Rosslyn - Rather than just squeeze more power out of its superb 3.8-litre biturbo V6 in search of ever more impressive performance figures, Nissan has concentrated on improving the chassis dynamics of its GT-R supercar for the 2014 model year - which is actually much more difficult.
The numbers are unchanged: 397kW at 6400rpm and 628Nm from 3200 - 5800rpm, delivering a 0-100km/h sprint in just 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 315km/h, driving all four wheels through a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. Impressive enough.
NEW SOPHISTICATION
But the GT-R's suspension is now symmetrical to reduce load fluctuation between the four wheels for improved stability and more consistent grip, the electronically controlled damper valves have been revised to make better use of the suspension stroke for improved road-holding, and the front stabiliser spring rates recalibrated for more consistent tyre contact with the road, as well as better straight-line stability.
The GT-R now comes with Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT 600 DSST CTT 255/40 ZRF20 front and 285/35 ZRF20 rear tyres with stiffer sidewalls to reduce deformation and improve steering response under hard cornering.
Braking calibration has been retuned for a firmer and more linear response at everyday speeds, allowing for smoother braking to be more intuitive, especially in the wet, while the steering has been tweaked to reduce the effort needed for in-town manoeuvring without sacrificing high-speed stability and feedback.
MORE THAN JUST A PRETTY FACE
Multi-LED adaptive headlights are now standard, which adjust the angle of the lighting beam according to speed. The four LED units have intensive LED high-beam and three different low-beam settings, including long distance and wide illumination; at higher speeds, actuators in the headlight cluster adjust the angle of the LED projectors to throw the light further,
The four-ring tail-light clusters now form coherent circles of light - and the whole lot, front and rear, lights up briefly in a dramatic start-up procedure.
A new red interior colour scheme is available, and the semi-aniline leather seats now have contrast stitching to emphasise the GT in GT-R, while the infotainment and navigation system has also been upgraded.
Even the assembly process of the body-shell, built up from steel, carbon fibre and die-cast aluminium components, has been revised for increased rigidity.
TAIL PIECE
New for 2014 is a carbon-fibre boot lid and rear wing, as an option to replace the standard boot lid, reducing weight, increasing rear downforce and pushing the GT-R's Cool Quotient from Left Field to Clean off the Wall.
PRICES
GT-R Premium - R1 475 000
GT-R Premium with red interior - R1 526 00
GT-R Black Edition - R1 527 000
Prices include the standard three-year or 100 000km warranty and a three-year or 50 000km service plan. There's also an optional two-year warranty extension available (exclusively to South African buyers) to five years or 100 000km.