So I did it. Finally bought a new car. But not just any car.
Behold my new limited edition 2024 Nissan Skyline Nismo!
Limited to only 1000 made which makes it valuable enough, but more importantly, I will share that I personally helped to bring this particular version to the market. Hence, of course, I had to buy one!
I will discuss how I was involved in a later post - first, for those of you who may not know what makes this car special, I have a couple of links for you to get started.
https://global.nissannews.com/en/releases/skyline-nismo-230808 (English press release)
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| This color for me is bleh. The popular Slate Grey color |
https://www3.nissan.co.jp/vehicles/new/skyline/specifications/nismo.html (Japanese but with embedded video)
Basically, the car is the NISMO version of the JDM Nissan Skyline 400R (so Infiniti Q50 Red Sport for my North American, Middle East and Australian friends). But this NISMO version is not just a body kit, as it has proper engine (more power and torque), transmission (different shift points and logic), brake (improved pads), and bespoke suspension (spring rates and larger diameter rear roll bar) modifications - all by Nismo engineers (including the guys who work on the GT500 racing car engine), with input from Nissan test driver Kamiyama-san, the same guy who helped dial in the R32 GT-R before it went on sale!! As for the body kit, yes the aero bits are actually functional, not just as claimed by Nismo but also as reported by many well-known race drivers and journalists (check YouTube).
I will go into more detail over the next few posts, and I also have some photos of when I picked up the car, so later I will also share the new car buying experience here in Japan.
Meanwhile, here is the moment I took delivery - in Japan car dealers for some reason give you a bouquet of flowers when you take delivery (this was embarrassing enough, but when I bought my CPO Lexus the bouquet was twice as large!)
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| The Dark Metal (Gunmetal) Grey color looks awesome! |
And of course, the first thing I did was to drive it over to Nismo Omori Factory to have some optional extras installed. Why? Why not? This is a Nismo version of the Skyline, so why not let the guys who helped develop it make it even more special for me?
Of course, my buddy Ochiai-san immediately took a close look to make sure the car was perfect!
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| We may have found a small scratch! It will buff out... |
Driving impression - although it was only a few kilometers from the dealer to Omori Factory, let me tell you I was laughing out loud like a maniac, grinning ear to ear - this is a VERY FUN car! Kind of like an R35 GT-R but lighter and quieter, and oh yes, it is a sedan. In traffic it was point and shoot effortlessly and the engine (420ps VR30DDTT) a masterpiece of engineering. Proves to me that Nissan really makes some of the best gasoline turbo engines.
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| Driving dynamics worthy of this badge! |
Anyway, as it was Friday I had to rush off to a few work meetings so I came back the next day to sit down and go into more detail with the guys about the work I want done on the car. Meanwhile, Ochiai-san had hidden the car away in the Nismo Omori Factory garage:
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| They cover the license plate from view for owner privacy just in case |
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| But not on the hidden side. |
I am not going to spoil the surprise, but there are some tasty bits and pieces and mod coming! Stay tuned.
Finally - the car's color - Dark Metal Grey (color code KAD) is the SAME color as the Nismo CRS demo cars. So I asked for a small favor, and the next day...
He he he. Looks awesome! I wonder how many people will visit Nismo this weekend and think that Nismo has a new project car. Actually... in any case, check this blog as I am looking forward to sharing with everyone this latest edition to my fleet!
Just in case, here are the blogs for my other vehicles:
check back here soon!
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