In what’s become an annual rite—and following a major update for 2012—Nissan’s GT-R supercar has once again been tweaked for the 2013 model year. The GT-R’s twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V-6 now makes 545 hp—a 15-hp increase over the 2012 model’s 530, which was itself a 45-horse bump from the previous year. Of course, peak twist also increases, from 448 lb-ft of torque to 463. The additional power comes courtesy of enhanced intake efficiency, larger intake ducting for the intercooler, and exhaust modifications.

Funk Flex

While Nissan was fiddling with the engine, it also refined the GT-R’s six-speed dual-clutch transmission to make it a bit more livable in daily driving. To that end, the 2013 car gets a beefier shift fork arm and a firmer fixing bearing for the flywheel housing, and it uses the same differential oil as Nissan’s GT-R race cars. Nissan says the changes will improve shift feel and result in quieter gearbox operation, but we’ll reserve judgment until we drive the car ourselves. The internal adjustments come on top of a software update for the 2012 car that was intended to iron out the GT-R’s sometimes clunky shifts. Speaking of smoothness, the 2013 GT-R rides on a revised suspension with slightly higher spring rates that provide a better shock and spring balance. Combined with a new bypass valve in the shocks, Nissan claims the new setup improves the GT-R’s ride and already-prodigious handling.

The GT-R’s two current trim levels, base Premium and up-level Black Edition, carry over and a back-up camera is now standard. Previously optional, the back-up camera is pretty much a must-have if you plan on ever, well, backing up. There’s new gauge lighting and the Black Edition gets a handmade “dry carbon” rear spoiler.

What do the changes mean for the GT-R’s already heroic performance capabilities? We’ll have to wait until we can strap our testing equipment to one to be sure, but the 2012 GT-R hit 60 in just 2.9 seconds in our testing. To current GT-R owners who may feel jilted, allow us to repeat a bit of advice from our first test of last year’s car: “Your vehicle is still a stunning, ballistic Corvette killer, even next to the new machine.” Pricing will be announced closer to the 2013 Nissan GT-R’s on-sale date in January 2012.
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