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.
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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.
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).
Nissan GT-R In North America World Challenge Race Series
Hopefully, this news means more dominance for the Nissan GT-R. The relatively new race group, Brass Monkeys, are teaming up with Nissan North American to bring the GT-R to the World Challenge Race Series this year to compete with Porsches, Corvettes, Vipers, and every other top end performance car under the sun. The Brass Monkey team, who won their first race competing in a Porsche GT3 and finished 3rd overall in the World Challenge Series last year, will be entering the series this year with two GT-Rs. The first will be driven by the veteran racer and two-time series winner Tony Rivera, the second by the wet behind the ears rookie Steve Ott. Here's to hoping the two have a great year with the great car! I can't imagine anyone racing a Nissan GT-R would have too much trouble doing well.
Official announcement below, from autoguide.com:
Brass Monkey Racing has announced plans to campaign a pair of Nissan GT-R cars in the 2010 World Challenge GT Championship with the support of Nissan North America, Inc.
The announcement signals a renewed interest for Nissan, which last participated in World Challenge with a Touring Car effort in 2005. The twin-turbo, all-wheel-drive Nissan GT-R racecars are currently under construction at Brass Monkey Racing’s Texas-based race shop and will make their North American debut March 26-28, in St. Petersburg, Fla., at the hands of two-time series race winner Tony Rivera, of Missouri City, Texas, and rookie Steve Ott, of Houston.
“We’re very excited to bring such an iconic car to the North American professional road racing scene,” Brass Monkey Racing Team Owner A.J. Brass said. “After such a successful season in 2009, finishing third in the Championship and winning in our very first race, we look forward to the challenge of bringing an entirely new platform to World Challenge. With Nissan’s assistance and great engineering and driving, we expect to contend for the 2010 Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ Championships.”
“Nissan is very excited about the new Brass Monkey project,” Nissan North America Senior Manager – Motorsports, Wholesale and Collision Parts Growth Ron Stukenberg said. “This series aligns well with the performance of the GT-R and compliments the production attributes of the car. It’s great to have a Nissan compete in World Challenge after a brief hiatus. We look forward to having Tony and Steve at the front of the field in 2010.”
Brass noted that despite a compressed timeline to finish the new cars, they benefit from an already solid platform with the GT-R.
“Many of the cars in the series have serious modifications to the engines and drivelines from the stock vehicles,” Brass said. “The beauty of the GT-R is that it is an amazing platform to start with and we are able to utilize all of the stock internal components and drivetrain. With the exception of some of the approved series aerodynamic items and an effort to bring the car down to a competitive weight, the car will remain incredibly stock compared to most of our competition.”
Brass Monkey Racing was formed in 2009 with the support of Tax Masters. Its rookie season was a tremendous success, with Rivera, a relative unknown in professional racing, winning in the team’s very first attempt at Sebring in the team’s Porsche 911 GT3. He went on to win at Road America later in the season, finishing third in the Championship standings.
“I couldn’t be more excited about the 2010 season,” Rivera said. “I anticipate the Brass Monkey Nissans will become the most popular cars in the paddock because there is such an unbelievable following worldwide for the GT-R. My first racecar was a Showroom Stock B Nissan NX 2000, so it’s cool to be back in a Nissan – even though this one will be quite a bit different!”
Ott previously raced with Rivera with Brass Mitchell Racing, which later evolved into Brass Monkey Racing, in the 2008 Koni Challenge. Like Rivera, his roots are in SCCA Club Racing, where he finished on the podium at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs. Running a partial season in the 2006 Champ Car Atlantic Championship, he scored good results with Newman Wachs Racing.
“I’ve always wanted to run World Challenge because of the single-driver format and amazing cars,” Ott said. “To have an opportunity to be a part of the Brass Monkey Nissan team is incredible and I can’t wait to begin testing for St. Petersburg.”
Brass Monkey Racing and its Nissan GT-R World Challenge effort will have support from Nissan, Tax Masters, Stoptech, Penske ShocksSouth Side Performance and Seibon Carbon. For more information about Brass Monkey Racing, please visit www.brassmonkey.com.
My Money's on the World Performance Car of the Year to also be the World Challenge Series Car of the Year
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.