorance strikes again....

Remy, obviously you DON'T understand why some manufacturers have started offering sequentials. In the Nissan's case, it isn't a 'minor' performance increase. Having to wait for full spool on each shift isn't fun, especially with large impellers. In some other manufacturer's cases, it is due to the amount of clutch pressure that would be required for actuation. In general, the action is heavier in relation to the amount of torque that the clutch will have to absorb. The pedal effort in my C5 is about 60# (aftermartket clutch).

Nicorep...
1. The suspension in a Z06 will torch almost any car on the planet, including exotics that cost much more. Pulling will over 1G on a skidpad has NOTHING to do with 1/4 mile times.
2. A small mod chip will not increase the power output of ANY car by 200hp. Changing peak boost pressure and running C16 will increase power by 200hp, but you obviously don't know much about automobiles.
3. Yes, the LS1/2/3/6/X engines are pushrod, but what exactly is your point? Properly built, they can spin to 8500+RPM and are every bit as advanced as a DOHC V8. The weight, durability, and performance are world-class, and while some engines have higher specific output, those same engine generally lack the LS's torque.

I'm not sure that I am interested in the GT-R, but at least I can recognize its technological excellence. The engineering prowess in all modern sports cars is something special, so perhaps you guys should stop slinging mud and recognize that 'different' is rarely 'bad'.

I understand that this is an enthusiast website and we all love to debate over laptimes, horsepower, and weight...but reallly, if you buy a car based soley on the fact that it has more horsepower or less weight than another car is pathetic. Get over yourself.

"My car is faster around the 'ring by 10 seconds than your car"

Go back to high school...

I'm going to buy a car that to me has good looks, great personality and decent power to have fun with in the twisties.

For example - look at the Audi R8, it cost more, but makes less horsepower than the Z06. Does that mean I should buy a Z06? Hell no. Sure "bang for the buck"...but I don't care - I'd rather buy the R8. It just has something that cars with more power don't...

Just be happy that cars like this exist. I don't care to ever own a GT-R, but I take satisfaction that man can make such amazing machines...regardless of the numbers.

"Having to wait for full spool on each shift isn't fun, especially with large impellers."

It's not an issue if you know what you're doing. Once again, the main point of sequentials in road cars is so that it takes less skill to drive and they have a broader market to sell to.

"In general, the action is heavier in relation to the amount of torque that the clutch will have to absorb."

There are plenty of high powered cars out there with more torque than this and they do just fine with a manual. Again, this is nothing more than excuses for why you (not YOU, but the general "you") can't drive a manual.

To all those whole love the paddle. Manual shifting will always be loved by true enthusiasts. The average joe doesn't get first place for coming to work just becuase his paddle shifting car is 0.2 seconds faster.

Sports cars should have an option of manual transmission. There is no problems with actuation and pressure. If that were the case, the Americans would have had paddle shifting cars back in the 60's. There are many car makers who still make manual transmissions for their sports cars .

I love the technology in the R34 and I think they (Nissan) should have carried the manual transmission over to the new R35. There's nothing better than having to drive the car YOURSELF.

Those of you who think AWD is automatically faster on a track know nothing or very little.

AWD cars usually finish slower than their RWD versions.
Usually by tiny margins but still.

This is the case with Porsche carrera and most other sports cars.

Also the new Honda Legend with really high tech and sporty AWD was paced against simmilarly engined BMW 5 series and Audi A6 and it was 12 seconds slower than the BMW which was fastest. Round a lap of around a minute and a half with the BMW.

AWD means shit on dry road if the car is well ballanced. In racing it can even be a disadvantage because tyres get eaten faster.

In normal life AWD is cool on wet and snow though. But get your facts checked.

quoted from above:

"my supercharged pickup with NOS can bone a Z06 at the drag strip"

Well my supercharged Z06 with NOS can spit your truck out anytime anyplace. What other bright points do you have. You can go back to hauling horse manure in your pickup when not at the drag strip. I bet your truck is awesome in the twisties! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Trucks are for cowboy wanna be's. I don't care how fast a truck is, its still a truck! LOL

Sequentials require less skill? I wasn't aware that any transmission really requires much skill - except at launch.

With a sequential, you will still need to downshift going into a curve and trail brake (just like with a regular manual). Gear selection still requires a properly functioning brain. When we're talking sequentials, we aren't necessarily talking about a Tiptronic (or anything similar). Classic sequentials can't shift gears without driver intervention - they aren't automatics.

Sequentials are more advanced than regular manual transmissions, and they are easier on the equipment as well. Think of it this way, the clutch has to disappate much less energy on a shift (up or down). Plus, the fact that there is less kenetic energy to scrub means the rest of the driveline will be under less momentary stress.

I run in club and regional racing circuits, and I'd like to think I'm pretty decent. If you require better credentials, though, I'd just look to the fact that IRL and F1 use sequential transmissions. The drivers in both of those series are better than you're likely to find posting on this board.

for those whining about skill, auto driving/racing is a technology dependant sport if yall didnt notice. Drivers/engineers have to embrace any technology that gives the team a racing advantage. Acting like SMG/F1/DSG in a car is unacceptable like steroids on a baseball player.

So do yall do math exams by slide rule instead of a calculator because its more "skillful" Give me a break.

Chris, it's still a matter of pushing a button versus having to learn to time your feet and hands properly (and you also don't have to think about heel-toe downshifting with a sequential either), therefore requiring less skill to drive.

"Drivers/engineers have to embrace any technology that gives the team a racing advantage."

I never said anything about using sequentials in racing - the point of racing is to win. The point of owning a performance street car is to have FUN. You can't possibly claim that being able to hit 60 .2 seconds faster (which you can NOT perceive at all) and just going *poke* on a button is more fun than actually knowing that your ability to move things around properly (and your ability to learn to do it faster and faster until it's physically impossible to do it faster). Then again, you're probably the same people that only beat video games using cheat codes.

Like I already stated, my cars are all manuals. I personally consider shifting to be part of the art of driving, but from a technical standpoint, shifting is a boost killer. I think I'd go crazy if I had an automatic, and sequentials aren't really my thing either, but my point was that it's probably the fastest choice for this car.

I don't think that the minute gains on shifting times are really worth it, but in a turbo-equipped car it can be very significant. The compression ratio of the GT-R is hopefully something low, like 9:1. If it is, then that means that the engine is probably a dog at no/low boost. That being the case, it's best if the thing stays spooled - and that's best achieved by faster shifts (or in a best case scenario, an automatic - as load is present even on shifts).

"but my point was that it's probably the fastest choice for this car."

I never said it wasn't a faster choice - just that the enthusiast crowd would (generally, I can't speak for all) prefer a manual and that anyone who shares my views on cars will instantly ignore this since it lacks a manual option. I will only buy a car with three pedals.

If this is a modern sequential it will be a automatic. It may be based off of a manual transmission but it will shift on its own the new evo does that the ferarris with their dsg do that the vw does that, aston martin with their dual paddle shifters do that so while it may have a manual option its still has a automatic mode which makes this car boring with another computer that doesnt do exactly what I tell it to do. If you have ever driven a car from the early to mid 80s like a mitsu starion or a or porsche 911 youll know what Im talking about. They just have a very raw feeling to them like you are telling it what to do not a compromise that a computer is making so you dont crash or understeer or something like that.

I can't wait for the track times. I really doubt that it will be close to Z06 on the track. There are few production cars that can do that and none are anywhere near $60-$75k. Also 450rwhp 350z'sstruggle to get into the 12's the longer wheelbase and AWD should help that though. My guess is will perform on par with the base vette should be a little quicker. Remember that the vette doesn't shift on the way 60.

Chris O.:
The boost on a turbo car doesn't drop that much on fast shifts. This is less of an issue the bigger the turbo. On hard acceleration the waste gate/BOV is partially open to prevent over boost. The turbo will not spool down fast enough between shift to not deliver max boost once the shift is complete. Turbo lag doesn't come into play there.

The back half of the car look like an after thought. I think they may have lost what made the original GTR so great. Should have stuck with in-line or gone with a V8.