The Nissan GT-R Is Back for the 2023 Model Year
The Nissan GT-R skipped the 2022 model year, which led many to believe that the Japanese automaker canceled the supercar. It wouldn’t be too much of a surprise if “Godzilla” were discontinued considering its aging design, which hasn’t changed much over the past decade. But alas, the GT-R is back for the 2023 model year. Let’s take a look at the changes made to it.
Unfortunately, the 2023 Nissan GT-R is not an R36
If you’re familiar with Nissan GT-R lore, then you’ll know that the latest generation is dubbed the “R35,” and it’s been around since 2009. That means that for the last 10 years, many enthusiasts have wondered when a new generation, the R36, might make its long-awaited debut. Unfortunately, we’re all going to have to wait a little longer.
The 2023 GT-R is not a brand-new model. In fact, it looks largely the same in the 2020-21 model years; that’s because it is. As Jalopnik reports, there aren’t any significant updates, and the specs are pretty much the same as they were two models years ago.
There are two trim levels for the GT-R – Premium, and Nismo. The base Premium model gets a twin-turbocharged V6 that generates 565 hp and 467 lb-ft of torque. The Nismo model increases those numbers to 600 and 481, respectively. Also, the ATTESA ET-S all-wheel-drive system remains the same, as does the six-speed dual-clutch transmission.
So, what’s different about the 2023 GT-R?
Honestly, not much. Taking a peek inside the 2023 Nissan GT-R, the interior looks the same as in 2009. The only major updates since then are in the form of Apple Carplay and a backup camera. Nissan has yet to add Android Auto to the car’s infotainment system, though.
In reality, the largest change to the GT-R doesn’t have anything to do with its feature set. Instead, Nissan decided to eliminate the former T-Spec and Nismo special editions, which only leaves room for the two trim levels mentioned above.
As for pricing, the 2023 Nissan GT-R Premium will cost $113,540, not including the destination charge, and the Nismo will cost $210,740. Gone are the days when the Nissan GT-R was considered the “affordable supercar,” which is a shame considering it hasn’t changed much since then.
Is it worth it to buy a 2023 Nissan GT-R?
Yes, if you have always wanted a new one and have been mourning the potential loss of it for the past year or so. Otherwise, it could be worth it to buy a used one for around $70,000. You’ll get the same type of performance and handling without having to pay over $100,000.
At that point, there are other rivals that you can consider. For example, the new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 retails for around $105,000, and a used Audi R8 costs around that much as well. If you want to check out any other supercars you can buy for that kind of money, check out these Nissan GT-R alternatives that are just as fast.