More Spec-M Spy Photos, and a GT-R v. Datsun drag race that will shock and awe
The 2012 Nissan GT-R Spec M is being seen by everyone now, it seems! I'm half expecting to spy on at my local grocery store this week! Of course, the actual likelihood of that happening is slim to none, as there are so many different grocery stores in my city it's doubtful the GT-R Spec M driver would choose to shop at mine. All jokes aside, here's more spy photography of the 2012 Spec M in all of its beautiful Godzilla glory. The vehicle really does look fantastic. I think Nissan has gone an exceptional route with the small stylistic changes they've provided the already beautiful GT-R.
Click thumbs for larger images:
Now, for the drag race no one saw coming. What would you think if I told you that a Nissan GT-R and a 1972 Datsun 1200 were going to race? You'd laugh at the thought of the Datsun slowly pushing through the smoke left in the GT-R's wake, right? What if I then told you that the Datsun was an all electric modification? More humor. What if, I then told you that the Datsun wins?
I hate showing GT-Rs losing (and thankfully, those videos are so few and far between that I never really have to) but this one is too cool to pass up. Of course, the '72 Datsun 1200 in question (affectionately called White Zombie) is no normal Datsun. This 1200 runs off an all electric drive-train which delivers an immediate 772 pounds of torque. That's right, 772 pounds of torque delivered to all 4 wheels the second the accelerator is hit. That power makes this Datsun the fastest electric car on Earth. This incredible vehicle uses a cavalcade of batteries to power the vehicle for as much as 100 miles of driving, or if you're more interested in speed than conservation, 1/4 mile of all-out hauling ass. The EV Datsun 1200 hits 0-60 in 1.8 seconds and finishes a 1/4 mile run at a very very respectable 10.4 seconds. Not even the monster that is Godzilla can top this thing. The stats are impressive, but it's even more fun to watch. If you don't get a sick laugh watching a '72 Datsun 1200 run a 10 second 1/4 mile, you probably don't have a car-loving soul.
2012 GT-R Spy Video
A fantastic video recently hit the web showing the 2012 GT-R models spied on the Nurburgring. In the video you can see both the 2012 Base model with its gorgeous new wheels and other modifications, as well as a few glimpses of what is currently titled the GT-R SpecM. The SpecM, which will probably have a different nomenclature when it actually goes on sale, will be priced in a range between just a few hundred over the stock to being above the SpecV, depending upon which options are picked. The vehicle itself looks great, in both iterations seen here, and looks like the modifications may have helped it pick up a little more speed even. Video's definitely worth a watch, and at just over 6 minutes in length is by no means unnecessarily lengthy. For more info on updated aspects of the GT-R for 2012, also read my first spy article concerning it, posted on the 30th of June and viewable here.
2012 GT-R Spy Photos
Over the last week various spy photos have been coming out of the 2012 GT-R at the Nurburgring. The vehicle's modifications, while not too extreme, are great looking. It also seems that Nissan is actively testing and providing final tweaks to them to ensure they provide the 2012 GT-R with the best of both style and function. The new wheel style is my favorite aspect of it, as well. That's not to say that the new brake ducts, rear diffuser and other touches aren't good also, just that I really like the new wheel pattern and look. Here are all the images I've been able to find thus far, arranged below for you, click the thumbs for full HD images:
Nissan GT-R Class Action Lawsuit (and video of GT-R Outrunning a Police Officer)
Well, the public details on the first class-action lawsuit against Nissan for their GT-R Launch Control warranty voiding feature came out this week, and they're fairly interesting. I'm sure all of you know about the feature already, and how it could potentially blow up your valuable transmission, void your warranty, and cost you a ton of money. Well, Nissan's doing their best to save some face with all of this and handle to the best of their (Still financially sound) ability. Can't say I totally agree with it, but it's something at least. Larry over at AutomotiveAddicts wrote a pretty good write-up on the events of the lawsuit, so I'll repost that info here for you to digest:
"Just about every car enthusiast knows a little bit about the Nissan GT-R and the infamous ‘launch control feature’ that will void your warranty if it is used (to obtain the claimed 3.4second 0-60mph times). The fact of the matter is we can argue back and forth about how Nissan handled the situation. Mr. Torres’ recent class action lawsuit was settled last year and now the details have been made public with Nissan now taking certain actions.
In the settlement, Nissan denies all fault saying, “Nissan denies all the allegations in the lawsuit. More specifically, Nissan denies that there was a design or manufacturing defect, denies misrepresenting the performance capabilities of the 2009 GT-R, and denies that it refused to honor customer warranties for resulting damage without disclosure.”
Because of the settlement Nissan is now offering any 2009 Nissan GT-R owner a transmission software upgrade which we clarified some time ago when Nissan first said they would reprogram transmissions to lessen the likelihood of failure. Nissan will not deny warranty coverage for those who used their GT-R with the VDC (vehicle dynamic control – a form of traction control) off prior to receiving the notice from Nissan. Remember using the vehicle with VDC off in the ‘launch mode’ would void your warranty before? The kicker is, some owners who have grenaded trannys may still have to dish out some serious bucks or take it up in the courts like Torres did. To top off the whole situation, Nissan is pimp-slapping everyone by offering a $75 coupon for owners who sign the paperwork to get the transmission upgrade."
Side note: Here's a pretty fantastic video of a person using their GT-R to do what every GT-R owner dreams of doing: run away from the police. It's definitely helpful when said police are chasing you in a van. A cool video, with a bit of audio cut out to protect those involved, shows just how impressive the GT-R can be over a standard, every-day, vehicle (like a van) even when it's pushing itself to the limit. I guess if I had to run from the police, GT-R would be my first choice of vehicle to do with.
All of that being said, I do not recommend anyone out there ever do this as it's even more illegal and dangerous than it is cool. Which is impressive, as it is super cool.
2012 Nissan GT-R Getting a Little Boost
Apparently, Nissan just wasn't happy enough being the very best, and felt a little threatened by cars costing more than twice as much as it competing with it, so they decided to up the game just a little bit. Most likely based on the evolution of the Porsche 911 Turbo and the new Lexus LF-A (An almost $400k monster of a machine), Nissan has decided they want to up the ante and in 2012 are promising the Nissan GT-R will have performance figures of over 500HP and 450 lb-ft torque. These numbers, a decided increase over the current 485HP/435Lb-Ft Torque, when coupled with the already fantastic and surely, by then, improved upon other aspects of the Nissan GT-R, should give some idea of Nissan's continued importance on performance and competition. The Nissan GT-R is already one mean machine, and it's future looks bright to continue with that pedigree!
Nissan GT-R Heads up with Lexus LFA
Well, the GT-R had been the biggest beast from Japan, but it might not be anymore. Of course, the vehicle trying to take its place costs around $400,000, so the GT-R is way more bang for its buck. Also, considering the humongous price difference between the two vehicles, the GT-R much more than holds its own. This is only a 1/4 mile comparison too, and the GT-R performance and traction lead me to believe that on a road course or in different conditions it could probably teach the LFA a thing or two about who's boss. So, the LFA is impressive, but considering everything, I have to give the nod here to the GT-R. What do you think? Is the 1/10th of a second in the 1/4 mile really that impressive when considering price? Or is the GT-R still supreme king? I choose the latter.
Installed a new Exhaust, wanted to share!
Hey everybody. I recently had the benefit of saving up enough side cash to justify buying myself a new exhaust for my Nissan GT-R. I'd done some research, and thought about getting the Borla, as it seemed to be the best deal for the money and was very well reviewed everywhere I looked, but I decided to spend a little bit more and go with the TiTek titanium exhaust. While the Borla is well reviewed, I am very glad that I went with the TiTek exhaust, as this thing is AWESOME! Had a couple friends come over (they had recently done a new exhaust install on one of their Camaros) and we set to work putting on my new exhaust. It wasn't exactly easy, but wasn't difficult either. Took the three of us about 3 1/2 hours, and a 12-pack, and we had the thing installed.
I purchased the full TiTek Stage 1 exhaust with titanium resonated Mid-Pipe from the guys at www.southerncarparts.com, as they seemed to have the best prices I could find and were super helpful when talking to them over the phone (Here's a shout out to you guys! Thanks for the help!). Took a couple weeks to get out to me, which wasn't too terrible honestly as I'm a patient man. I was anticipating it those last couple days though, monitoring me tracking number regularly. My anticipation was well-founded. Got the exhaust on, and started it up, and my GT-R roared in a way it never had before. It wasn't throaty or gurgling like an American muscle car with a MagnaFlow on it either. It was mean and clean. The notes were crisp, the volume increase sharp as it worked through the RPM meter (sounding incredibly fierce every time I got up 5k RPMS and higher), and the immediate performance boosts were noticable on my read-outs (nice having a car that gives definitive feedback) as I was accelerating to 60 from a stop tenths of a second faster than I ever had before. I was also pulling new highs on the lateral G's coming out of sharp turns and stomping the gas. At idle it is loud, but never obnoxious, and I can still listen to music at a comfortable level inside the vehicle while driving, so I sacrifice none of the comforts which make the GT-R so great.
In short, I am very glad that I paid a little bit extra and went with the TiTek Stage 1 Aluminum exhaust (once again, this is not meant to be a knock on any other exhaust system for the GT-R as I've read positives on each and every one of them) and can not imagine any other system giving me more oomph or enjoyment. My R35 GT-R, which was already the nicest and meanest ride everywhere I go around my home town, has got a little more character and growl and became that much scarier to all other vehicles out there. Install was fairly easily done by a few guys with limited knowledge, which was a nice plus as I'm certain I couldn't have justified spending any more money to either the wife or myself, and was actually a lot of fun to do with interested friends. I'd give this exhaust an A+ all the way, if I was going to assign a letter-grade to it, and would highly recommend it to anyone out there looking to do a solid single upgrade to their Nissan GT-R. Also, if you're curious, be sure to check out the Southern Car Parts website, as those guys really helped me get this, and talked me through a couple issues and qualms I had before buying it. This was their personal recommendation, and they obviously know their stuff. A great buy for a great car and I couldn't possibly be happier. Time for me to take my GT-R out for a drive and enjoy the sound and the looks.
One last note that I forgot to mention, the tips on this exhaust look awesome as well. The flame touched titanium is a great visual touch and it really makes the rear of my GT-R look a lot meaner.
2011 GT-R Price and more
Nissan recently gave their 2011 Nissan GT-R Press release and here's a little bit of follow up information on that.
Apparently, the 2011 GT-R will have a base price of $84,060. They're only offering it in the Premium version, doing away with the base version all together, which seems like a pretty nice move. Pricing it at $84,060 also means that it is just around $1000 more expensive than its 2010 counterpart. Nissan also praises the new ride comfort which comes as result of improved rear bushes and a retuned suspension system.
Beyond this, the 2011 Nissan GT-R has improved cooling systems, which is always nice in any vehicle. The center caps on the wheels have a slightly darker tone to them, and the front and rear fascias are now being double-coated for durability and appearance.
A few other new touches are:
- Higher quality headlights with an automatic On/Off function
- Speed sensitive windshield wipers
- iPod interface
- Bluetooth technology for streaming audio and DVD playback functionality
- An upgraded Nav system that uses NavWeather and XM Nav Traffic
All of these features seem like pretty solid upgrades and come out to be worth the extra $1000 on the price tag, so far as I'm concerned. Will be interesting to see and feel the new features in person once the 2011 GT-R hits dealer lots.
Steering Lock Solution On the Way
Well, after giving the steering column lock issue some press last week (and, admittedly, being one of just many many outlets to do so a of late) it seems that both Nissan Japan and Nissan North America are stepping up to offer a solution. Voluntarily reaching out to owners of early 2009 model GT-Rs, Nissan appears to be ready to make right on their mistake with the column lock issues. Following an official voluntary service campaign by Nissan Japan, it seems that Nissan North America (NA) has followed suit. NA will be sending out letters to all early model 2009 GT-Rs which may potentially be affected and offering up free services to correct the problem and/or prevent it from ever happening. If you're not a first owner of a GT-R, I would take your Godzilla up to your local Nissan dealer and see if you are one of the matching vehicles which may be affected. It couldn't hurt, could it? Get this problem fixed, ASAP, all of you GT-R owners so you don't get stuck anywhere, or have to do some silly column release maneuver like in the video I embedded in the last post relating to this issue.
Also, Nissan, I owe you an apology. I've believed since first getting behind the wheel of a GT-R that it was a perfect vehicle, but in the last post directed towards this issue stated that maybe, just maybe, it wasn't flawless. You've come out now to correct this issue before it ever became a real problem, and for that I commend you. Keep your flagship and flawless vehicle just that, and show the rest of the automotive world how customer service and standing by your product are properly done. Bravo!
Some Nissan GT-Rs having issues starting
Just thought we'd alert you after catching wind of this problem, which has been reported now by a lot of Nissan GT-R drivers out there. We already had some inclination of the steering column lock which was occurring in GT-Rs around the world, but it seems to be occurring with more frequency now. Based on this, I wanted to bring some information about to you, the GT-R driver.
Apparently, this happens as a result of the steering fluid losing compression after the column locks, most likely as result of a faulty transmitter or other part within the column lock system. A lot of people have reported being able to jar the column loose and be able to start their car, but some have said none of the home solutions have worked at all. Nissan really needs to figure this out and repair it ASAP, as it is leaving some GT-Rs completely stranded in garages (and at times much worse places, such as parked on city streets and in busy lots). If you find yourself in one of these positions, some people have reported being able to free it and start the car by doing the following things:
Applying extra force left and then right on the wheel, hopefully pushing past a locking mechanism and increasing steering fluid compression. Once in this pressurized state, pressing the start button.
Releasing the tilt control on the wheel and using the up/down motion of that to see if the steering column will not unlock itself in another position.
Replacing the battery (sometimes this issue is result of low battery voltage to the electronic systems, apparently).
Of course, it would be preferable that none of these things were ever necessary. My recommendation to you would be to do whatever necessary to free the steering column if this leaves you stranded in a public place, as that is by no means an ideal place to leave your GT-R for an extended amount of time, and drive it either A) directly to a Nissan dealership or B) Straight home. If you take it to a dealership, report the problem immediately and have it inspected. This seems to be happening with more regular frequency, so I would be surprised if a registered Nissan GT-R mechanic had no idea how to handle the situation. If you take it home, call it a registered Nissan GT-R mechanic and have them make a house call. Hopefully, this information is just a helpful warning for you and never becomes necessary. Also, hopefully, Nissan will register a recall or a repair for the Nissan GT-R soon and stop this problem from happening any more, as it is the first stain on Godzilla's permanent record thus far. Eliminate it before it becomes a real problem Nissan, and let there be no detraction available for the Nissan GT-R.
I guess nothing can be perfect though, and in the grand scheme of things, this problem is not so bad when compared to the others some other car owners are facing (the biggest of these being the fact that they're driving anything other than a GT-R... those poor souls).