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High-Quality Leather Interior
Creating Egoist has taken Nissan
GT-R to new levels of indulgence, exclusivity and rarity. Much of the attention
has been focused on the cockpit which features an upgraded full leather interior
created by Seton Leather in Germany.
Leather trim now extends throughout
the interior and includes areas such as the base of the front seats, the seat
belt buckle surrounds, the A and B pillars, the centre console surround and the
transmission tunnel. Leather can even be found lining the interior of the cup
holders and covering the door sills. Plain and quilted finishes are used to
provide visual contrasts between the sections.
But this is not ordinary
leather. Seton has become the preferred supplier of a select group of
performance and luxury car makers. Its leather is chosen over others for its
quality and consistency thanks to the way Seton cares for its livestock.
The company raises only one breed of cattle and the animals are cared for in
carefully monitored conditions in Bavaria in Southern Germany. They are raised
for 18 months in specially controlled surroundings to ensure more consistent
feeding and less likelihood of insect bites or imperfections in the hides caused
by barbed wire and other foreign objects.
Thanks to this careful
nurturing, they grow to be bigger than average and this, in turn, means that
fewer hides are needed for each car. That said, the interior of every GT-R
Egoist still needs no fewer than 15 hides.
Turning the hides into the
leather package takes Seton more than two months before the trimmed pieces can
be shipped to Japan for installation. Completion of the interior of each Egoist
is undertaken by hand in the GT-R plant in Tochigi and entrusted to one Takumi -
a master craftsman.
Each car is taken from the main production line and
taken to a special studio area in the plant where the Seton leather package is
waiting to be installed. It takes a total of three hours for each installation.
In total there are no fewer than 20 color combinations available with either
a single color used throughout or contrasting treatments for the upper and lower
portions of the interior. There are ten different color options for the lower
interior - including a pale pink - and four for the upper section. Further
choices include the availability of six contrasting options for the stitching.
Carpeting throughout is also color co-ordinated. Taking all the possible options
into account there's a total of 84 different color combinations for owners to
choose from.
Complementing the Seton leather package, a suede-like
material is used to trim the headlining, sunvisors, rear parcel shelf and lower
door panels.
Once trimmed, the car is then returned to the line to
complete the production process - including the comprehensive running in
process, which can also be witnessed by the customer.
GT-R Egoist's
Wheel Emblem Takes Days to Make
Another example of the time and
painstaking precision involved in the production of the Nissan GT-R Egoist
concerns the emblem on the steering wheel. The 'ordinary' GT-R has an enamel
badge; elegant but mass-produced. For Egoist, an ancient Japanese art is
employed for the badge which is hand painted in a traditional decoration style
known as Urushi.
For Nissan GT-R Egoist the method used is called Makie and the skill can only be
taught in the Ishikawa Prefecture - home of the GT-R - and before he can
practice his art, the craftsman has to be Government approved.
For this
very special GT-R, each badge is entrusted to one man, Kubota-san of the
Goshikiya workshop. It takes many days to build up the layers of paint to create
the depth of color and the unique finish on the emblem. Each one, therefore, is
unique.
Bespoke Bose Sound System
Similar attention to
detail has gone into the creation of a bespoke sound system for the car. Made by
leaders in sound development Bose, the 11-speaker system features a newly
developed switching amp and a world first in its use of a carbon composite
mounting for a new 9-inch woofer.
The mounting base delivers high
rigidity and high levels of damping with no weight penalties allowing a much
clearer sound to be produced from the woofer.
But Bose goes one step
beyond in perfecting the system for the Egoist owner. On visiting the showroom
to place the order, detailed measurements are taken from the customer and his or
her ideal driving position is established. The customer's height, leg length and
preferred angle of the seat backrest are then fed to the factory to ensure the
speakers are placed in the optimum position to maximize sound quality. It really
is a made-to-measure sound system.
GT-R Egoist is a Special Car
Through and Through
Completing the Nissan GT-R Egoist package are
some features pioneered on the spectacular Spec-V version introduced in 2010.
These include the special six-spoke forged RAYS alloy wheels - for Egoist they
have a unique 'Blue Sword' finish - and a carbon composite rear spoiler.
There's also a choice of
exterior colors, some of which are shared with other GT-R models, but as befits
its exclusive status, Egoist is the only GT-R available in a new color specially
created for the car: Ultimate Opal White.
And it remains as discreet as
possible, the only giveaway being a subtle Egoist badge on the boot.
Although less overtly sporting than the limited edition Spec-V version, Egoist
remains one of the finest performing supercars of the era. The increase in power
and torque cuts the 0-60 mph time to a remarkable 2.9 seconds while top speed is
196 mph (315 km/h).
The combination of advanced electronics, including
the 'R Start' mode for racing starts, and the six-speed dual clutch gearbox -
operated via magnesium paddles on the steering wheel - mean that, where
conditions permit, all that performance is easily within reach.
The
sure-footed chassis offers unmatched traction and handling and for 2011, GT-R
now has an even more compliant ride thanks to subtle revisions to the springs
and dampers. Braking performance has been enhanced, too. The front discs are
larger to improve their resistance to fade under continued heavy use while the
forged alloy wheels wear new Dunlop tires specially created for Nissan GT-R.
"GT-R Egoist is a remarkable car. Yes,
it is considerably more expensive than the standard GT-R but that reflects the
top quality materials used in the interior and the dedication of the craftsmen
who build the car.
"We have seen with the Spec-V version that GT-R customers
appreciate rarity and exclusivity and there is no doubt that Egoist is the most
special GT-R yet.
"It will appeal to a wealthy customers who appreciate
the finest things in life, yet who don't want to brag. It's exclusive and is
bound to be rare... but perhaps the most appealing thing about GT-R Egoist is
just how discreet it is," said Simon Thomas.
Nissan GT-R Egoist (Euro-spec): Photo Gallery, Review (1/2) and Specifications