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Since 2008, the Nissan GT-R brought the company five championship triumphs in 9 years! That’s quite impressive. But, in 2016 the Nissan GT-R was defeated by Lexus’s RC F-based GT500 race car. Nissan vowed to win again in 2017, so it modified its Nismo-built race-machine GT-R.

The existing GT-R, called also the R35, was unveiled back in 2007, as the proud successor to the R34. The 2007 version was a total re-make and set some significant new benchmarks for the GR-R series. Among others, it was the first GT-R to use a V-6 engine. As 2017 arrived, the R35 was 10 years of age, and was in need of an urgent re-design.

It might not seem much different from last year’s car at first glance, but a closer look reveals some major changes in the aerodynamics department. Due to the new regulations for 2017, which include a 25-percent reduction in total downforce on all GT500 cars, Nissan was forced to change last year’s aero package. The most visible change is in the bumper section, where the splitter is much shorter, while the outer intakes are a little wider. The side canards have been revised as well, and are now sporting winglets of their own. Also the main grille has a new design, and is now quite identical to the V-shaped element on the road car.

While the GT-R road car is equipped with a twin-turbo, 3.8-liter V-6 with close to 600 horsepower, the GT-R GT500 runs a turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder. Will that be enough to fulfill it’s wish to win again in 2017?

Well, there’s not a lot of data out there yet, but the 2.0-liter engine should have that old beasty force, as other GT500 cars are known to produce, with more than 600 horsepower. We don’t think this car will lack any performance. The 2017 Super GT Series is scheduled to begin in April. Time will tell if the Nissan GT-R will win again…