2018 Nissan GT-R Coupe

Thanks to the ultimate power booster, the 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-6 now propels 565 horsepower at 6800 rpm. The new titanium exhausts made this beast to shed 12 pounds and lessen the noise developed during daily commuting. The drivability also gets improved with the tuned six-speed dual-clutch automatic transaxle.

The coupe comes in four trim levels: Pure, Premium, Track Edition, and Nismo. Priced at  $99,990, the Pure edition is the entry-level trim, which is priced at a lower starting cost in comparison to the previous year’s entry-level trim. The engine is carried away with the 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 which is further paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.

The top-of-the-trim level, Nismo, is priced at $1,75,490, features a Nismo-tuned 600-hp, 3.8-liter, high-capacity twin-turbocharged V6 engine under a NISMO aerodynamic body design.

Trims	Pure	Premium	Track Edition	Nismo
MSRP	$99,990	$1,10,490	$1,28,490	$1,75,490
Features	ATTESA E-TS All-Wheel Drive (AWD). 20″ Super-lightweight forged-alloy RAYS wheels Nissan/Brembo braking system.	Includes Pure features plus: Titanium exhaust with Exhaust Sound Control. Bose audio system. Active Noise Cancellation/Active Sound Enhancement.	Includes Premium features plus: NISMO-tuned suspension. Dry carbon-fiber rear spoiler. NISMO black 20″ super-lightweight forged-alloy wheels. Black/Red Recaro leather-appointed front seats.	Includes Track Edition features plus: NISMO-tuned 600-hp, 3.8-liter, high-capacity twin-turbocharged V6 engine. NISMO aerodynamic body design – carbon-fiber front and rear fascia, side sills and rear spoiler. NISMO Recaro leather-appointed front seats with synthetic suede inserts.

Trim We Recommend

The pure trim is of great value as it offers most of the standard features at a minimum starting price. It gets the same mechanicals and performance features. However, you don’t get titanium exhausts.

At the heart of every GT-R is an extremely potent twin-turbo V6, plus a fast-shifting automated manual gearbox, a sport-tuned suspension, powerful Brembo brakes and a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system. All these elements come together to make the 2018 Nissan GT-R an extremely capable sports car. – Autotrader

Engine and Transmission

The GT-R is powered by a turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 that produces 565 horsepower and 467 pound-feet of peak torque. The Nissan GT-R Nismo has uprated the power output figures to 600 horsepower and 481 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a six-speed dual clutch automatic transmission that transmits power to all four wheels. In terms of pure performance, it is madness. It's fast, powerful, and fun to drive.

Models	Nissan GT-R	Audi R8	Mercedes AMG-GT	Jaguar F-Type SVR
MSRP	$99,990	$16,4900	$12,4400	$121,900
Engine	3.8-liter twin-turbocharged 24-valve V6 Gas engine	5.2-liter FSI dual-injection V10 Gas engine	Handcrafted AMG 4.0L V8 bi-turbo Gas engine	5.0-liter 8-cylinder Gas engine
Drive Train	AWD	AWD	RWD	AWD
Transmission	6-speed automatic	7-speed automatic	7-speed automatic	8-speed automatic
Power	565 hp @ 6,800 rpm	540 hp @ 7,800 rpm	469 hp @ 6000 rpm	575 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque	467 lb-ft @ 5,800 rpm	398 lb-ft @ 6,500 rpm	465 lb-ft @ 1700 rpm	516 lb-ft @ 3,500 rpm

The Jaguar F-Type SVR comes powered by a 5.0-liter 8-cylinder Gas engine churns out 575-hp at 6500 rpm. While the Audi R8 makes 540 hp at 7,800 rpm.

Acceleration

The 3.8-liter V6 is believed to be a performing powertrain. Its power spins through the dual-clutch transmission and engages all the four wheels. The Godzilla is capable of doing 0-60 mph in just 2.9 seconds, which is still faster than the prominent rivals. The quick acting all-wheel drive setup is something exceptional.

Models	Nissan GT-R	Audi R8	Mercedes AMG-GT	Jaguar F-Type SVR
0-60 MPH	2.9 sec	3.5 sec	3.9 sec	3.5sec
Quarter mile	16 sec @ 120.0 mph	10.9 sec @ 129 mph	11.4 sec @ 127.6 mph	11.2 sec @ 126.3 mph
Engine	3.8L	5.2L	4.0L	5.0L
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	9.8	10.4	9.8	7.5

Braking and Handling

The brake pads assembled in GT-R’s front and rear wheels measure 15 inches, which is enough to deliver fast and smooth braking. As the all-wheel-drive system puts more power to the rear wheels, and the torque splits in the 50:50 over speed, steering angle, yaw rate, tire slip, and lateral acceleration.

The GT-R comes with adjustable suspension and other stability control setting that allows the car to remain stable on narrow corners and turns.

Model	Nissan GT-R	Audi R8	Mercedes AMG-GT	Jaguar F-Type SVR
Brake pads-front(in)	15.4	14.4	14.2	15.0
Brake pads Rear(in)	15.0	14.0	14.2	14.8
Curb weight(lbs)	3929	3737	3682	3769
60-0 MPH (ft.)	94	96	96	N/A

The steering system is exceptionally precise and responsive, but it doesn’t really care for rough or uneven pavement—pronounced road imperfections can sometimes tug at the wheel enough to require a bit of correction by the driver. And even with the suspension set to ‘comfort’ mode, the ride is rather stiff and clunky on anything but smooth pavement. — Consumer Guide (2017)

GT-R returns an impressive fuel economy if 22 mpg on the highway, despite its sub-three second acceleration to 60 mph. The EPA ratings are 16 mpg city, 22 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined.

Mercedes AMG-GT is also returning similar fuel economy with its 4.0-liter bi-turbo V8 engine.

Model	Nissan GT-R	Audi R8	Mercedes AMG-GT	Jaguar F-Type SVR
Mpg city mpg	16	14	16	15
Mpg highway mpg	22	22	21	23
Mpg combine mpg	18	17	18	18

Those seats, though, are my biggest pain. Literally. For the life of me, I couldn’t get comfortable in these contraptions, which Nissan claims to have redesigned to provide more comfort. Instead I felt like I was sitting up against a softball. (I’m 6 feet tall and 170 pounds.) There’s no lumbar or bolster adjustment, so you either fit or you don’t. I felt like I was sitting on top of the GT-R’s seat rather than being hugged by it, like I do in the seats of comparable sports cars. — Cars.com (2017)

Seating and Comfort

Nissan has added new comfort to the front seats right from the entry-level trim. The coupe's chair looks far better than the one installed in the 911 and Corvettes. The GT-R gets paddle shift controls on the steering wheels, which is easier to reach now. Many conventional buttons on the center console have been replaced by a handy knob.

Its rear seats will be a matter of discomfort for adults as they are too small. It might be good for kids. You won’t find the rear seat in the Nismo model as the carmaker has ripped it out for ensuring lighter curb weight.

Model	Nissan GT-R	Audi R8	Mercedes AMG-GT	Jaguar F-Type SVR
Passenger capacity	4	2	2	2
Passenger Volume(ft cube)	79	50	86	——
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	38.1/54.3/44.6	38.5/55.1/40.9	39.5/-/-	36.8/56.5/42.8
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	26.4/50.0/26.4	N/A	N/A	N/A

The front seats get notable support and seem good for long distance driving. However, it offers fewer adjustments. The rear seats are small, but still, Nissan takes credit for being a 4-seater car in this segment. Also, the rear seats can’t be folded, thus limiting the trunk size to 8.8 cubic feet.

Infotainment System

The standard Apple CarPlay is a sweet addition to the coupe's infotainment system. Other main amenities available with the infotainment include:

• NissanConnect interface with 8-inch touchscreen and navigation
• Voice recognition
• Hands-free text messaging
• Satellite radio
• Bluetooth
• Six speakers
• HD Radio
• 11-speaker Bose audio system
• Two USB ports

Cargo Space

The non-folding rear seats on the Nissan allows making a cargo space of 8.8 cubic feet. The trunk has got high leftover as well. However, you can easily store small items into this typical trunk.

Model	Nissan GT-R	Audi R8	Mercedes AMG-GT	Jaguar F-Type SVR
Volume (cube ft)	8.8	8.0	10.1	14.4

The 2018 Nissan GT-R has distinctive tuner-world style; it’s almost restrained, by exotic-car standards. – carconnection

Design and Styling

The GT-R design does not look distinctive, and Nissan has successfully maintained the low-key stance of this performance sports car. The design is aerodynamic in nature that is meant to minimize the air friction up to optimum level. The roofline sports a tomahawk chop line inclined toward the rear tail lamps. The design package makes the GT-R a complete tuner car, created in-house.

Model	Nissan GT-R	Audi R8	Mercedes AMG-GT	Jaguar F-Type SVR
curb weight(lbs)	3929	3737	3682	3769
Length(in)	185.4	174.3	179.0	176.0
Width(in)	74.6	46.4	76.3	74.2
Height(in)	53.9	48.8	49.6	51.6
Ground clearance(in)	4.3	4.3	4.9	3.9
Wheelbase(in)	109.4	104.3	103.5	103.2
Track width(in) F/R	62.6/63.3	64.5/63.0	66.1/65.0	63/65

The newly appointed front and rear lips create more downforce. The hood comes with deeper stampings which ultimately magnifies the look. Nissan GTR’s great presence is observed in colors like Blaze Metallic orange. The large 20-inch wheels with forged aluminum add bold stance to the sports car. The wheels offer balanced grip with the road under hard acceleration.

It seems that the Nissan GT-R is still waiting to go through the crash tests conducted by the NHTSA and the IIHS. As the ratings are not available, we can’t tell how well the GT-R protect its passengers. It is believed that due to the limited production numbers, the NHTSA and the IIHS didn’t perform the crash tests.

However, the standard features like all-wheel drive and a rearview camera make it a safe ride. Nissan GT-R’s stability control system comes with different modes that maintain street traction.

Safety Features

• Nissan Advanced Air Bag System with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt and occupant-classification sensors.
• Driver and passenger seat mounted side-impact supplemental air bags.
• Roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags for front occupant head protection.
• Front seat belts with pre-tensioners and load limiters.LATCH System (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children).
• Zone Body construction with front and rear crumple zones.Hood buckling creases.
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with individual tire pressure display.

Nissan GT-R VS Audi R8

The starting price of Audi R8 is more than every Nissan GT-R trim, excluding Nismo. The R8 is fast and responsive. Despite its supercar looks, the car is easy to approach. The R8 also boasts of its cutting edge technology and the sleek virtual cockpit that is enough to catch lots of eyes.

Nissan GT-R VS Mercedes AMG- GT

The best thing about the GT-R is its standard all-wheel drive configuration. The configuration takes the car through uneven terrain. Whereas the Mercedes AMG GT lacks all-wheel drive setup. Nissan warranty coverage is longer than the Mercedes AMG GT coverage. The warranty coverage for the Mercedes AMG GT ends after 4 years or 50,000 miles whereas the Nissan GT-R is covered for 5 years and 60,000 miles.

On the other hand, the Nisan GT-R allows standard seating for four passengers, while the Mercedes AMG GT carry only two passengers.

Nissan GT-R VS Jaguar F-Type SVR

The main differentiating factor between the Nissan GT-R and the Jaguar F-Type SVR is the sequential manual gearbox (SMG). The GT-R offers SMG as standard whereas F-Type doesn’t offer it. The GT-R offers upshift light that facilitates fast shifting while the F-Type doesn’t offer an up-shift light.

Also, the GT-R carries four passengers while the F-Type SVR carry only two passengers. The GT-R will cost less to the buyer in the long run due to its good resale value.

With the extraordinary design and aggressive exhaust, the 2018 Nissan GT-R is a top-performing sports car. The Godzilla has created a special kind of sensation in the automotive world since its debut. Usually, peeps look at the best sports car that suits their lifestyle. So, before making up your mind to buy this beast, just make sure that the GT-R fits your budget and lifestyle.

Its minimalistic 4-seater cabin has been enjoyed by the drivers who were seeking amazing comfort and performance. With the 565-hp twin turbo V6, sophisticated all-wheel drive, the GT-R has slowly earned a good slot among the prominent performance cars. For those who are well-off to put in some extra cash, buying a GT-R is not a bad decision at all.