Nissan GT-R Track Edition Even More Track-ready Thanks to British Tuner
Nissan’s all-wheel drive supercar gets more power and sharper handling from English tuner Litchfield. Is that enough to make it more exciting?
On paper, the Nissan GT-R has a lot going for it. It’s the latest model in a storied lineage of performance cars. It not only has 565 horsepower and 467 lb-ft of torque, but it transmits that power to the road through a quick-shifting dual-clutch transmission and tenacious ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive. It’s a different story on pavement. For all of the people who love the GT-R, there are many who find it bland and lacking driver engagement.
Carfection‘s Alex Goy falls into the latter camp. He finds the stock GT-R to be underwhelming, despite its power and acceleration. He says, “It does the fast thing…and that’s all. It’s quite boring, really.”
Luckily, there are plenty of people and companies out there who are willing to tweak the GT-R in pursuit of greater power, sharper handling, and increased driving enjoyment. Litchfield Motors, an English tuning shop, has been modifying GT-Rs for years and offers a variety of upgrades. Goy recently got his hands on a GT-R Track Edition they souped up with Bilstein dampers, stiffer springs, and a handling pack that slightly adjusts the wheelbase and suspension geometry to improve the GT-R’s grip and steering feel.
To help the GT-R breathe better, Litchfield gave it larger air intakes. They modified the fuel system to ensure the beastly V6 gets enough go juice and changed the intake manifold. They even tuned the ECU so that drivers can adjust their boost and MAF settings depending on the fuel they use. Litchfield’s adjustments increase output to 631 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque, which enables the GT-R to hit 62 mph in under three seconds and 100 mph in less than six. Top speed is 205 mph, according to the company.
Out on the test track, the Litchfield GT-R makes a positive impression on Goy. He says, “The [power] delivery is…it’s addictive.” In its most aggressive setting, the gearbox shifts immediately and forcefully. The GT-R’s braking abilities evenly match its increased power, making Goy feel as if his face is going to fall off when he jams the left pedal down.
But all of the changes raise a big question: “Are the modifications enough to make the GT-R an interesting car again or has Litchfield simply made a slightly noring car faster?” Goy does a little more driving to find out. His verdict? Litchfield made a competent car enjoyable. As Goy says, “Consider me whelmed.”
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