Nissan Shows 2012 GT-R Facelift in Paris but won't Release Details Until October 18th

Tucked away in a glassed corner of Nissan's Paris Motor Show booth was the 2012 GT-R facelift. So, did the updated GT-R make its world premiere in Paris or not? Yes and no. See, while the car made its first public appearance in Paris, oddly enough, Nissan said it wouldn't release any information until mid October.

Here's the official statement from the Japanese automaker: "The GT-R engineering team are currently at the Nordschliefe, the legendary circuit in Germany, where they are in the process of signing-off the final updates on the forthcoming enhanced GT-R. Full details of the enhanced GT-R will be announced on 18th October 2010,"

From what we can see, the 2012 model year version of the Godzilla boasts a new front bumper with LED running lights, a revised rear diffuser and new alloy wheels.

According to documents leaked back in August, the changes are said to help drop the GT-R's drag coefficient from 0.272 to 0.268 while also improving rear downforce by 10%. The car is also expected to benefit from chassis and engine modifications.

We'll update this story as soon as Nissan comes out with all the juicy details.

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Nissan GT-R to Play the Role of Godzilla at this Year’s Top Gear Live

The 478 hp Nissan GT-R is no stranger to Top Gear UK. Jeremy Clarkson famously raced it against co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May riding a bullet train just two years ago. Now the GT-R is set to play its monster movie nickname - Godzilla - in a special stunt sequence of Top Gear Live.

The 80 minute live show features the three presenters and a host of cars driven by professional stuntmen, in what the media has dubbed 'the cirque du soleil of cars'.

The GT-R will play the daikaiju (strange beast) from the tokusatsu (superhero movie) 'Gojira' in an explosive driving sequence inspired by Japanese street racing and manga.

"Ever since we drove the new GT-R through the streets of Tokyo on the television programme, I've wanted to incorporate one into a stunt driving sequence on the Live show." said Rowland French, Executive Producer of Top Gear Live.

The GT-R will make its official Top Gear Live debut at the "MPH: The Prestige & Performance Motor Show" at Earls Court, London in the first week of November, with a second showing at the NEC in Birmingham the following week.

By Tristan Hankins