Nissan GT-R just got meatier

The Nissan GT-R SpecV provides supple ride comfort and flat, predictable handling.

Nissan has upgraded its GT-R supercar, revising suspension settings and improving the exhaust catalyst for better engine performance.

The Japanese carmaker showed off the new GT-R at the Tokyo motor show and described the all-wheel-drive flyer as having gone through "continuous evolution" to remain on the "cutting edge of multi-dimensional performance".

Nissan says the suspension upgrade offers "enhanced, premium-quality ride comfort" while "still providing the driver with a feeling of direct contact with the road surface".

Engineers set out to increase the accuracy of the front shock absorbers and springs and stiffen up the radius rod bushings in the rear.

The upgrade also includes rear diffusers with ducts to improve cooling performance around the rear floor area, a feature of the Japanese market GT-R SpecV.

The SpecV variants, which carry a race suspension set-up using Bilstein Damptronic struts, pick up rear shock absorber settings to enhance the combination of "supple ride comfort and flat, predictable handling".

Both the GT-R and GT-R SpecV use essentially the same 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V6 producing 357kW of power and 588Nm of torque, although the SpecV features a high-gear boost-control device that momentarily increases boost from the turbochargers to provide an extra 20Nm between 3500rpm and 5000rpm.

Nissan says the introduction of hexagonal meshed catalyst cells that reduce ventilation/airflow resistance improve low- and mid-range engine response across the GT-R range.

The coupe's cabin also picks up a USB port with iPod connectivity.