Nissan GT-R 50th Anniversary Edition Debuts in New York

Generally, when most folks turn 50, they throw themselves a party and reflect on their first five decades while musing about aging gracefully. The Nissan GT-R might not be renting the community hall for a soiree, but it sure has aged gracefully – at least if its engine has anything to say about it.

Sure, the Z and GT-R are older than Methuselah, thanks to Nissan’s glacier-like design cycle. However, it’s tough to argue with a hand-crafted 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 making 600 horsepower. Despite its age, this is a car worthy of your attention.

The 2020 Nissan GT-R will come in three trim levels in most markets: GT-R Premium, GT-R Track Edition and GT-R NISMO. There will also be a 50th Anniversary Edition, which the blue and white model you see here on these digital pages.

The special edition car will come in three heritage-era, two-tone exterior color combinations meant to represent the GT-R’s liveries from the Japan GP series. If this blue looks familiar, give yourself a cookie – it is called Bayside (Wangan) Blue and last appeared on the vaunted R34. Pearl White with red stripes and Super Silver with white stripes round out the 50th Anniversary liveries.

Under the hood is the aforementioned 3.8L twin-turbo, making 565 horses in standard trim. Nissan takes care to explain that each handcrafted by its own takumi technician, a process that is made to sound like an ancient art known only to those living in the clouds. Those engine builders will be fitting new turbochargers that are said to help increase the engine’s low rpm response. The GT-R’s signature brap is the product of a new titanium muffler, featuring titanium finishers with burnished blue tips.

For those inclined to take their GT-R to a race circuit, they’ll want to check out the revised 2020 Track Edition, which comes with an optional carbon fiber roof that is apparently the result of a new construction process. Models sold in the U.S. will borrow their engine from the GT-R NISMO, complete with redesigned turbochargers from the latest GT3 series GT-R race car. This is the machine that makes 600 horsepower. Optional on the Track Edition are carbon ceramic Brembos, said to measure 16.1 inches in front and 15.3 inches on the rear axle.

So, yeah – the GT-R is old. But you know what? So was my grandfather, who was still a badass at the age of 86 despite having polio instead of 600 horsepower.

[Images: Matt Posky/TTAC, Nissan]