Nissan

likes you, and is aware you like More. So it has decided to give you

much More: this is the new Nissan GT-R.

After

its unannounced Paris motor show tease, Nissan has confirmed its freshly

squeezed hulking behemoth now packs a terrifying 525bhp (up

from 476bhp) and 451lb ft of torque.

See more pics of the 2011 Nissan GT-R

’Zilla’s

engineers have reworked the rear suspension by lowering the roll centre height,

while the front gets modified shocks, springs and stabilisers to improve

“the vertical load response of the tyres”. The shock absorbers

themselves are of a new aluminium ‘free-piston’ design and generate more

precise damping force and offer up a better response when shifting the GT-R’s

impressive bulk.

Santa

Nissan has also dumped a lot more underneath the GT-R tree, with better brakes

(larger rotors), lightweight Rays forged aluminium wheels, standard Dunlop

Sport Maxx tyres, increased downforce (10 per cent), new front and rear

bumpers, six exterior colours and a newly shaped instrument panel.

That’s

not all though, friends of GT-R. The SpecV

GT-R gets an overboost function with improved torque over the ‘standard’ model

(466lb ft between 3,200 and 6,000rpm), different rear brake pads and a modified

traction control setting, while two new special editions have been launched: the GT-R

‘Club Track’ edition and ‘Egoist’.

The

Track spec GT-R is a, erm, track-special GT-R built for racers, while

the Egoist is one for the poseurs, with a dizzying combination of body,

paint and interior customisation options to help make the GT-R slightly

prettier. Rather like putting lipstick on a Bull Mastiff. Unadvisable and

disturbing…

According

to Nissan’s global comms, 2011 GT-R prices range from £67,000 to £116,000. We’ll be getting the new spec from Feb

next year, with the two special editions still being mooted for Europe.

But

you don’t really want a GT-R special edition, do you? At £67k, 525bhp and a

chassis capable of embarrassing some impressive machinery, is this GT-R still

the performance benchmark - and bargain - of our time?