Nissan to Provide Special Care for GT-R Buyers

[AZhitman]

Nissan's new super-sports car, the GT-R, is a rare challenge to European and American automakers by a Japanese company more used to family friendly offerings like the Altima sedan.

Nissan claims the muscle car is so sophisticated it is training scoresof maintenance workers at dealers in Japan to service the vehicle.

"The GT-R requires special attention because its technology is so advanced," Corporate Vice President Takao Katagiri said Wednesday. "It also calls for finesse in salesmanship because the sales representative must deal with customers who are going to be very demanding."

Nissan is setting up 160 showrooms called "high-performance centers" around the country for maintenance work on the GT-R. Similar back-up support for the GT-R is being considered for the U.S., where the sale will follow the Japan debut, but details aren't decided. The service will be offered at American Nissan, not Infiniti luxury, showrooms.

BMW and Porsche sports cars need special care for their revved up, delicate engines, but such dealers are prepared for high-quality maintenance.Anticipation is high among car fans for the Nissan GT-R

GT-R won't be promoted in Japan with any TV ads, which Nissan says are only effective for mass market models.

Analysts say that high-end sports cars aren't expected to sell in numbers, especially after the hype wears off, but they are critical for a manufacturer's image, not a practical moneymaking endeavor.

"Obviously, the size of the market is very, very small," said Credit Suisse Japan auto analyst Koji Endo. "It's really an image issue."

Japanese rival Toyota Motor Corp. is also strengthening its sports car lineup, and recently showed the Lexus IS F, which goes on sale in Japan in December, and early next year elsewhere.

Nissan officials said they were worried about possible social ills, citing safety and noise concerns, from how people might use or modify such a powerful car.

"We feel a social responsibility," said Nissan marketing director Yoshimitsu Kaji. "We must deliver on maintenance so everything is safe and legal."

[jdm_master_X]

bout damn time!!

[Unstroked]

All I have to say is.... HURRY UP AND GET ON US SOIL DARN IT!!!!!!