The Nissan GT-R's body is made from a combination of lightweight and advanced steels, carbonfibre and die-cast aluminum for the key structural components. The glassfiber used for the engine undertray gives the Nissan GT-R a virtually flat bottom.
From Nissan's Press Release:
Body
The new Nissan GT-R was engineered to offer superb high-speed stability, excellent ride comfort for a performance car and top levels of safety. Considering the extraordinary performance of the Nissan GT-R, Nissan decided that a new body structure was essential.
The new Nissan GT-R uses a mix of lightweight and advanced steels, carbonfiber and die-cast aluminum for the key structural components.
Carbonfiber is used for the front end of the body structure , including the radiator support and the front of the engine bay. The advanced lightweight material gives great strength, especially in any front-end impact. Carbonfiber is also used for the rear aerodynamic diffuser undertray. Special glassfiber is used for the engine undertray, and helps give the Nissan GT-R a virtually flat
bottom, further improving aerodynamics (Cd is an excellent 0.27 and that's matched to good downforce, crucial on a high-performance car).
Light and very strong diecast aluminum is used for the front suspension strut housings, and the rigid cross brace members for both front and rear suspension further to improve rigidity. The door inners are also made from diecast aluminum, giving superb side impact safety protection.
A high-precision body that guarantees supercar performance:
On the racetrack the Nissan GT-R holds firm in straight runs and tight cornering at speeds as high as 300km/h (186.4mph). Nissan designed its chassis geometry for low tire wear and its power-train geometry to minimize vibration. This and aerodynamic body sculpting helps keep interior noise to minimize at 300km/h, assuring a comfortable ride, and allows for raising and lowering windows even at 250km/h. From basic assembly to sealing, the Nissan GT-R body is built with far higher precision and lower tolerances than any previous model.
New production procedures for high-precision body fit:
For a high-precision body, the Nissan GT-R's special production procedures incorporate new ideas.
Super Wide Beam Head lamps
To help improve active safety, the Nissan GT-R is fitted with innovative new super wide beam headlamps that give a better spread than normal sports car headlamps.
Nissan investigated active headlamps that 'see around corners', as the front wheels follow the steering direction, but concluded that the super wide beam headlamps did a better job in a
multi-performance supercar - largely because they provide a better light spread in high-speed straight- line driving. They also offer unmatched light spread in dark cities, on winding roads, and on pedestrian crossings. Compared with conventional lights, the Nissan GT-R lamps have three additional sub-reflectors, enhancing the illumination area. They 'turn night into day' more effectively than any current headlamp design, giving unmatched night visibility.
Paint
The new Nissan GT-R achieves the world's best paint performance, in terms of resistance to chipping and scratches. It comes with a lustrous paint sheen when new - partly through the application of a 'double clear coat' - and maintains this finish due to its uniquely tough paint. Tests have shown that the Nissan GT-R continues to have a blemish-free luster long after rival paints are peppered with stone chips and small abrasions.
This paint strength is especially important on a premium vehicle capable of such high speeds.
A special new color, ultimate metal silver, is also available on the Nissan GT-R. All GT-Rs get an electrodeposition first coat, which bonds especially well to the metal, a special anti-chipping coat, primer, color bases and then clear coats, both hand polished by craftsmen to achieve a perfect paint finish.
