Usain Bolt drives a GT-R. Fastest man, fastest car, it makes sense to me.
Auto recently got a snapshot of ace sprinter Usain Bolt and his newest trophy, the Nissan GT-R 35 sports car.
Bolt bought the GT-R as a replacement for the BMW M3 that he flipped on the Highway-2000 toll road in April.
 |
"How can you ask if it is fast," the sprinter who holds world records at 100 and 200 metres quipped when asked about the speed of the new vehicle.
Just as well, the fastest man on earth needs a speedster to maintain his image.
The GT-R 35, an offshoot of the popular Nissan Skyline, first hit the market in 2008 and is capable of speeds in excess of 190 miles per hour.
An Auto source describes the vehicle as clearly the most exclusive and expensive in the island.
"The only other car here that is equivalent in status and cost is the Bentley Continental GT that will be on show on Saturday," the source said.
A motor show is planned for the Police Officers Club tomorrow showcasing the Bentley.
"The Nissan GT-R is in the league of any top sports car in the US or Europe - Covette or Ferrrari," our source declared.
Bolt's vehicle is the only of its kind in the island, and although two other GT-Rs are known to exist here, they are in the 34 series, not the 35, our source added.
The Nissan GT-R35 is estimated to cost in excess of J$20 million, and, along with its breathtaking top speed, is able to move from zero to 60 mph in approximately 3.2 seconds.
But the vehicle is also chockfull of features and creature comforts.
"It is the many features packed into the vehicle, including a 'launch start' that makes it so different," our source emphasised.
"It is an all wheel drive but it can be switched for any type of driving condition."
Think of any probable feature you would want in a car, then think about the GT-R35.
Source: JamaicaObserver
GT-R Named World Performance Car, but we all already knew this without the award.
Nissan GT-R awarded 2009 World Performance Car
 |
Baku. Nijat Mustafayev – APA-ECONOMICS. The Nissan GT-R was awarded the 2009 World Performance Car award during the New York International Auto Show. The GT-R was chosen from a field of 23 cars that included the Porsche 911 Carrera and the Corvette ZR1, said Nurgun Motors, the official distributor of Nissan in Azerbaijan.
The winner was judged by fifty-nine World Car jurors from twenty-five countries. The jurors observed that, “The Nissan GT-R stole the headlines in the sports car world in 2008. This GT-R – the R35 – throws even former GT-Rs into the weeds via an all-new 3.8-liter bi-turbo V-6 providing 480 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. The drive of the GT-R, especially on a track, reveals an incredibly flexible all-wheel-drive chassis that lays down the rubber whenever you request it. Acceleration to 60 mph from a stop takes just 3.5 seconds, or a tick behind fellow Performance finalist the Corvette ZR1.”
The GT-R was also chosen “2009 Motor Trend Car of the Year” and “2009 Automobile of the Year” by Automobile Magazine. The GT-R also received top honours from Automobile for “Design of the Year,” “Man of the Year,” and “Technology of the Year.
Source:APA
Some Japanese Press Release Info on 2010 GT-R Doesn’t Make Translation
Some interesting changes we expected to see in the official press release didn’t seem to make it all the way to the English version. At this time we’re not sure as to why they weren’t translated outside of Japan and we hope to know more soon.
So far we’ve also collected the following details on items that could be in, or optional on, the 2010 GT-R but are not in the English press statement.
Upgraded Water Lines to Enhance Transmission Cooling
The engine coolant in the GT-R is used to enhance the rear mounted GR6 cooling. In 2010 JDM model, the water lines are upgraded to carry more coolant to the rear to lower the transmission temps overall.
Optional Nismo Multifunction Display Data Logging Kit
The GT-R’s Multi Function Display (MFD) is a big highlight of the GT-R’s interior giving drivers access to nearly every piece of data made available via the network of sensors throughout the car. The Nismo data log kit upgrade will give the users the ability to record this data to a USB pendrive for analysis later. Image above is a photoshop btw…
Optional Nismo Rear Diff Cooler
The Nismo Rear Diff Cooler is also rumoured be available as an option starting next year. This was first seen on the Tokachi 24hrs Nissan R35 GT-R developed by Nismo as a test platform for many of the Nissan GT-R SpecV parts.
What else did we miss out on? Well it appears the update front bumper we saw in spy shots is a no go, at least for the base model GT-R. The rear skirt ducts also seemed to go missing although we speculate that these will only be fitted to cars featuring the Nismo differential cooler?
More as it is dug up, confirmed or ruled out by Nissan…
Source: GTRBlog
New GT-R Hits Dealers in Japan
Nissan Releases New-Spec Nissan GT-R
YOKOHAMA (Oct. 21, 2009) – Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today announced the release of the latest version of the Nissan GT-R, which goes on sale on December 7th at Nissan dealers nationwide in Japan. The updated GT-R receives a number of enhancements, including a revised navigation system, recalibrated suspension settings and an improved-flow catalyst system. It is scheduled to go on sale in other global markets beginning next spring.
Nissan GT-RSince its introduction in the Japanese market in December 2007, the Nissan GT-R has gone through continuous evolution, remaining on the cutting-edge of multi-dimensional performance. The GT-R has also been acclaimed globally, winning more than 50 top awards in various categories since launch. Nissan also supports GT-R owners with exceptional after-sales service.
The latest revisions to GT-R include a new HDD-based CARWINGS navigation system with enhanced entertainment functions. A USB port with iPod®*1 connectivity allows the driver and passengers to enjoy their favorite music in the car, creating an even more pleasant interior environment. *2
In addition, the GT-R’s suspension has been retuned to offer enhanced, premium quality ride comfort, while still providing the driver with a feeling of direct contact with the road surface. The accuracy of the front shock absorbers and springs has been increased and the stiffness of rear suspension radius rod bushings has been strengthened. Rear diffusers with cooling ducts, previously available only on the GT-R SpecV, have been expanded to non-SpecV models, improving cooling performance around the rear floor area.
The exclusive Nissan GT-R SpecV models receive revised rear shock absorber settings, enhancing the characteristic combination of supple ride comfort and flat, predictable handling. In conjunction with this change, SpecV now comes standard with Dunlop tires. The previously standard Bridgestone tires are available as a factory-installed option.
Finally, both the Nissan GT-R and GT-R SpecV achieve improved low- and mid-range engine response, thanks to newly adopted hexagonal meshed catalyst cells that reduce ventilation/airflow resistance.
Nationwide MSRP Pricing in Japan (including consumption tax)
Drivetrain Engine Grade Transmission Price (yen) 4WD VR38DETT GT-R GR6 dual clutch
transmission8,610,000 GT-R Black edition 8,820,000 GT-R Premium edition 9,240,000 GT-R SpecV 15,750,000 * SpecV goes on sale at seven specially selected Nissan dealers throughout Japan.
*1 iPod is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
*2 May not be applicable in selected countries.Source: Nissan Motors
Corvette ZR-1 & GTR both run 7:38 Sport Auto Supertest at Nurburgring
If you're a manufacturer of anything even remotely sporty these days you're no doubt testing at the Nurburgring. Fine tuning and tweaking the performance because of just how well the Nurburgring represents a wide variety of driving conditions.
You won't be the only one testing your final product there however because, if it's a real sports car, then Germany's Sport Auto magazine will put it to their famous Supertest.
The Nissan GT-R had to do it and passed with flying colors setting a 7:38 laptime with editor Horst von Saurma (HvS) behind the wheel. Well now the Corvette ZR1's time has come to be put to the same test.
Despite the weight and power advantage over the GT-R, the ZR1 only managed to equal the GT-R's 7:38 lap time on the 13 mile long Nordschliefe circuit in the hands of the same test driver, HvS.
Quite an interesting data point this considering each manufacturer previously set times in the 7:26 region. To then set a 7:38 in an independent test…
Other tracks were also compared in the German article, the ZR1 beating out the GT-R's Hockenheimring lap time (1:09.7 to the GT-R's 1:10.7) and then the ZR1 losing out to the GT-R in the wet handling course (1:36.8 to the GT-R's 1:32.4).
Nissan GT-R and 370Z Capture Edmunds’ Inside Line “2009 Readers’ Most Wanted SM Awards”
Two all-new Nissan sports cars, the Nissan GT-R and Nissan 370Z, have been named to "Edmunds' Inside Line 2009 Readers' Most WantedSM Awards" list. The GT-R and 370Z were the only double winners, taking two categories each in the poll of readers' favorites in 15 vehicle categories designated by vehicle type and price range. The GT-R was previously named an "Instant Classic" in the "Edmunds' Inside Line Editors' Most WantedSM Awards" in November 2008 (the 2009 Nissan 370Z was not available at that time). Edmunds' Inside Line is an online magazine for automotive enthusiasts produced and hosted by Edmunds.com. Results of the poll were announced earlier this week.
The Nissan GT-R supercar was named "most wanted" in the categories "Speed over $30,000" and "Instant Classic Over $30,000." Reader comments included praise such as:
– One word: GODZILLA.
– Hands down the most performance you can get for the money.
– King of all cars.
– Engineering at its best.
The Nissan GT-R, first introduced in the United States in July 2008, has earned near universal acclaim, including being named Motor Trend "2009 Car of the Year," Automobile magazine's 2009 "Automobile of the Year" and winning a "2009 Best Resale Value Award" from Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com. It features a 485-horsepower 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, an advanced paddle-shifted, dual clutch rear transmission and a world's first independent rear transaxle ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive system. The 2010 Nissan GT-R has a starting MSRP* of $80,790.
The Nissan 370Z was the top vote getter in the "Speed Under $30,000" and "Instant Classic Under $30,000" categories. Comments included:
– Beautiful car with incredible performance and low price = instant classic.
– Still a TRUE sports car. Nothing comes close.
– Best Z ever produced…period.
– Killer looks, super strong engine, and the rev-matching system makes any regular Joe seem like a seasoned track vet.
The 2009 Nissan 370Z Coupe went on sale in December 2008 with a starting MSRP* of $29,930. The dramatically styled new Z® offers a standard 332-horsepower 3.7-liter DOHC V6 engine with Variable Valve Event and Lift Control (VVEL), available 6-speed close-ratio manual transmission with SynchroRev Match™ (the world's first synchronized downshift rev matching manual transmission), a refined 4-wheel independent suspension and a long list of available technology features. An all-new 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster is scheduled to go on sale at Nissan dealers nationwide in late summer.
For more information on the Inside Line awards, please see: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=150446
About Nissan North America
In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010, whose key priorities are reducing CO2 emissions, cutting other emissions and increasing recycling. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.infinitiusa.com.
TopGear’s GT-R vs. Bullet Train race
Ok, so, this isn't so much a traditional race in what one would expect with the GT-R, but it is hilarious and a ton of fun to watch. The TopGear guys are a ton of fun to watch, plus, who doesn't love an episode centered around the GT-R. I learned some interesting things about the vehicle's production watching this as well.
Part 2 Here:
Illtech did a nice job with this R35. Can’t wait to see more and more companies start making their own modified R35′s as well!
History of the Nissan GT-R in Pictures
There’s nothing like a piece of history to make you realize the value of the present. Today, we have a hi-res gallery of the history of Nissan’s giant-killer. UK had its first taste of the Skyline in 1997 but the very first model was actually built back in the fifties. In 1964, Skyline GT-Rs fought for supremacy against Porsche 908s. In 1969, the first GT-R, a four-door saloon, arrived at Japanese showrooms. If you’re a true-blue fan of the GT-R, you’ve probably already had the occasion to feast your eyes on the most recent GT-R, the SpecV, unveiled this year. The SpecV, which competes against Porsche’s 911 Turbo, has a 485bhp twin-turbo V6, with a boost control function, increasing the 434lb ft of torque by an extra 15lb ft at 3500-5000rpm.
-
-
- The Beginning
-
- Thankfully, not the end!
-
Source: 4 Wheel News