It can be hard for even dedicated fans to keep track of the Nissan GT-R in the autumn of its life (or more likely the depths of winter). With the car off sale in the UK general interest inevitably wanes, and when the MY2024 update for other markets included tweaks such as a 10 per cent larger surface area for the rear wing and a Nismo Appearance Package, there can’t be very much more to come. But there are a couple of new GT-R special editions; if Nissan learnt anything in the past decade and a half it’s that heritage and niche appeal sells. That probably applies to all of us, actually.
Put simply, it means the new editions are Midnight Purple and Bayside Blue - the GT-R colours, basically. The ones everyone wants for their R34s, the paints that enormous premiums are applied to because they’re so rare from the factory and suit the shape so well. If you want to channel GT-R history, you do it with Midnight Purple and Bayside Blue. The latter is represented here with the Skyline Edition, because of course it is; only Nissan suggests it’s called that because it ‘references the abundant beauty found in skylines across Japan.’ Sure, yeah. It hasn’t been seen on a GT-R since the 50th-anniversary model in 2019 and - surprise, surprise - still looks fantastic. Crying out for a set of Volk TE37s, though, or BBS LMs, or your wheel of choice. The standard rims just aren’t as legendary as the paint.
The Skyline Edition is based on the GT-R Premium, and gets Sora Blue upholstery inside. Which sounds bold, but then the second of this pair - the Takumi Edition - gets Mori Green. Which certainly won’t go unnoticed. The purple over green machine celebrates the master craftspeople who assemble each GT-R turbo V6, so the Takumi gets a gold VIN plate and red-etched writing for the name badge. It’s also based on the recently launched T-spec, which means a host of Nismo goodies as standard: gold Rays wheels (that’s more like it!), ceramic brakes, wider front wings and a new tune for the VDC.
Nissan says that ‘very limited numbers’ of both models will make it to the USA later in 2024, presumably for a healthy premium as every cent possible is eked from the GT-R legend. With the 25-year import rule meaning there are still very few R34s Stateside, they’re priced accordingly; there are even GT-Ts for sale at more than $100,000. So these new R35s could offer some Skyline nostalgia with all the new car benefits thrown in. Those lucky Americans. But fear not, UK-based fans - there are both Bayside Blue and Midnight Purple R35s to buy right here. It’s just they’ll cost £150k…
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