GT-R Drift Video
MotorTrend recently took a Nissan GT-R R35 out for a little fun, and decided to put it up against a couple of Scion tCs built specifically for drifting. While this is no fair comparison here, it is definitely a fun one. There's also something pretty incredible in watching Godzilla get sideways with a cloud of smoke coming off the tires. A very fun video, with a poignant note at the end about how vehicles built with a specific purpose in mind are awesome a feeling as there can be, and the GT-R definitely fits. I know this makes me want to open the garage, take mine out, and take it for a wild drive!
More on the FIA GT1 R35
Last week I wrote up a small article on the FIA GT1 GT-R r35, which had some good response. The vehicle is undeniably incredible, and as such, warranted a lot more internet searching on this end. I'm sure some of you did that as well. I came across some really great videos giving a better look and listen to the vehicle, and a chance to see just how incredible it is. Figured I'd link them up here to share with all of you. Seriously though, what do you think of the FIA GT1 R35? I think it looks pretty awesome, myself.
FIA GT1-Spec Nissan GT-R
Some news has been coming out recently about the 2010 racing year for the Nissan GT-R. Some changes are being made, and they're interesting ones to say the least. For GT1 the GT-R wont be powered by its standard turbo V6, but instead by a naturally aspirated V8 producing 600HP and 480 LBs/Torque. To increase just how much power that is, the vehicle has also been lightened down to a curb weight of 2,756 lbs. They achieved this lightened weight with a stripped out-interior and the use of a carbon fiber aerodynamics. The FIA GT1-spec GT-R also gets 18-inch RAYS wheels and carbon ceramic brakes with six-piston calipers, to help bring that beast to a quick stop when necessary. In all, it sounds and looks like an absolutely awesome vehicle, and we'll see how it fairs starting April 17th with the first race of the season in the UAE. The GT-R will be up against Porsches, Corvettes, Lambos, Ferraris, and every other super performance car worth mentioning, and may have the credentials to beat them all.
Click gallery thumbs for larger images:
Source:AutoGuide
National Geo’s Special on the GT-R R35
Don't know if you ever got a chance to see the National Geographic special on the GT-R, because I didn't, but I did just find it in HD on the internet! I thought you might enjoy watching this (especially now, since hindsight is 20/20) if you hadn't seen it, or revisiting it now that you've seen and felt just what Godzilla can accomplish! It's in 5 parts, all in full HD, so enjoy.
GT-R Gets Launch Control Reprogrammed
"For 2010, Nissan is changing the launch-control programming on its scorchingly fast GT-R. On the ’09 car, engaging the full-bore launch control required switching off the stability control (VDC). The engine would rev to 4400 rpm before a neck-snapping automated clutch drop. After a moment of wheelspin, the GT-R would hurtle to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds, the quickest time we achieved in several tests of the ’09 GT-R.
The problem was that some owners of this $77,840 screamer were assassinating their $20,000 gearboxes, and the GT-R’s warranty states that shutting off the VDC voids the warranty. Break your transmission after a few launch-control starts and you’ll pay, not Nissan. The alternative, to leave the VDC on, resulted in a wimpy, 1800-rpm launch. So, for 2010, Nissan is offering a single launch-control feature that works whether or not the VDC is engaged.
The new setup is a compromise that provides owners with launch control that won’t potentially void the warranty. With the new program, engine revs build to 3000 to launch the GT-R. The result is far less distressing to the transmission than the 4400-rpm launch and quicker than the 1800-rpm launch.
Everything has a price: The new model is slower by 0.5 second to 30 mph and 0.6 second to 60. Don’t sweat it, though—by 150 mph, the two models are tied."
I don't know how much I like the performance losses here, although I do see the necessity in doing it for posterity's sake with the vehicle. I hope that in 2011 they can do another tweak and give us GT-R drivers back those lost numbers while maintaining the durability of the new system. This does seem like a major issue with a car that has seemed to me to be otherwise perfect.
I'm glad I know about this issue now, because I would surely cry if I destroyed the insides of my Godzilla! Be aware GT-R owners, your vehicle is only 99% perfect! I know, I was as surprised as you to hear this.
Source: Car and Driver
More Info on Hybrid R36
From Insideline:
There has been no end to the rumors of what the Nissan GT-R will become next, but the most credible rumor circulating in Japan right now is that a Nissan GT-R Hybrid is in development. The hybrid Godzilla would be part of the R36 generation of the GT-R. Sources close to the project tell us would likely debut in 2012 as a 2013 model with a pricetag around $100K.
The drivetrain for the 2013 Nissan GT-R Hybrid is expected to be a version of the hybrid system in the upcoming Nissan M35 Hybrid, but with a dramatic power increase and an all-wheel-drive layout. However, instead of a normally aspirated V6, the GT-R Hybrid would use a twin-turbocharged V6 just as the R35-derived Infiniti Essence concept did. It would be the same twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6 (VR38DETT) the GT-R uses today.
The target would be 440 horsepower for the hybrid application (versus 485 on today's GT-R), with an additional 160 hp coming from the electric motor -- the same one used on the Essence.
With 600 hp to go around, the hybrid GT-R would be just as quick as today's production GT-R, sources tell us. We also hear, though, that serious weight will need to be cut out of the car to offset the addition of the battery pack. And even with that dieting, the GT-R Hybrid is still expected to be heavier than today's car (3,800 pounds).
Fuel economy, though, is expected to be 25-30 mpg, which of course is the very point of building a Nissan GT-R Hybrid. If achievable in the real world, Nissan would have a convenient rebuttal to pundits who argue that supercars (and more generally, fun cars) will lose their relevance in the coming green era. -- Mak Tokuyama, reporting from Japan
Awesome Video! GT-R and ZR1 videos on Nurburgring juxtaposed!
This was one of the more entertaining videos I've watched in a while now, and is definitely worth checking out. We get to see two drivers running time trials around the Nurburgring and compare how their vehicles handle the fiesty track. On the top left you have the Corvette ZR1, whose sound should be coming out of your Right speaker. On the bottom right, Godzilla himself, the Nissan GT-R, whose sound will be heard through the left speaker. You can turn one up or down to hear the different exhaust notes and tire squealing noises around the different turn, or just to listen to them both at the same time for a symphony of awesome. Great drivers too! These guys took some turns at speeds/angles where I would be almost certain an accident was upon me, but they handle the track with finesse. A fantastic watch, hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
911 PDK v. R8 V10 v. GT-R
Here we go again: someone else is putting up new competitors against the Nissan GT-R. We've seen this repeatedly since the Nissan GT-R R35 was unveiled, and it is not news to any of us that the GT-R keeps winning. Well, this time the competition has been upped as we see the GT-R coming up against two absolutely incredible European monsters in the form of the Audi R8 V10 and the Porsche 911 Turbo PDK. Couple this with the fact that we're seeing the comparison of the 3 vehicles as driven by 1 driver, on the same circuit course, on the same day, and it makes the results and their fairness particularly intriguing!
Definitely worth a watch as the guys at AutoCar UK did a great job on this side by side. I wont divulge the outcome, but I will say this: the GT-R is repeatedly classified as the super car benchmark by which all others are measured, and we all know how true that is.
Hope you enjoy this video as much as I did. And, seriously, are they just going to keep bringing new challengers up to fight Godzilla? If so, I'm fairly certain we'll keep seeing the challengers get knocked-out, because this heavyweight champion of the world will be holding its title belt for quiet some time to come!
Next Gen GT-R, Possibly a 600-HP Hybrid Godzilla?
Word from Japan indicates that the next generation Nissan GT-R could be a hybrid sports car.
Buzz is circulating the internet right now that there's a possibility that the next generation of Nissan GT-R will be powered by a 440HP gas engine coupled with a 160HP electric motor. The combination of the two means, in theory, that the vehicle will be a 600 HP monster that is both a great performer as well as a more fuel efficient vehicle. This is all comes from Japanese automotive magazine Best Car.
I have no doubts that whatever the next gen of GT-R is, it will be awesome.
There is also mention that it could be scaled down to near Honda CR-Z proportions in order to improve overall performance and efficiency.
More details will surely come, so stay tuned.
Source: MotorTrend
Laker’s Star Andrew Bynum Drives a Real Sweet GT-R
Found this fantastic article online about Andrew Bynum's very very nice GT-R. Writer did a good job and provides some interesting information on a fantastic Nissan GT-R. This body kit is exceptional looking, and may in fact be the best looking one I've seen yet on a GT-R. Definitely worth the full read as it is an enjoyable story.
2009 Nissan GT-R Black Bison - Franchise Player
There are essentially two freeways that one may take to head into Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles - the 10 and the 110. At any given time of the day, you may find yourself parked in the middle of either one of these freeways. Both of them are constantly jam packed from the break of dawn to the desperate gots-to-get-home hours of the evening.I'm not just talking about the regular rush hour weekdays either. I'm also including the inexplicable "where the hell is everyone going to cause this traffic?" weekends, and the "why didn't I just take the side streets to avoid this mess?" late nights to the club. When people talk about how bad traffic is in Los Angeles, they might be referring to these freeways.
On days when the Lakers play, hours before tipoff, cars are at a virtual standstill on these two freeways - even more than usual. These are the times, if you happen to be stuck on game days, you get a chance to revel at the Los Angeles skyline, take in the warm weather or perhaps make fun of the guy next to you who's been picking his nose for the past two exits. Just make sure he's not a gun-toting Cholo because he will shoot at you - seriously.
Last month, I found myself stuck on the 10 Freeway heading downtown and decided to cruise down the side streets to avoid the chaos. I had the pleasure of scoring a pair of tickets to a Lakers game. Since I pride myself in being a veteran L.A. driver, I know every conceivable route to get to Staples Center without having to deal with the congestion. I took Olympic Blvd. and weaved through the slow cars, jaywalkers and hipsters on fixies. It was when I hit a stoplight that made me pump my brakes and slow down. It's not unusual to see celebrities on these L.A. roads.
On bad days, you may spot some duds like New Edition's Johnny Gill inside his Hummer, for example. Who's Johnny Gill, you ask? The answer: exactly. On good days, you may see some A-listers, like Cameron Diaz in her Prius, Brad Pitt on his bike or Jonathan Wong in his pink IS 300.
On that particular day, driving next to me was no other than Lakers center, Andrew Bynum. I immediately recognized him, but he wasn't the reason why I looked over in the first place. It was his pristine '09 Nissan GT-R that caught my attention. I immediately stalked him like a prepubescent teen on a Hot Import Nights import model, and the following thoughts came through my head.
1) I can't believe Andrew drives a GT-R. An unusual pick for a center, considering Shaq drove around in what seemed like a semi-truck when he was in L.A.
2) I can't believe I'm chasing him down on Olympic Blvd. The last time I chased someone on the streets was when I thought I spotted Kate Beckinsale driving only to find out it was the Filipino dude from Journey.
3) Why is everyone on the road laughing at me? Yeah, I'm picking my nose. Get over it!
At any rate, Andrew lost me three blocks later, and I was not only stuck at another red light but I also made my nose bleed from jamming finger in so high. Days later, I find out that Andrew's GT-R was legit. After searching the Internet, I find out that it wasn't the first time he's been caught driving to Staples Center in his GT-R. Several paparazzi-style photos from fans popped up on Flickr, and his GT-R is a continuing subject line in several Nissan forums.
It turns out Andrew, when he's not boxing dudes out on the block, is a car aficionado with a slew of cars in his possession. WPI Motorsports helped Andrew build the GT-R, which is one of his favorite daily drivers, to the specs you see now. It's a work in progress seeing that Andrew travels the country half of the year, and training and vacationing in the other half.
The most prominent feature is undoubtedly the Wald Sports Line Black Bison edition body kit. Retailing at nearly $20,000 the Wald kit is an engineering wonder. Built at Wald's Osaka, Japan factory, each kit features European designing that cater to Japanese auto and driving performance. Their Sports Line brand is specifically made for street sports, and the kit for the GT-R is as artful as you can possibly get with aerodynamics. Andrew wanted a body kit that was not only unique, but also helped elevate his baller status. And if there's anything Wald can do, it's help establish the baller status in you.Underneath the chassis is a set of 21-inch Radernergie Motorsport 3-piece wheels. Wrapped in Pirelli P Zero Nero tires, the wheels are forged aluminum alloy that are heat treated and aged for durability and strength. More importantly, they weigh in super-light for wheels so big in diameter, which makes for some unfettered speed, given the traffic of course.
Under the hood is more or less stock aside from the Harman Motive cold-air intake and exhaust midpipe, as well as the Turbosmart dual-port blow-off valves. It's just proof that the GT-R is svelte off the lot and modifying the engine would just be messing with perfection. Andrew does have a long list of future modifications he'd like to do to the car, but like every other tuner out there, it all comes down to time and money. OK, maybe not the money.
I'm just glad that tuning isn't just a sport that's limited to the common man and Paul Walker. It's a good thing to hear that someone like Andrew Bynum is knee deep into the culture that we all love. If there's anything that can bring a large group together, it's the art of tuning. I'm talking to you, Celtics fans. Next time you're in L.A. keep a look out for Andrew's GT-R and maybe you can feel the thrill of racing him down Olympic Blvd.
Tuning Menu
2009 Nissan GT-R
Owner Andrew Bynum
Hometown los angeles, ca
Occupation Starting Center, Los Angeles Lakers
Engine 3.8L VR38DETT engine; Harman Motive Cold-Air Intakes, exhaust and mid-pipe; Turbosmart dual-port blow-off valves
Engine Management Cobb Access port Stage 2 tune
Power 580 horsepower est.
Footwork & Chassis KW Variant 3 coilovers
Wheels & Tires 21x9.5 (f) 21x11 (r) Radenergie Motorsport R10 3-piece forged "Carbon Edition" wheels; Pirelli P Zero Nero 245/35-21 (f) 285/30-21 (r)
Exterior Wald GT-R Sports Line Black Bison Edition body kit: front bumper spoiler with grille cover, front lip, side duct, undercover fog lamps, side steps rear diffuser, trunk spoiler, rear wing flap rear over fender
Click on the thumbs below for full size images of this beautiful GT-R!
