Nissan’s exotic GT-Rs will hit Baltimore dealers — just don’t expect a test drive

By Rich Daly
Examiner Correspondent 8/28/08

The Nissan GT-Rs will be the fastest production car in the world when the first model arrives at Bob Bell Nissan in Dundalk next month. Courtesy photo DUNDALK – Something historic will happen at the end of September in Dundalk. That’s when a local Nissan dealership is expecting the arrival of the first high-performance sports car from the automaker.

Qualified dealerships around the country will receive only one or two of the 2009 GT-Rs and Bob Bell Nissan expects to receive its vehicle — a silver model with a gray interior — in the last week of September.

“People are curious about it and it’s a big conversation piece,” said Les Horner, a sales representative at Bob Bell.

Most of the potential buyers that have contacted the Baltimore-area dealership about the GT-R, which is one of the fastest production cars in existence, have been national collectors and other out-of-town high-paid professionals.

The GT-R has drawn such national and international attention for features such as its 0-60 mph time of between 3.2 and 3.8 seconds, a video game-inspired screen at the center of the dash that displays mechanical and driving data, and the 3.8-liter, twin-turbo, 480-horsepower V-6 engine. National buyers are referred to local dealers through a search on the Nissan Web site, which tells them the showrooms that carry particular colors and options packages.

“Corvettes, for instance, are a known quantity and have a more established following so the GT-R has had a more select appeal so far,” said Horner, about potential buyers that have contacted him, including a physician in Britain.

The car has received a bigger local response at Bel Air Nissan Subaru, in Bel Air, said Steve Zell, the dealer’s sales manager. Zell’s dealership has been swamped with requests for information on the car from “all kinds” of local and national buyers, even before that showroom received its two GT-Rs in mid-August. The Bel Air GT-Rs — exteriors black and silver — are fully loaded, while still achieving the rather surprising fuel economy of 17 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway. The emissions are low enough for the high-performance twin-turbo engine to meet ultra-low-emission vehicle standards. Baltimore area drivers hoping to experience V-6 engine roar out 430 foot-pounds of torque at 3,200 rpm as it works through the six-speed automatic transmission may face a high hurdle at area dealerships. Bel Air Nissan is not allowing any test drives before the car is sold and Bob Bell Nissan will limit test drives to “serious qualified buyers.”

“Obviously, the person who buys this won’t want 400 or 500 miles on it from others’ test drives,” Horner said.

But even mere mortals unable to drive the GT-R are encouraged to visit local dealers and enjoy its many physical attributes, which include four-ring taillights, rear spoiler and large, integrated quad exhaust tips. The GT-R’s paint is even unique, and comes with a durable anti-chip formula and “double clear coat” that can heal minor scratches. A special seven-coat silver paint also is available.

Editor’s note: Includes information by Richard Williamson published in the Scripps Howard News Service.

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