In Pursuit of Perfection: 2017 Nissan GT-R Premium

By Andrew Chen - March 13, 2017

When the Nissan GT-R first debuted in 2008, it disrupted the automotive world by offering supercar performance at about the cost of a luxury sedan. And after a few refresh cycles, some detailed refinements, and inevitable price increases, the GT-R is still one of the best values in terms of performance, usability, and cost.

The 2017 Nissan GT-R Premium, which has a starting MSRP of $109,990, features a hand-built 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine (rated at 565 horsepower and 468 lb-ft of torque), a dual-clutch 6-speed transmission, ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive system, titanium exhaust, and a bunch of other go-fast parts that work together to produce a dynamic, balanced, and heart-pounding driving experience.

Beyond Skin Deep

To the casual car enthusiast, the 2017 GT-R might seem largely unchanged, but new exterior details hint at performance updates that can only be discovered while on the road.

Taking cues from the NISMO version, the 2017 GT-R is fitted with more aerodynamic components than ever before. Starting with the front fascia, a larger “V-motion” grille allows better engine cooling while a redesigned front spoiler lip generates high levels of downforce. Specially-shaped side sills prevent air from being drawn underneath the car and help direct air flow towards functional vents near the quad exhaust tips.

All of these components give the 2017 GT-R a racecar look, and aid with high-speed stability while maintaining a 0.26 drag coefficient; they also complement the new front and rear bodywork to produce the best looking GT-R to date (not counting the NISMO edition, of course).

But the most significant updates for the new model year must be experienced, not seen, and luckily I had a 2017 GT-R Premium test model to do just that.

A Wider Spectrum of Performance

Having driven the 2009 and 2015 models, what immediately caught my attention was the improvement in ride quality — chassis modifications and new suspension components now allow for a wider range of on-demand adjustability.

With Comfort mode activated, the GT-R absorbed imperfections in the road like you’d expect from a luxury sport sedan, and Normal mode is the most compliant it’s ever been. R mode introduces noticeable bounce on the highway from the stiffened Bilstein shocks, but it’s still a liveable trade-off for more cornering performance. I don’t think I’ll ever experience the suspension’s peak capabilities in R mode, but I’m willing to bet it’s pretty mind-blowing considering the ridiculous amount of grip already available in Normal mode.

In terms of power delivery, the Takumi-built engine produces 20 more horsepower, and the dual-clutch 6-speed transmission features smoother shifts and less noise. The transmission’s programming in automatic mode is now more spirited — favoring optimum torque over fuel savings — and its one goal is to ensure uninterrupted forward movement.

While in manual mode, the transmission responds instantaneously to each pull of the paddle shifters, which are now mounted on the steering wheel instead of the steering column, and will also assist with gear changes near redline — a welcomed feature because 7,100 RPM comes up really fast! Case in point: I was late to upshift during one of my acceleration runs, and instead of letting the revs bounce off the limiter, the transmission grabbed the next gear at just the right moment for maximum thrust, ignoring my subsequent but well-intentioned pull of the right paddle — GT-R knew what I wanted to achieve so it just went ahead and did it for me.

It’s these incremental improvements that keep the GT-R’s competition on its toes. I really appreciate Nissan’s philosophy of refining instead of replacing, and applaud their continued pursuit of perfection well past what the industry deems to be a car’s standard life cycle. And we’re not even talking about the NISMO or N Attack versions of the GT-R, which deliver even more performance.

Kyle Millen, Vice President of STILLEN.

Total Balance Is the Key to Success

Curious about the past, present, and future of the GT-R’s performance, I turned to STILLEN for some insight into the philosophy behind “Godzilla.” Based in Costa Mesa, California, STILLEN is an aftermarket performance parts manufacturing company founded by racing legend Steve Millen, and is also one of the foremost experts in tuning Nissan vehicles. But don’t take it from me — STILLEN has solidified its place in the tuning community by being the only authorized North American installer for the “N Attack Package,” which equips a 2015/16 NISMO GT-R with the same specs used to set a 7:08.679 lap time at the Nürburgring.

I arrived at STILLEN’s massive facility — they design and manufacture everything in-house — to check out a current N Attack build and chat with Kyle Millen, Vice President of STILLEN, about Nissan’s approach in regards to performance.

“Nissan, NISMO, and STILLEN have a very similar philosophy where the base car doesn’t need to be drastically changed,” said Kyle, who oversees day-to-day operations, new product development, engineering, and manufacturing. “We want to make as many refinements as we can without upsetting the balance of any part of the vehicle. Our goal is to increase overall performance by ensuring each individual component works well together as a total package, and this shared vision between the two companies is largely why we were bestowed the honor of being the exclusive North American installer for the N Attack package.”

It’s All in the Details

I was surprised to learn that while the engine and transmission must be removed for the N Attack installation, no modifications are made to the production of power; only how it’s delivered to the ground. “Bolt-on” pieces like a fully-adjustable spoiler, aero winglets, a dedicated ECM, front and rear limited-slip differentials, and OHLINS coilovers change the handling and dynamics of the car, making it optimized for the race track while still being compliant for public roads — the OHLINS coilovers are actually softer than the production version since the Nürburgring surface is rather rough in certain sections.

While the N Attack installation isn’t overly complicated, it is very detail-oriented and requires precise specifications. This same purpose-driven tuning has clearly made its way to the 2017 GT-R, obviously with different goals, and the result is an incredible driving experience that leaves a lasting impression.

One for the History Books

After spending a week with the 2017 Nissan GT-R Premium, I’ve fallen in love with the car all over again. It’s familiar yet very different, like a student who has finally become the master.

I’d like to think that the journey of the GT-R parallels the process of traditional Japanese swordsmithing, with repeated heating, hammering, and folding of the steel to increase strength and remove impurities. It’s a lengthy and laborious path, but the 2017 GT-R is poised to receive its final few “folds” and emerge as a masterpiece for the ages.