www.autonews.com has published a story that the GT-R was chosen to be a Nissan in NA and other markets becasue of the name recognition through Video games.

It's amazing how things like this are decided.

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060529/SUB/60524022&SearchID=73246148481634

I find it funny that they catered the name to a group of people that won't be able to afford a $75,000 sport coupe.

It's amazing to me that Nissan waited until "gas mileage" was a buzz word in the automotive industry to release the GT-R in the US. They should have brought it in 2001 when the horsepower wars were alive and kicking...

Mid-90's supra/300zx reincarnation, anyone?

~~Quentin

Mid-90's supra/300zx reincarnation, anyone?

~~Quentin

except they know that sales will be limited and priced them accordingly

Horsepower war has stopped? Have you heard of the STI, EVO, LS7 Z06, Viper, Ford GT...

They should have brought it in 2001 when the horsepower wars were alive and kicking... As what? A mail car? They didn't have a left hand drive model to bring over.

Swapping the controls is not *THAT* difficult.

Horsepower war has stopped? Have you heard of the STI, EVO, LS7 Z06, Viper, Ford GT...

to add to that, its not even soo much about horsepower anymore, a well rounded car takes the win

I find it funny that they catered the name to a group of people that won't be able to afford a $75,000 sport coupe.

uh, yeah. First thing I thought when I read the thread title. Worst. explanation. Evar.

How about the fact that Nissan might have higher-ups that know how the NA market has been screaming for this car, and thanks to companies like MotoRex, it got the exposure it needed? Said higher-ups are probably similar people, enthusiasts that know their stuff and are proud of their history, and the GT-R's history.

To put an I on that car would be sacrilege to those that matter. And Nissan knows who matters.

Horsepower war has stopped? Have you heard of the STI (came out in 03), EVO (came out in 03), LS7 Z06, Viper, Ford GT (killed this year)...
You don't think that gasoline hitting up to $4/gallon within the next year will put a damper on the horsepower wars? Everyone and their mother is coming out with a hybrid version of everything (or diesel). The automobile industry is moving to keeping the same performance with more miles per dollar. I guess all those 6 speed automatics coming out are for the bling... not to boost EPA ratings. ;)

I guess the smartest thing Nissan did here was shoot for the highest profit margin possible. People that buy $40,000 cars consider horsepower, fuel economy, practicality, and value as a whole. Buyers of $75,000 cars don't. May as well make as much money as possible.

The prime time to have brought this car would have been 2002/2003. Gas was cheap and there simply weren't that many 450hp cars out on the market for $75,000. (If any at all.) Beaverboy, making a LHD version of the GT-R would not have been impossible. I wasn't talking about bringing the RHD JDM spec car, obviously. :rolleyes:

~~Quentin

www.autonews.com has published a story that the GT-R was chosen to be a Nissan in NA and other markets becasue of the name recognition through Video games.

It's amazing how things like this are decided.

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060529/SUB/60524022&SearchID=73246148481634

I didn't know anything about GT-R's, WRX's, EVO's and whatnot until I got to futz around with the first Gran Turismo on PS1 back in 1998. That game really got me interested in cars in general and I started to gobble up lots of information. I ended up buying a WRX in 2002, and became a big fan of the WRC. And now with the GT-R coming to the States in the very near future, eight+ years after first seeing it in Gran Turismo, I can afford to and will seriously consider buying one. It all works out! And I'm glad it's a Nissan! ;)

I find it funny that they catered the name to a group of people that won't be able to afford a $75,000 sport coupe.

~~Quentin

What makes you think well off people don't play video games too?

lol, while I agree it should be badged a Nissan, if would have been better press to state its racing heritige and history as a Nissan as reasons for doing so in a public forum

I do know someone who bought an Sti because a few years earlier in a game of gran turismo "... This car blew me away. I was like... What! it has 4 doors! I had to find out what it was."

I do know someone who bought an Sti because a few years earlier in a game of gran turismo "... This car blew me away. I was like... What! it has 4 doors! I had to find out what it was."
Well, quite honestly, I hadn't heard of the Impreza until I bought the full-rally spec version in Gran Turismo 1 and kicked ass with it.

-Matt

I didn't know there was a 280hp Legacy Turbo until I played Konami's Racing Jam.

Swapping the controls is not *THAT* difficult.

I remember reading that the R34 was almost impossible to switch to left hand drive because something in the engine/transmission design severely cut into the left floorboard making it really difficult to put pedals there without having it extremely akward.

I remember reading that the R34 was almost impossible to switch to left hand drive because something in the engine/transmission design severely cut into the left floorboard making it really difficult to put pedals there without having it extremely akward.

Actually, it was the Turbo's of the RB series were placed right where the Steering column needed to be.

I didn't know anything about GT-R's, WRX's, EVO's and whatnot until I got to futz around with the first Gran Turismo on PS1 back in 1998.
+1. I read about those cars, but the GT series put so many cars on the map w.r.t. the US. This has been repeated verbatim by many manufactuers including Mitsu with the EVO.

The reason too that the GT-R is a Nissan is that it's a halo car and the halo effect rubs off on the rest of the lineup, and that would lead the Gran Turismo fans to choose a Sentra over a Civic and an Altima over an Accord.

I still find it funny that people are comparing this to the old GT-R. It will be hard to tune and a very heavy vehicle. The Skyline was an awesome car because for the price it was a great platform to tune. I think for $75K, the Z06 will embarass the new GT-R. That said, I am a huge fan and if it is under $70 K (maybe around 60) I'd buy one.

Nissan will stay true to its roots (see 350Z) and will let the engineers design the car. They pride themselves on the (old) GT-R being a technological can of whoop ass.
It will be true for the new car. It will be heavy, just as much as the R-34, but will incorporate some weight saving features, as it should for that price.Remember that the R34(stock) is faster around a circuit than a R32(stock) but weighs more! Same is true of the lancer evo and sti, as they both improve upon the last design year after year but grow in weight.
The old R-34 dominated the vette as the new GT-R will the new Z-06. I can only pray they are much less than 75K or I will be waiting a long while to get a hold of a used one. ;)

Nissan will stay true to its roots (see 350Z) and will let the engineers design the car. They pride themselves on the (old) GT-R being a technological can of whoop ass.

The 350Z is a pig on the track, so I hope they don't engineer that into the GT-R, and how is it technological? Because of the 4wd system (which is now not much better than everyone elses), I think the thing that made it great was it's low-tech iron block in-line 6.

The 350Z is heavy, but hardly a pig on track. Tack a look at it's BS, BSP and IT times for TT (not AutoX, where the RX8 rules). Despite it's weight, it is fairly well balanced and handles high speed transitions VERY well.

.
The old R-34 dominated the vette as the new GT-R will the new Z-06. I can only pray they are much less than 75K or I will be waiting a long while to get a hold of a used one. ;)

Im sorry but i doubt the new GT-R will dominate the new ZO6.

Im sorry but i doubt the new GT-R will dominate the new ZO6.


True. GT-R will be too heavy.

If you are dishing out money for a "high horsepower" vehicle, gas may not be an issue. If you can afford the GT-R, Vette, etc, then you can afford the gas.

Brian

Vettes can get over 30 mpg. Our subarus suck gas much worse than most high powered v8s with good transmissions. Gas prices won't affect anything. The fact that a 75K car will not be able to compete with other 75k cars makes it so no one will buy this thing. Vette and Viper FTW.

The fact that a 75K car will not be able to compete with other 75k cars makes it so no one will buy this thing.


People are going to buy the GT-R because of the name. OMG i own a Skyline..why they well do this..we will never know :confused:

So, the 500+hp Z06 is going to be dominated by a GT-R.... dominated how, at the car shows in california?

many of us who grew up playing video games with rally cars, skylines, etc in them will be able to afford a $75000 car by the time it comes out.

many of us who grew up playing video games with rally cars, skylines, etc in them will be able to afford a $75000 car by the time it comes out.

"grew up" well if you grew up, you have a home, a car, a wife, pets and prehaps children.... if you have $75,000+/- laying around after all those expenses draining your pay check... shoot me a pm so i can get an interview where you work.
:lol:

"grew up" well if you grew up, you have a home, a car, a wife, pets and prehaps children.... if you have $75,000+/- laying around after all those expenses draining your pay check... shoot me a pm so i can get an interview where you work.
:lol:

And some of those people also have high six figure salaries.

just not me.
:(

"grew up" well if you grew up, you have a home, a car, a wife, pets and prehaps children.... if you have $75,000+/- laying around after all those expenses draining your pay check... shoot me a pm so i can get an interview where you work.
:lol:

What about single grown ups like me without a wife, pets, or children? :D

What about single grown ups like me without a wife, pets, or children? :D

You'll catch up soon enough brother!! :D

Im sorry but i doubt the new GT-R will dominate the new ZO6.


We will have to wait and see what the skyline can do at the ring. ;)

You'll catch up soon enough brother!! :D


I guess you will have to wait for them on the used market. Might be awhile though, and might not depreciate very much. I on the other hand will need at least ten years... im -$200,000 in loans and I am not married yet and wont be having kids any time soon. :disco: :eek: :confused:

We will have to wait and see what the skyline can do at the ring. ;)


It's NOT a Skyline GT-R..it's just a GT-R. The G35 is the Skyline.

^^^ and what is it in japan, just a GT-R there too or is a skyline GT-R like tradition?

^^^ and what is it in japan, just a GT-R there too or is a skyline GT-R like tradition?
The Skyline is the G35. The GT-R is going to be a completely different car now.

I guess you will have to wait for them on the used market. Might be awhile though, and might not depreciate very much. I on the other hand will need at least ten years... im -$200,000 in loans and I am not married yet and wont be having kids any time soon. :disco: :eek: :confused:

yeah...thats a lot of debt. in 10 years cars will be driving themselves...just push the "Agressive Driving" button...

I find it funny that they catered the name to a group of people that won't be able to afford a $75,000 sport coupe.



So Fkin true!


How many people say I will get the Skyline as soon as you say Skyline GTR haha.