2014 Nissan GT-R Track Edition

SPECIFICATIONS

1. 2014 models continue to be powered by a twin-turbo 3.8L V6 engine making 545 hp and 463 lb-ft of torque. 2. The 2014 GT-R starts at about $100,000 with the Track Edition almost at $116,710 including destination. 3. Upgrades include a more rigid body, revised suspension tuning and an even more responsive engine plus carbon fiber brake-cooling ducts and a rear seat delete. 4. Just 150 Track Edition models will be available in the US.

PREVIEW

Track Edition models are limited to the United States and they’re only building 150 of them, which makes a special car even more unique.

Regular GT-Rs benefit from a more responsive engine at high RPM thanks to new fuel injectors, a retuned suspension and a more rigid body. One snazzy feature is the addition of a placard on the engine that bears the craftsman’s name that built it… by hand. The engine-assembly process takes a full six hours and is completed by one of four people. These gentlemen are called “takumi” in Japanese, which apparently means master craftsman. This hands-on approach is done to guarantee precision and quality.

INTERIOR

Called the Track Edition this limited-production version features a unique suspension setup, brake-cooling ducts and no rear seats. The back chairs are replaced with quilted cloth mats where the cushions used to be. I’m not kidding. There’s also fancy new leather inside the car as well some carbon-fiber additions. Of course these enhancements are in addition to upgrades the “standard” GT-R has received.

UNDER THE HOOD

From the driver’s seat (or any seat for that matter) it’s easy to tell the GT-R Track Edition is a beast. The way it sounds, turns and stops is utterly astounding.

Nailing the throttle from a standstill results in a somewhat tepid launch. But once the engine gets a few revs on the clock and the duet of turbos is spooled up, hang on. At around 3,200 RPM the car explodes like a fertilizer plant in a wildfire, which sends you – and your passengers – hurtling down the road at felony speeds.The car is propelled by a 3.8-liter V6 engine with an iron lung (read: turbocharger) hanging off each cylinder bank. The result is a monstrous 545 horsepower with 463 lb-ft of torque. It’s matched to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and a cutting-edge all-wheel drive system that can rout 100 percent of the engine’s torque to the rear wheels or up to 50 percent to the front axle.

At peak power the G-forces at play are so strong it almost makes it feel like you’re having an asthma attack. It gets slightly harder to breathe as the engine presses your carcass into the seat until you get a split-second reprieve as the transmission grabs the next gear. Have you heard of sleep apnea before? Perhaps doctors will diagnose GT-R owners with driving apnea. The GT-R should come with a CPAP machine.