Nissan Australia Yet To Confirm If The Gt-r Is Coming

[scathing]

The wait has been long, but enthusiasts should know by October if Nissan's GT-R supercar will return to Australia. Unveiled as the GT-R Proto concept car in 2001, the eagerly awaited supercar has been a slow-burner.

But it will be officially launched at the Tokyo Motor Show, which starts on October 26.

At the same time, Nissan Australia general manager of marketing Ross Booth hopes to announce if the supercar will return Down Under. If it gets the go-ahead, the supercar, nicknamed “Godzilla”, could be on sale here late next year.

“I still have my hands up for the GT-R,” Mr Booth says.

“Hopefully, in the next few months we will get to know and put together a case where we can get the vehicle.

However, Mr Booth is mindful the GT-R should not be a $200,000 car: “We need to be a little careful of the Nissan brand with the fact that you don't want to be selling cars at $200,000-plus.

“I don't think the GT-R will be up there, but the reality is that we haven't got confirmation that we're going to get it and we don't know what the price or specifications will be.”

Source: CarsGuide

[Rezz]

They way I see it, either they do get sold in Australia new from dealers and hardly anyone buy them because they're horribly overpriced by Nissan AU, or you wait 3 years for old Japanese ones to get imported through RAWS or whatever... and maybe a few more (than what wouldve been sold through Nissan dealers) end up on the road. Like Booth says, Nissan AU are going to have to be careful with the price... and guess what? Thats the very thing which will stop it from getting sold in AU.

The fact that he even mentioned "$200,000-plus" (I mean wtf? Nice way overpriced figure there matey) means the thing will be well over $150K... despite reports of the base model GT-R coming in at sub 8,000,000 yen (under $80K) and the V-Spec or whatever it'll be called coming in at 9,000,000yen ($90K) in Japan. I know they don't know what the spec level will be etc, but if they don't get the base model in they'll be shooting themselves in the foot for sure. It seems like the typical "we'll tell them how much it is worth because the average punter doesn't know any better" arrogance which will just hinder sales or prevent the thing from being sold in the first place.

[PurpleR32]

Just spoke to a Nissan rep today. Apparently its still undecided if they (Nissan Aust.) will bring it in. If they do it looks like it will be badged an Infinity and be between 150-180k...as Nissan clearly know they wont be selling many under the Nissan badge at that price!

Trouble is infinity don't even have a name over here. Its not a brand they push (if at all, unlike Lexus/Toyota who have made major in roads to the luxury market over the past few years). Will be an interesting next few months either way

[R33_Beast]

Doesn't sound like a good sign then unfortunately. It'll be a shame if we can't even see a couple in the flesh just following release. Waiting a few years for the imports to start trickling in just isn't the same.

[Rezz]

Just spoke to a Nissan rep today. Apparently its still undecided if they (Nissan Aust.) will bring it in. If they do it looks like it will be badged an Infinity...

How can they sell the GT-R as an Infiniti without a proper established sales channel? Well lets assume Infinitis will be sold off the regular Nissan dealership, where is the preparation for that? If it were a possibility, you'd definately see some kind of arragements being made right now to sell the Infiniti models already available, let alone a car that isn't released yet. Unless of course the GT-R will be the debut model for Infiniti... but somehow I can't imagine the incredibly limp-wristed Nissan AU doing such a thing. Maybe when the 2012 GT-R comes out, they can consider selling the 2008 one because they're so backwards thinking...

[PurpleR32]

How can they sell the GT-R as an Infiniti without a proper established sales channel? Well lets assume Infinitis will be sold off the regular Nissan dealership, where is the preparation for that? If it were a possibility, you'd definately see some kind of arragements being made right now to sell the Infiniti models already available, let alone a car that isn't released yet. Unless of course the GT-R will be the debut model for Infiniti... but somehow I can't imagine the incredibly limp-wristed Nissan AU doing such a thing. Maybe when the 2012 GT-R comes out, they can consider selling the 2008 one because they're so backwards thinking...

Thats just the problem. I know of at least 1 Nissan dealership (Blackburn in Victoria) that actually has the infinity logo on their signboard out the front. I bet if i went in and asked what infinity do they sell I would get a blank look. Maybe the GTR is their launching pad for the Infinity Brand. Who knows. All i hope is that its not going to be 150k+

[Spunky Munky]

I think it will be at least $100k or more.

I don't think it will sell nicely, I mean, look around, the sports car industry isn't producing much sports cars anymore, because most people cannot afford it anymore. With everything rising, cost of housing, petrol and even costs of living - damn, would you spend $100 (I'm being modest here) on a mechanical automobile? come on guys, I'm referring to the average honest-living citizen here.

[Duncan]

ahh cmon 150-180 is about the right price range for a car like this, remember the R32s were 110k and that was 15 years ago.

best is if nissan don't bring them in and we can get them cheaper/second hand from japan through sevs instead.

we bought a 350z and I can assure you nissan don't know how to sell a $70k car let alone more than twice that - their after sales service is disgusting.

[Rezz]

I know of at least 1 Nissan dealership (Blackburn in Victoria) that actually has the infinity logo on their signboard out the front.

You sure that isn't a leftover sign from Infiniti's failed attempt in AU back in 1990?

If it's a brand new decently large sign thats recently been erected on the streetside then maybe they've got something brewing...

[scathing]

You sure that isn't a leftover sign from Infiniti's failed attempt in AU back in 1990?

Exactly. Hornsby Nissan had a massive GT-R logo on their lot up until a few years ago.

And has Carlos Ghosn retracted his announcement that the GT-R was getting sold as a Nissan everywhere? Especially after he basically told Infiniti dealers in the US (the only current market for the Infiniti brand) to shut their pie holes when the announcement was made?

Sounds like the same kind of bullshit as the V6 Corolla.

[PHATR32]

guy i know at nissan here in perth says that they will defently be coming to oz, sold through nissan australia.

$90- $110k

edit- itll be a 2.6L v6 TT, not sure if itll be 4wd though.

steve

Edited June 16, 2007 by PHATR32

[Rezz]

guy i know at nissan here in perth says that they will defently be coming to oz, sold through nissan australia.... $90- $110k

Thats fine and all, but they're still speculating on the price here in Japan (ie: nothing official has been said) so how could your guy at Nissan even know if the car is coming to AU, let alone the price? He's just guessing like everyone else.

[arbess]

i heard it was going to be a vq3.6

well what ever it will be i think its going to top out at 150K. nissan also needs to get their act together and start promoting cars that are far more superior to these $1billion holden bomadores. ha.

no ones going to option for a 200K gtr, might as well go and get some BLING for that money, ie porche.

well anyways, im a huge fan of JDM and aussie delivered will never cut the cheese for me.

[ish]

you can guess with logic !

The original R32s where priced up that high due to the high Yen and low Aussie $ value at the time so it makes it slighty more Viable this time.

We have (aust) very similar production requirments as in we are already right hand drive with similar complience rules.

To me its a no brainer that the car will be available for purchase here, just may have to waite on your order if you have the money....

I say we all chip in a few bucks and get a SAU demo car, develope it like hell and create a frenzy so they have to keep sending them

[Rezz]

To me its a no brainer that the car will be available for purchase here, just may have to waite on your order if you have the money....

Is it also a no brainer why the Skyline, Fuga, Stagea, Cima and President aren't sold in Australia? That alone makes me wonder if the GT-R will get a look in...

[ish]

Is it also a no brainer why the Skyline, Fuga, Stagea, Cima and President aren't sold in Australia? That alone makes me wonder if the GT-R will get a look in...

have a little faith!!! Fuga, Stagea, Cima and President are not exactly competive comparisons to a GTR sports car. Our luxery market is saturated and basicly controlled by the 2 locals here.

My belief is we will get access to certain models of this GTR top end through ordering rather than a complete brand release that you can walk in and buy your self an infinity

[Duncan]

lol 1 brand now. Fairlane production has been dropped due to lack of sale. I'm sure nissan are dying to bring in the cima to compete in that segment.

Best thing for Aus will be if Nissan don't import it, then we have access to every secondhand car in japan to import under SEVS much cheaper.

If you think Nissan would have sold more new R33 GTSTs than are here second hand, I want some of what you are on.

[Rezz]

have a little faith!!! Fuga, Stagea, Cima and President are not exactly competive comparisons to a GTR sports car.

I wasn't 'competitively comparing' them to a GT-R. Where did you get that from? I was talking about the cars that Nissan doesn't import here for one reason or another... and it's not just one or two... so going by recent history and the relative limp wristedness of Nissan AU theres a pretty good chance the GT-R won't make it either. You can't ignore that.

[scathing]

you can guess with logic !

The original R32s where priced up that high due to the high Yen and low Aussie $ value at the time so it makes it slighty more Viable this time.

It was also priced that stupendously high because of the homologation costs.

[scathing]

Is it also a no brainer why the Skyline, Fuga, Stagea, Cima and President aren't sold in Australia? That alone makes me wonder if the GT-R will get a look in...

have a little faith!!! Fuga, Stagea, Cima and President are not exactly competive comparisons to a GTR sports car. Our luxery market is saturated and basicly controlled by the 2 locals here.

It still doesn't explain why the J31 Maxima is brought in instead of the V35 Skyline though. The relative failure of the LWB locals (Fairlane is dead, Statesman is only surviving due to exports) which would rule out the Cima and President, but it doesn't explain the Skyline.

Australians have an affinity to cars that push, not pull, so you'd think the RWD Skyline would do a far better job of selling than the FWD Maxima. The engine's the same, the exterior is almost the same, the interior is about as luxurious, and they could improve their economies of scale on spare parts and mechanics training since it shares the same underpinnings as the 350Z. With all those plusses, you'd think it was a "no-brainer" that they'd pick up the driver's car over the bum dragger.