Wraps are off Nissan Godzilla

This is the first picture of "Godzilla" - the all-wheel-drive Nissan GT-R supercar that will go on sale in New Zealand in 2007.

It was unveiled at the Tokyo motor show under tight security as the GT-R Proto concept, a design insiders say is almost ready to be signed off as the production model.

Nissan chief executive Carlos Ghosn says the new GT-R will be sold globally to compete with the best Nissan's rivals have to offer.

Company executives at Tokyo wouldn't talk about the new powerplant or the car's final specifications.

Until its unveiling, it was expected to be powered by a twin-turbocharged V6 engine, a reworked version of the 3.5-litre unit in the Maxima sedan and 350Z sports car. But insiders say it is highly likely that the GT-R will use a bigger 3.7-litre V6 engine - a development of the 3.5-litre unit - with twin-turbochargers and an output of 335kW (450bhp) and around 550Nm of torque.

Further, the bigger engine would be mated to a seven-speed automatic gearbox with close-ratio manual mode.

Nissan has apparently been testing such an engine-gearbox pairing at the Nurburgring circuit in Germany.

The new GT-R, like the previous R-34 model, will be packed with high-tech electronic suspension aids to further enhance its ground-hugging reputation.

Past versions of the Godzilla GT-R - from the PGC10 in 1969 to R34 in 1999 - served as Nissan's high-performance halo car.

Nissan has the same goal in mind with the new GT-R although, unlike earlier versions, it will no longer have to share its architecture with mainstream Nissan models.

The carmaker says the GT-R has been designed to "communicate pure performance and functionality".

It is based on the 350Z platform. Up front, the single centre air intake is designed to optimise airflow and to strongly link the identity of the GT-R from the R34 to the 2001 concept unveiled by Ghosn in 2001.

The coupe looks far more aggressive than the 2001 example and incorporates several innovative design tweaks that Nissan hopes will appeal to a worldwide audience.

The design of the front bumpers and wheel arches were finalised after intensive analysis of the airflow around the tyres, says Nissan. The air vent behind the front fender also optimises aerodynamics.

The signature four ring-shaped tail-lights provide an immediate visual link to previous GT-R models. Four large-bore exhaust pipes complete the look.

Ghosn confirmed four years ago that the GT-R legend would continue into the 21st century. Two years later he said the production model would appear in 2007. Expect a launch date of September that year.