If you watched the movie, Tokyo Drift, you will know that despite strict laws in Japan and many cars being limited to just 180kph, speedsters and drifters still prowl the streets.
But with immediate effect, there is a new high-pursuit vehicle whose sole aim is to take back the streets from speedsters in Tochigi.
At a ceremony on Friday, Nissan, who celebrated 50 years of operations of their Tochigi factory – incidentally where the Nissan GT-R is built - donated a brand new GT-R to the Tochigi Prefectural police department. It’s also painted in black and white livery to make it look like the rest of Toshigi’s patrol cars.
This is the first time an R35 GT-R has been converted to a police car in Japan. For the Japanese market, Godzilla’s 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6 produces 421kw and 632nm - whereas our SA-spec model produces 408kw. As is the case with our local GT-R, the engine is connected to a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission which sends power to an all-wheel drive system.
By comparison, while the supercar police fleet in Dubai are just used to showcase and raise awareness of the strict laws that exist in the Emirati city, with many of the cars used purely for display and public relations purposes, this GT-R will be actively used by the Police.
This isn't the first time a GT-R has been used as a police car though, previously an R34 GT-R was used, as well as other Japanese sports cars such as the Honda NSX and Mitsubishi 3000 GT.
For reference, the Nissan GT-R Premium Edition is priced from R2 170 000, with the GT-R Black Edition priced at R2 270 000.
Also worth a look: the Nissan Rav4 and the Nissan's New Gravite MPV: A 7-Seater for South Africa?.
FAQ
Q: What does the Nissan GT-R cost in South Africa?
The Nissan GT-R Premium Edition starts from R2,170,000 while the GT-R Black Edition will set you back R2,270,000 in South Africa.
Q: How much power does the Nissan GT-R make?
The South African GT-R produces 408kW and 632Nm from its 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6 engine, which is slightly less than the 421kW that Japanese models get.
Q: Is the Nissan GT-R all-wheel drive?
Yes, the GT-R sends power to all four wheels through a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission and sophisticated all-wheel drive system.
Q: Why did Japanese police choose the GT-R as a patrol car?
The Tochigi Prefectural police received the GT-R to actively pursue street racers and speedsters, making it the first R35 GT-R police car in Japan and a proper working vehicle rather than just a PR stunt.
Q: Is the Nissan GT-R worth buying in South Africa?
At over R2 million, the GT-R is only worth it if you genuinely need 408kW and can afford the eye-watering running costs, but it remains one of the fastest cars money can buy in SA.
Should You Buy It?
The Nissan GT-R is a proper supercar killer that'll embarrass cars costing twice as much, but at R2,170,000 for the Premium Edition, it's not exactly pocket money. If you've got the cash and want something that'll do 0-100kph faster than you can say "Godzilla", then yes, buy it. The GT-R delivers mind-bending performance that justifies every rand, especially when you consider that 408kW and all-wheel drive traction makes it usable in all weather. However, if you're budget-conscious or worried about fuel costs, running costs, and the fact that parts don't exactly grow on trees in SA, maybe look at something a bit more sensible. The GT-R is for serious petrolheads with serious money who want the best bang-for-buck supercar in South Africa.
