Nissan GT-R (2011): first pics of enhanced GT-R

Nissan has today whisked the covers off the new 2011 model year GT-R. There's a host of equipment and technical upgrades, as well as a massively new look. Actually, we made that last bit up.

The new 2011 GT-R is very much business as usual. It's essentially a modest model year facelift, although the UK importer has taken this chance to reposition the super-coupe.

Got it in one. We've been enjoying a relative performance bargain for too long, it seems, and the Nissan GT-R's price has jumped from £59,400 to a stouter £69,950. That's an extraordinary £10,550 price increase - or 18%.

Nissan talks of updated aerodynamics and a sportier interior, but headline changes include increased power to 523bhp at 6400rpm while torque climbs to 451lb ft all the way from 3200-6000rpm. The company claims cleaner emissions and improved fuel economy thanks to an ultra-low metal catalyst and tweaked boost pressures.

To help you manoeuvre at low speeds, a new two-wheel-drive mode will temporarily shift the car to 2wd as long as the speed is below 6mph and the steering wheel is turned more than half way. Bye bye 12-point turns. 

The Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT 600 DSST CTT (yes, really) tyre has a new compound to improve grip, says Nissan. And newly designed, lighter and more rigid forged alloy wheels improve tyre responsiveness to vertical load.

Want more nerdy detail of the modest changes? Knurling inside the wheel has been modified to avoid any tyre rotation deviation caused by the GT-R’s improved engine output, and there’s a new wheel colour: Hyper Blue Black Chrome.

Aero drag hasn't been left alone. Downforce has been increased by around 10%, and Nissan claims stability is improved by an enlarged bumper and grille openings.

Choose from Recaro Black - leather appointed bucket seat with red side flashes. This comes complete with a dark headlining and red flash on the gear lever.

The second choice is a premium leather covered seat available in black or light grey, a light grey coloured headlining providing a lighter feel to the interior.

Plenty of detail changes then. But that price rise? Nearly £11k more proves that Nissan knows it was undercharging for too long. Probably an attempt to squash grey imports - and now the market is filled with official UK cars, that's less of a risk.

By Sarah-Jayne Harrison