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.
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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