The Dunlop special race developed SP Sport Maxx GT 600 were chosen by the Nissan race engineers as the official factory equipped vehicle, and we're taking a closer look at it

The 2013 Nissan GT-R will be hitting showroom floors across the globe later this Spring, and when it does it will feature a bevy of performance upgrades. Oft publicized are its increased horsepower and retuned performance suspension, but maybe equally important to its performance are the new Dunlop tires Nissan has selected to outfit it with.

With 545 HP and 463 lb-ft torque, it took some special rubber to connect that power to the asphalt at all four wheels, and that's where the new Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT 600s come in. These new tires, designed specifically by Dunlop to put the Nissan GT-R in to motion, feature a myriad of new technological features innovated by Dunlop. The creation and innovation of these tires brought Nissan to form an agreement with Dunlop to make them not only the official tire of the Nissan GT-R, but also original equipment exclusively available for the R35 GT-R.

Of course, this pairing of vehicle and tires comes at no surprise, as both parties have particularly strong performance racing heritages and each also feature incredibly efficient and advanced modern technology to power themselves well beyond the capabilities of their most direct competitors. The features of the Nissan GT-R R35 have been publicized heavily in the past, so I won't focus on those, instead I'll take a more direct look at these new tires to see what they offer the vehicle.

Dunlop begins construction on these tires by utilizing a silica-reinforced tread compound and solid center rib design to help maintain tire integrity and grip, even at higher speeds. This leads to increased driver feedback, and, coupled with the Dunlop asymmetric tread pattern being used provides equivalent performance in both wet and dry conditions. The point of contact between the tire and rim utilizes a unique shape--different from the standard contact point seen on most modern tires--with a rounded bead portion for greater surface area of contact.

Other technologies incorporated in the tire (and taken directly from the official press release announcing the pairing of these two companies' products, with my added notes to the side):

• Dunlop Self-Supporting Technology (DSST): a patented, reinforced sidewall construction designed to temporarily support the weight of the car after a loss of air pressure. - This is better than a standard run flat as it forcibly maintains sidewall pressure upon quick pressure loss, which means a blown tire on a course won't result in an immediate loss of vehicular control.
• Combined Tire Technology (CTT): allows for less tire weight and a rounder cavity shape which helps improve ride comfort. - Does just that. Not really any track or performance benefits from this, and not even sure how much benefit it will give to ride comfort.
• Jointless Band Technology: a continuous spiral fabric ply helps maintain the tire's shape, enabling smooth performance at high speeds. - This aspect is huge, and it's not Dunlop exclusive. All of the premiere road/track tires being produced today (like the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires found on top-end Corvettes and Porsche 911 GT3s) utilize some form of this technology. Increased rigidity at higher speeds means less tire form warp, and results in greatly enhanced grip both at take off with high torque application, as well as during handling at higher speeds.
• Multi-Pitch Tread Design Technology: helps reduce noise for a quiet ride. - Woohoo. Because there are so many complaints about road noise in the GT-R (?).

All in all, these tires are a fantastic set-up and a great addition to the 2013 GT-R. A vehicle as incredible as the R35 deserves some amazing tires to outfit it with, and it looks like Nissan and Dunlop have found the right set for this car.

In a Same Course, Same Driver, Same Day comparison Tiff Needell of Evo.Co.Uk pits the Nissan GT-R R35 against a 991 Porsche 911 Carrera S

Evo Magazine's much revered Tiff Needell has a great job, and this video only proves it further. For this comparison video Tiff takes a 2012 Nissan GT-R and a brand new Porsche 911 Carrera S out to the Bedford Autodrome course in the UK to see which car runs a faster lap. It's a fun little course--tightly packed and featuring a lot of quick transition turns--and the results prove what we GT-R fans would expect.

The 2012 Nissan GT-R received a boost in performance numbers over its early year predecessors thanks to A 45hp bump to 530HP and an increase in torque to 448 lb/ft. The increase is provided to the GT-R with thanks to the combination of revised turbo boost and a reworked intake and exhaust system which helped to increase air flow back. The older brakes have also been switched to a new and enlarged set to better deal with the added horsepower, but Tiff doesn't seem to be happy with them still.

Conversely, the Porsche 911 Carrera S is a whole different sort of beast. It gives up a great deal in the HP department, putting out a total of 400HP thanks to its 3.8L flat-six direct injection engine. What the Porsche lacks in HP though it gains in weight savings, with a curb weight that comes in  over 730 pounds less than the GT-R. The Porsche puts this power down to the track through the use of RWD and a 7-Speed manual transmission.

In the video, Tiff gives each vehicle every bit that he can. The track times they each post are very impressive, and the GT-R wins the race by almost 3 seconds (which, in track terms, especially on a course as short as the UK's Bedford, is near an eternity). This is impressive too considering that typically things like HP factor much less in to track times than weight on a course designed like Bedford. Adding to the impressiveness of the GT-R victory by 2.7 seconds is the fact that the laps began from speed, and not from a stand-still. The AWD take-off of the GT-R would have certainly put it even further ahead of the Carrera S had they begun their laps from a stop.

Of course, that's not to take away from the Porsche at all. The 911 Carrera is a car that exudes class and style, and its performance would wipe the track clean with dozens upon dozens of lower performing (and many times equally or more expensive vehicles), it just happened to run in to Godzilla. Ultimately, these comparisons will be much more intriguing when they're between high-performance GT Trim 991 Porsches, which will have the HP to keep up with the GT-R. However, until those are out in force and the comparisons are made, the GT-R is still the clear-cut favorite.

Of course, those other comparisons will come with a caveat. Higher performance Porsche models will come in at a higher price tag, and as it sits right now the Nissan GT-R has an MSRP of $89,950 and the Porsche 911 Carrera S's pricetag is $91,900. So, for the money, it remains fact that the Nissan GT-R R35 simply can not be beat.

Video is worth a watch as Tiff is a great driver, and the footage of the race is fantastic.

Chris Harris of Drive--and the other gentlemen like him, Jeremy Clarkson, and the world's great car reviewers--have the best possible job. Don't believe me? Well, sorry, you're wrong. For the most recent Chris Harris Reviews episode of Drive he was handed the keys to a 2012 BMW M5 and a 2012 Nissan GT-R R35 on a typical rainy day in England and told to have fun.

The GT-R R35 section of the video is an absolute joy to behold. Harris does what he can to overwork the GT-R's brilliant drivetrain and computer and the machine works, time and time again, to make things right for him. In fact, the car helps him drive almost perfectly. I love too how he addresses the standard knock on the GT-R: its lack of character. Harris points out how that statement couldn't be any further from the truth, which is a fact that every person who has ever been behind the wheel of an R35 can attest to.

Ultimately, Harris covers it all and I'd be doing his great video a disservice to detail it bit by bit, so I'll just post the video for you to watch and enjoy here, and leave you contemplating just how great it would be to have this job.

For 2013 Nissan will release two different trim levels of the Nissan GT-R R35 Stateside: the GT-R Premium--the standard GT-R Model--and the suped up GT-R Black Edition. The Black Edition, which I've gone over extensively in prior posts, features lightweight black forged aluminum RAYS wheels, unique red and black interior, Recaro leather-appointed seats and a new dry processed and vacuum formed carbon fiber rear spoiler.

The two models will begin retailing at the MSRPs of:

GT-R Premium: $96,820
GT-R Black : $106,320

The base price for the Premium sees a healthy hike of $6870 over the 2012 MSRP of $89950, and the premium paid for the Black Edition over the 2012 comparable trim level is a raise of more than $11k. Of course, with this healthy rise in price, the consumer also gains some healthy benefits. Chief amongst those benefits is an increase of 15HP and 15lb.-ft of torque over the 2012 GT-R counterpart. This power comes with increased transmission efficiency as well.

The gains to performance don't stop with increased HP and Torque numbers, either. The 2013 Nissan GT-R R35 features a retuned suspension that has been adjusted and optimized for track performance. The braking system is upgraded some also, and the 2013 GT-R R35 features Brembo full-floating cross-drilled rotors, low steel high stiffness brake pads and Brembo monoblock six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers.

For those people who like their supercar with some luxury, the 2013 R35 isn't focused solely on performance, either. The primary interior upgrade is found in the GT-R's audio system, which now features a standard 11-speaker Bose surround sound system that utilizes rigid diecast steel panels for improved mounting and stability. The Nissan GT-R R35 also features an upgraded Rearview screen, Bluetooth integrated hands-free phone support, and real-time traffic and weather updates with optional XM subscription.

NISMO has finally unveiled a special track edition for the R35 GT-R that meets all FIA GT-3 qualifications and will begin its racing life at the Dubai 24 Hour Track.

NISMO teamed up with JR Motorsports to produce a special track version of the world-renowned r35 GT-R that would be FIA GT3 race compliant, and the results are impressive. With more than a full year's work between the two groups, they've finally hammered out a final product that is sure to take the GT3 World Race circuit by storm.

This new GT3 GT-R is powered by a modified version of the same 3.8L TT V6 engine found in the stock vehicle that will deliver 523 HP to the wheels at 6400 RPM via a modified six-speed rear wheel transaxle controlled through semi-automatic paddle shifters.

The GT3 Version of the GT-R was designed with both the track and the customer in mind, and NISMO took their time with this one to ensure that it had both performance and driveability. To allow for this, they enhanced the chassis for greater inspiration of confidence to those behind the wheel and then allowed for adjustable suspension set-up and driver controls so that whoever is behind the wheel can ensure the vehicle meets their track needs.

This new GT3 race compliant GT-R iteration was first unveiled on Thursday, January 12th at the Autosport International Exhibition (AIE) and Show in the UK. The immediate reception was extremely favorable, as crowds tended to be impressed both by the vehicle's performance potential as well as its obvious, stylistic, modifications suitable for a GT3 course.

To further show off the vehicle's potential, once the GT-R GT3 finishes his showing at the AIE, Nismo will be taking it to the Dubai 24 Hour for competition. There, the GT3 GT-R has already qualified for third on the grid--where the first two spots are occupied by GT3 Ferraris. For the Dubai 24 Hour race, the GT3 GT-R will feature an all-star team comprised of some of last year's world wide GT-R race winners: Michael Krumm, Alex Buncombe, Tom Kimber-Smith and Franck Malliaux. The NISMO GT3 GT-R will feature, prominently, the number 32 for the race.

Of course, things aren't always golden. Yesterday, Michael Krumm--who will be the first driver behind the wheel of the GT-R in the Dubai 24 Hour set to begin today--was quoted as having said “We had a tough start today as we had a few problems with the car but the guys did a great job to get it ready for qualifying.” Thankfully, the team of GT-R engineers that were on hand for NISMO took care of issues, and Krumm closed out with the statement, “The car worked very well and I am very impressed with the engine in particular. I love the GT-Rand I love it even more now. We just need to keep it all together for the long race tomorrow.”

Best of luck to those guys today as they show off the GT-R's capabilities in the GT3 races.

Now, if you want to own a GT3 ready GT-R, produced directly by NISMO for such an occasion, you'll soon be able to. NISMO themselves will be directly responsible for sales and all customer support on their GT3 GT-R in the major markets of: Japan, Asia, North America, South America, and Oceania. For those in Europe, Russia, and the Middle East, NISMO's partner JRM will be handling all distribution and support. Pricing has not yet been officially announced.

Nissan Announces the 2012 Nissan GT-R Track Pack: for Japan, the U.K., Australia, and South Africa only.

Nissan engineers recently unveiled the details of their new Track-Pack trim for the Nissan GT-R, and I must say that it's pretty exciting. The complete track-pack will take the already incredible Nissan GT-R and prepare it for the racing circuit for its more demanding customers. This track-pack, which will actually allow the GT-R to remain road legal where available, also provides the car with an extra edge on the circuit over its standard competition.

The package will lighten the vehicle substantially, and it achieves this by deleting the rear seats from the cabin, and replacing the front ones with ultra-lightweight Recaro racing ones. The vehicle is also equipped with lightweight RAYS alloys wheels, which help shave pounds off of the standard wheels, and some carbon fiber touches which are more lightweight than their plastic contemporaries.

In addition to the weight saving features, the GT-R track pack will also feature stiffer suspension rates all around to provide the vehicle with a "harder edge" and greater control through intense track turning conditions. Newly integrated active brake ducts will also work to allow the front brakes to operate as much as 100 degrees cooler around extreme track conditions--ultimately resulting in large reductions of brake fade and chatter. The track-pack will use the same drivetrain as its more road friendly brethren, but the changes help it drop its 0-to-60 time from 2.9 seconds to 2.7, and has allowed Nissan drivers to post regular sub-7 times on the Nurburgring.

In case you wanted to make sure people know what you're driving, too, the track pack outfitted GT-R will also have special badging both inside and out. And, finally, no special edition vehicle would be complete without an exorbitant price tag modification: in this case, 10,000 British pounds, or, the rough equivalent $15,700 American. What this means, ultimately, is that Nissan is removing parts of their car and charging more for it--a move that other automotive companies have been doing with track ready editions of their fastest vehicles.

Of course, for us Americans, even if we wanted to shell out that much $$ we couldn't, as Nissan will not be offering the Track Pack to its American consumers. If you were set on having one, however, I'm certain that $16k could get you an equivalent. Password:JDM makes R35 GT-R Carbon Fiber rear seat deletes, RAYS and Recaro products are readily available online, and any body shop worth their salt is certainly able to custom create active brake duct screens for your vehicle. In fact, with the $16k, you could forgo the RAYS and Recaro components, install the ducts and seat deletes, and then have the money leftover to purchase a complete titanium exhaust, like the one made by Akrapovic for the Nissan GT-R which adds 17HP and shaves 40lbs off of the vehicle. In the end, the GT-R with the seat deletes, active brake ducts, and upgraded exhaust would probably beat the Track Pack, even on a circuit.

Thus, I give you this Matte Black and Carbon Fiber wrapped Nissan GT-R. It's so understated that it almost becomes overstated, and it takes vehicle styling and mixes it with that of a B-2 Stealth bomber; of course, this particular GT-R comes to us courtesy of the wealthy and mean (mean for a racer, at least) streets of Dubai - the world's newest playground for the exorbitantly wealthy.

The matte black wheels, matte black paint, carbon fiber fascia, splitter, diffuser, and spoiler pieces all come together beautifully with the vehicle's small touches of color -- the seemingly necessary highlights of the GT-R badging and the bronze colored Brembo caliper covers -- to make one gorgeous new GT-R. It's smooth, sleek, and looks like the sort of vehicle that would fit in perfectly in the wind-whipped and sand-blasted realm of the deserts surrounding its home. The carbon fiber exhaust tips (maybe they're an Akrapovic? It would make sense, the sound is right for one) are a great touch. Now, all the driver needs to do to complete the look is get themselves some acrylic light blackout kits.

For further proof of the beauty of the vehicle, also, take notice that the cameraman has focused directly on this very unique GT-R when inside of a Dubai parking garage where the following cars are also visible just within the few seconds of the video itself: multiple Porsche 911's, multiple Land Rovers,  a Mercedes Benz G class, a Mercedes Benz S Class, and a gorgeous red Ferrari. That's millions of dollars within direct vicinity of this GT-R, yet its unique paint scheme and carbon fiber touches really set it apart.

I don't know, personally. I still like the gloss, showcar quality of a well-polished, well-done, metallic coat paint job, but there's something inherently sexy--and inherently Batmobile-esque--of an all-black GT-R, much like the new Black edition, that this Matte Black ride just totally personifies.

What do you think?

EVI Corporation is a custom automotive company that spends its days outfitting vehicles for police forces--particularly for undercover purposes. A few weeks ago, they got in their very first Black Edition 2012 Nissan GT-R (with all of 13 miles on the odometer), and set to turning it in to the ultimate police car. Well, they've done just that, and a Virginia precinct (who will not be named, sadly) has purchased said GT-R.

This isn't the first Police GT-R to hit the streets, but this is definitely the coolest. EVI used a 530HP, Black Edition, 2012 GT-R as their base vehicle and outfitted with all of the police necessities. The flashing lights are hidden in the front headlights and in the front mirror, as well, so this vehicle is truly undercover.

Ultimately, there's not much more to say about this GT-R that hasn't already been said, expect to highlight what a crazy cool cop car it is. I guess it's a true V6 Interceptor, huh? And there's no running from it in any conditions. Here's just to hoping we don't hear about this one being involved in an accident any time soon, and I just want to imagine the look on the first person's face to get busted by this thing. I hope it happens when a ballsy Porsche or Ferrari pulls up next to it on the highway and tries to challenge it to a race. That would be a fun story. (Mostly because the GT-R would not only beat it at the race, but also pull it over).

What is it that makes the GT-R such a coveted, rare beast? The blinding power? The monstrous amount of grip? The 22 year legacy that it sits atop of as a track dominator? The GT-R is no doubt many things, but the main snide remark from competitors, generally of German origin, is that the GT-R feels cheap, and isn't a luxury machine. Defenders of Godzilla have always resorted to countering that it wasn't designed to be a luxury sports car. It was designed and built for one thing: conquering the luxury supercars that boast a price tag often double or triple the cost of the GT-R. This is a feat that the GT-R has proven time and time again, and still continues to amaze with the latest advancements in aftermarket technology from companies like AMS, HKS, Switzer, et al.

So, what if Nissan's luxury sister company Infiniti took the VR38DETT and popped it into a luxury Infiniti chassis? Plush, luxurious interior, coupled with blinding power and speed… are we sure we're still talking about a Japanese-made automobile? It comes as no surprise that Infiniti and Nissan share chassis's, and with the unveiling of the Infiniti Essence concept at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, we witnessed what Infiniti could be capable of producing… and that car, with GT-R power? Need I say more? It seems to be a mix of Aston Martin DB styling, coupled with an almost retro front air dam, reminiscent of the Shelby Cobra. The sleek styling, with the distinctively shaped headlights and tail lights would certainly give more than a few doubters a reason to be giving Nissan a second look.

Sadly, I doubt we'll be seeing a push for this anytime in the near future. The standing of the current global economy plus the small market that it would fit into anyway, put the dreams of this magnitude of supercar from Nissan/Infiniti on hold for at least a few years.

Sourced from www.caradvice.com.au

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn told UK publication CAR Magazine an Infiniti GT-R was not currently on the cards, but insisted Nissan and Infiniti were not in the business of closing doors on ideas. "Are we going to [produce an Infiniti supercar], I would say 'no', I don't think so,' Mr Ghosn said. "If your question is 'could we do that', I would say 'yes'. The idea of using existing technologies on the body of an Infiniti, yes. All the technologies developed for Nissan are available to Infiniti. Will we do it? I think we need to go step by step," Mr Ghosn said. "The idea makes sense. The technology is here, the platform is here. It's a great car, the GT-R. Is it a project now? No. I don't want to give you the impression we'll never do that. But I don't want you to think that it's coming in the next two to three years either."

Here's their invitation:

Join you fellow Nissan Z and GT-R Owners at the 2011 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma and experience the thrills and excitement of a full weekend of racing, August 27-28. You will be the exclusive guests of Nissan Motorsports in their private hospitality chalet. Enjoy a private viewing area, gift bags and complimentary food and beverage throughout the weekend. You'll have the opportunity to take part in behind the scenes

paddock tours, autograph sessions and meet special guests. There is even an exclusive Car Corral reserved for Nissan Z and GT-R owners only. Car Corral Parking is only available for Z and GT-R vehicles from any model year. This is your opportunity to get up close and personal with the stars of the IZOD IndyCar Series, SCCA World Challenge, Historic Grand Prix racers and all the rest of the featured series. Tickets are limited so register now for this exclusive opportunity. We look forward to having you as our guests at the 2011 Grand Prix of Sonoma!

Tickets for this event are priced at $105.00 and considering its two days of food, beverage gifts and Nissans hospitality, I think that's a pretty rocking deal. Considering that the price for each day (Saturday and Sunday) will set you back $40, $105 for both days with all the extras is an awesome opportunity to take advantage of your Nissan pride!

To purchase tickets, follow this link:

http://nissanownersatinfineon.eventbrite.com/