The GT-R Z-Tune was originally unveiled as a 600 horsepower prototype back in 2000, a road car created from Nismo's expertise and experiences from Le Mans and Japanese Grand Touring Championship (JGTC). With a bored and strengthened engine block, as well as upgraded turbochargers, the 2.8 litre inline-6 twin turbo engine was capable of producing 600 horsepower and clocking a terrifyingly quick time of 3.8 seconds from 0-60. To put things into perspective, it is far quicker than the high-end Porsche 911 GT3 RS of the same generation, which only had 400 horsepower, and a 0-60 time of 4.3 seconds.
 
5 years on, the car was redesigned from the inside out. The engine was detuned to produce only 510 horsepower, in the name of durability. A new exhaust with a catalyst were installed, and new dry carbon body panels were fitted in for improved aerodynamics and weight reduction. Brembo and SACHS were brought in to design a new braking and suspension system respectively, so that the Z-Tune would be able to execute corners smoothly at high speeds, and come to a complete stop in a stable manner.