The Nissan GT-R and the Toyota Supra are definitely at the top the Japanese sports car food chain, and you can get a glimpse, and even place an order, at this year’s Thailand International Motor Expo at the end of this month.
Nissan will highlight the GT-R 50th Anniversary edition, which is offered to mark the five decades since the first GT-R was introduced. The car has been launched in other markets earlier this year, and is expected to be on sale in Thailand for no more than Bt11.5 million (US$378,165).
It gets redesigned front fog lamps, new blue exhaust pipe tip and the lightest wheels ever fitted to an R35, according to Nissan.
For the 2020 GT-R, the 3.8-liter V8, the turbochargers have been updated to provide improved response at low revs, now pumping out 561ps and 632Nm.
The transmission is a 6-speed dual clutch with a refined “R Mode” that has more aggressive shiftdowns, resulting in less understeer and faster corner exits.
Nissan says that the electronically-governed suspension has been retuned to provide better cornering and smoother ride, making it easier to control.
There is also an improved steering angle for better Cornering G, Braking G and Yaw response, and a new brake booster, increasing the initial braking response by engaging with less pedal stroke, resulting in enhanced stopping power and feel, Nissan claims.
Now for the 50th Anniversary edition GT-R, it is offered in Super Silver with white stripes, Ivory Pearl with red stripes and Bayside Blue with white stripes. The new blue hue is based off the original Wangan Blue that featured on the R34.
Nissan said that inspiration for the 50th anniversary paint scheme comes from the race livery designs for GT-R from the 1971 Japan Grand prix. The stripes are applied to the bonnet, roof and boot lid.
There are also exterior 50th anniversary badging on the boot lid, underneath the GT-R logo on the rear of the car and on the alloy wheels.
Inside, there is an exclusive cool grey two-tone leather trim called Twilight Grey. This features throughout the cabin, particularly on the doors, seats, front fascia and dash panels, plus the steering wheel and shift knob.
There are also 50th anniversary badging on the seats, center console, tachometer and kick plates.
Meanwhile, Toyota fans would be delighted to see the new Supra on sale, after an absence of almost two decades from the market.
The new Supra is the first global model of Toyota Gazoo Racing’s GR sports car series and is assembled at the Magna Steyr plant in Graz, Austria, well-known for producing selected models for leading German brands such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
Co-developed with the BMW Z4 (in fact many say it is more BMW than Toyota), the Supra has a shorter wheelbase and lower center of gravity than even Toyota’s previous sports car the 86, and boasts a desirable 50/50 front-rear weight distribution.
Exterior design is based on the 2000GT and the fourth-gen Supra and features what one would see as “bubble design”.
For the global market, the new Supra is available with a choice of three engines, depending on the market.
At the top there’s a 3.0-liter in-line-six turbocharged engine with 340ps and 500Nm (from 1,600rpm), and there are also 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbo engines with 258ps/400Nm and 197ps/320Nm as well.
They all get an 8-speed automatic transmission, but the V6 gets upgraded brakes, with 4-pot aluminium monoblock calipers in front and floating rear calipers, plus 19-inch alloy wheels with 255/35 (front) and 275/35 (rear) tires.
Toyota has not revealed the Thai retail price, but BMW’s Z4 is sold at Bt3.999 million to Bt4.999 million, which gives an insight of the pricing of its Japanese sibling.
