Nissan is introducing its Nismo performance brand in Australia next year.
The first model offered will be the ʾ17 Nissan GT-R Nismo arriving in February and priced at A$299,000 ($228,701) plus on-road costs and dealer delivery.
The brand name Nismo is a short form of ‘NISsan MOtorsports’.
The launch will coincide with the 2017 Bathurst 12-hour GT3 sports car race at the Mount Panorama circuit, where two factory-entered Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 entries will aim to repeat the GT-R’s 2015 victory.
Nissan Australia Managing Director and CEO Richard Emery says Nismo is an exciting addition to the automaker’s Australian business.
“The Nismo brand is already well known in Australia through its heritage and motorsport success,” Emery says in a statement.
The ʾ17 Nissan GT-R Nismo features a version of the VR38DETT engine making 591 hp and 481 lb.-ft. (652 Nm) of torque, and uses the same pair of high-flow, large-diameter turbochargers as the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 race car.
Before the launch, the first Australian orders will be offered to established GT-R owners. Nissan says because of a limited supply, it will give these owners the first opportunity to purchase an Australian-delivered ʾ17 Nissan GT-R Nismo.
