I’m sure you’re among the millions of fans of the new GT-R that have probably already started saving for it so you can have the honour of being among the first in the country to own one. Knowing an enthusiast, I’m quite sure that you’re already dreaming of the rims, body kits, and tuning you’re going to subject the GT-R to. Well, I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news son, but that’s where your dream ends. Nissan has limited the tuning capability of the GT-R down to the inch.
You probably already know that the GT-R is speed limited and the GPS system fitted to it would remove the 180 kph speed limiter when the car arrives at a track, well here’s a different side of the story. According to Michizo Niiikura, President of MINE’S Motor Sports, the system only works on pre-approved racetracks. So if you’re planning on going down to Sepang and slaughtering some Ferraris’ well think again, unless of course, Sepang International Circuit is among the tracks Nissan has pre-approved. However, the GPS sensor does not automatically remove the limiter by itself, you have to do it the old fashioned way; open the bonnet, bring out your laptop, and remove the speed limiter. Quite shocking isn’t it? That Nissan would actually do that to you? Not to worry, Nissan loves you more than that, I was just kidding, you only have to manually change the limiter by navigating through a series of menus on the GT-R’s touch screen. But apparently Nissan loves your money more, because every time you take your GT-R down to a race track, you have to take it over to a Nissan High Performance Center where a US$1000 safety check is performed. Don’t do it and the factory warranty is void. Thinking little of it? Don’t forget that they can keep track of you via GPS. They can even know your corner entry and exit speeds; slipping and sliding might not be so amusing now, damn that GPS system.
Ever heard of the rumor circulating at the Tokyo Auto Salon about the GT-R not being able to run on aftermarket wheels? I hate to shatter your dream even more, but that is true, so out with those expensive OZ’s you were planning. Supposedly, all the GT-Rs on display at TAS had to be driven in on stock wheels, and were fitted with the tuner’s chosen wheels after it was parked. This is due to a sensor mounted on the valve stem, if the GT-R is driven on aftermarket rims, an error code appears on the dash. And just to make your life more miserable, MINE’S found that any modification to the intake system causes the ECU to go nuts, not something you would want after spending your lifetime’s saving on it.
Just as I bring you bad news and perhaps ruined your day, I now bring a word of consolation; all US bound GT-R are not fitted with the speed limiter and do not have to face track day issues, Nissan has officially said that the GPS system wont be implemented in the States and you had better hope they don’t install it on Malaysian bound cars. Even so, I have to say that the future of GT-R tuning is bleak, maybe we should just stick with the R32’s, 33’s and 34’s, they are after all, the original legends.
