GT-R's Chief Engineer is also Its Main Cheerleader

In certain ways, the NissanNissanJapan, 1932 > present159 models
6957 photos
12 videos
GT-RNissan GT-R Gen.2Japan, 2009 > present25 versions
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1 video
has a lot in common with the latest SRTSRTUnited States of America, 2010 > present5 models
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ViperSRT ViperUnited States of America, 2013 > present33 photos
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. Both cars came at a time when their maker was just emerging from a tough financial period, and they were meant to show that their parent could still be fun and dynamic. Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn famously said that it would only build the GT-R if it could make a profit, however small. While SRT has not made any proclamations about the profitability of the Viper, its rising price indicates that Chrysler does not want to lose money on the Viper. Finally, both cars have enthusiastic men behind them. For the Viper, it is SRT President Ralph Gilles, and for the GT-R it is chief engineer Katzutoshi Mizuno. 

Mizuno is the man behind the nearly annual evolution of the GT-R. It has gone from 480hp at its introduction to 545hp today from the same engine. Most of the car's development has come from racing. Not only does Nissan offer GT1Nissan Nismo GT-R GT1Japan, 2010 > present2 photos
and GT3Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3Japan, 2012 > present1 photo
versions to customer teams, it races nearly stock versions every year in the Nürburgring 24 Hours. 

This year Mizuno has worked to make the GT-R a better driving car. It has better mid-range throttle response, a lower center of gravity, improved suspension setup and more. 

"Every year in spring and fall for around a month, respectively, we develop the car intensively in Germany. The Nürburgring circuit puts the car into twice the performance stress of a track," said Mizuno. 

Mizuno said that the team selects specific aspects of the car during each visit to develop on the track and the mountain roads around the course. They also do 3,000km endurance tests around the Nürburgring, which is 144 consecutive laps.