Nissan made a serious update to the GT-R for the 2017 model year, debuting it to the U.S. at the 2016 New York Auto Show. Little time had passed, and Nissan started shooting information out about the GT-R Nismo and all of its 600-horsepower, track-day goodness. By the time September of 2016 rolled around, we were learning about the GT-R Track Edition, a model that slots between the standard road-going model and the Nismo. Unfortunately, at the time, we hadn’t heard anything about it coming to the U.S. or what its specifications would be if it did. Well, with the 2017 New York Auto Show right around the corner, the Track Edition is about to make its U.S. debut before going on sale in late summer as a special-order model.

Basically, the Track-Edition GT R is like a genetic experiment gone right, with the car borrowing some features from the Nismo while maintaining the same power delivery of the GT-R Premium model. That means it will have a total of 565 horsepower here in the U.S., but will have the looks of something a little more fierce – kind of like the perfect storm. When it does go on sale, you’ll have to order one and wait in line, and will be asked to pony up at least $127,990, before options, taxes, and delivery.

“The new GT-R Track Edition gives buyers a specialized model, one true to GT-R heritage and available only by special order,” said Michael Bunce, vice president, Product Planning, Nissan North America, Inc. “Building on the major upgrade to every GT-R for 2017, the Track Edition is an amazing package inside, outside and under the skin.”

Keep reading to learn a little more about the Nissan GT-R Track Edition.

The Perfect Mix of Racing and Touring

So, to kick things off, Nissan used extra adhesive bonding in addition to traditional spot welding to help strengthen the body shell. The four-wheel independent suspension system gets NISMO tuning, which includes reduced weight and extra stiffness over the GT-R Premium. It also gets Nismo-spec tires to help keep things from getting squirrely during extreme maneuvers. The car rides on a pair of 20-inch, Nismo, forged aluminum-alloy wheels and rocks a unique dry carbon fiber spoiler. Inside, you’ll find equally impressive appointments, including a red and black color scheme (these colors always seem to go together so well) and a pair of Recaro high-grip seats that are wrapped in leather. The infotainment display measures eight inches and is used to control a number of features, ultimately dropping the number of switches inside the car to just 11. The system comes complete with NissanConnectSM with navigation, phone connectivity, and a rear-view monitor.

Under the hood, the Track-Edition gets the same 3.8-liter V-6 with 565 horsepower and 467 pound-feet of torque on tap. That’s the same power output of the GT-R Premium, and just 35 ponies and 14 pound-foot shy of the GT-R Nismo. The engine itself is hand assembled and marked with the name of the technician that assembled it. Shifting duties are handled by a six-speed dual clutch transmission with paddle shifters. Power is routed to all four wheels via Nissan’s ATTESA E-TS AWD system. This system puts the transmission, transfer case, and final drive in the rear instead of being attached to the engine in the middle of the vehicle. It’s a unique layout, but it works well.

The Nissan GT-R Track Edition makes its U.S. Debut at the New York Auto Show in a couple of weeks, and it’s definitely a model you want to check out. Let us know what you think about it in the comments section below.