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.

The Akrapovic Evo exhaust for the Nissan GT-R is a rarity in the fact that it delivers incredible benefits in all 4 departments there, that no other exhaust can really equal.

Weight

The GT-R is a heavy car, we know this. This is, in fact, about the only real knock on the vehicle that exists. It's heavy, alright, we get that, how do we get past that? A great place to shed some weight is in the exhaust. The stock exhaust weighs over 65 pounds, and by switching to a full titanium exhaust system (Like the Akrapovic EVO) you're able to shed more than half of that weight. The EVO weighs 38.5 pounds less than the stock exhaust, and comes in at right around 30 pounds on its own as a complete system. That's a lot of weight to save, especially when you consider the HP and Torque boosts that the system provides.

Performance

So, you're saving weight and adding HP, what does this mean for the vehicle's performance? Well, for one, it means the car will be a lot quicker. The Akrapovic exhaust offers a published 17 extra HP (even though independent dyno numbers are posted in forums a lot that show as much as 31HP extra). If you assume that you'll get exactly the published bonuses, that means your vehicle will lose 38.5 pounds and gain 17 HP, which takes its HP/LB ratio from the stock 1HP for each 7.2 LBS to a much more impressive 1HP/7.8LBs. That's a half a pound per HP that's shaved by switching to an Akrapovic exhaust.

Couple those HP numbers with the Torque bonuses that the Akrapovic provides, and you'll see something even more impressive. Akrapovic published Torque numbers of 41 lbs/ft, and those numbers tend to fall right in line with independt dynos on various forum posts (I've seen 37-45 lbs/ft torque posted). When comparing that to the vehicle's weight, you'll see another impressive picture. The stock 2010 GT-R provides 434 lbs/ft, for a Torque:Weight ratio of 1:8.75. When you add in the extra Torque of the Akrapovic exhaust, and remove the extra weight, that ratio changes to 1:8. That changes your ratio by a full 3/4 of a pound, and should really help provide a lot more pick-up and go performance, which is amazing when you consider how much get up and go the GT-R already has.

Sound

Nobody ever complains about the way the GT-R sounds, do they? The vehicle is an absolute beast, with a powerful exhaust note that tears apart the road beneath it. But what if you could make your GT-R sound even meaner? The Akrapovic exhaust does just that. With a louder exhaust volume, and an exhaust tone that sounds like it belongs on a Formula 1 racing ring (or the Nurburgring, if you want to get specific). The Akrapovic takes the steady exhaust crescendo of the GT-R and really opens it up. Of course, it's hard to describe an exhaust tone, so I'll just post some Akrapovic videos and let you hear this one for yourself.

Appearance

I know, I know, an exhaust doesn't change the overall appearance of a vehicle that much when it's driven... usually. The Akrapovic EVO Exhaust for the Nissan GT-R does a magnificent job of improving that appearance, though, as it comes outfitted with large, quad tips in your choice of either titanium or carbon fiber. The tips are all double-rolled edges, and give a fantastic aftermarket appearance to your GT-R that's equal parts subtle and style. The large, well-finished, and attractive tips really draw the eye to the back-end of the GT-R in the same way that the exhaust's tone will draw the ear, making them a perfect compliment for the rest of the vehicle.They really achieve this look, also, by acting as a near-mirror image to the GT-R's taillights and giving the rear of the car a powerful visual motif.

I don't know if you've ever heard of Akrapovic Exhausts. Before Saturday, I myself had not. They're a Slovenian exhaust company who make high-end, all-titanium, incredible exhaust systems for the greatest race cars on earth. This list is, of course, topped by the Nissan GT-R. Well, I was at a show with my Nissan GT-R when a local driver came by with his Godzilla, and I was immediately amazed by the noise. My GT-R is outfitted with a Mine's exhaust, and I thought I was pretty cool for that. I love the way it sounds and I love the way it looks, but this Akrapovic GTR EVO Exhaust was something above and beyond. The tips, crafted from both titanium and dry-carbon fiber, is absolutely gorgeous looking. The sound of the exhaust is fantastic as well. The loud tone and gorgeous, full, rich quality of it reminded me, immediately, of listening to the vehicles at an F-1 Race drive by. It is aggressive, but incredibly clean.  After a bit of conversation, and awe on my part, I was invited back to my new friend's garage (where he has his own lift) to get under the car and check the system out. It is clean, smooth, and still: beautiful. The welds are all flawless, and the quality is unmistakable.

Akrapovic GTR Exhaust

Some more conversation passed, and we decided the next day we would go for a drive together. Out on the road, in full bore on a drive by, the tone is even more impressive. It's not super loud, I wouldn't say that, but it's super aggressive. I then got inside of his GT-R and rode around for a bit: silence. With the windows up, there was no noticeable cabin drone. We then rolled down the windows and enjoyed the tone itself. This was all I needed to know.

That evening, I went home, and went online to see what sort of damage an exhaust of this caliber would run me. It's hard to find. Very very hard to find. Some research showed that they seem to be an exclusive company and only allow very specific vendors the rights to sell their products. Then I came across one, (and one I've mentioned before, months back) who apparently had the rights to carry the Akrapovic line: Southern Car Parts. The guys there are great, and I spoke with David yesterday, who helped me immensely. After reading some more about the system, I was amazed by how light-weight it is. The exhaust saves over 17kg beyond the stock. My Mine's titanium saves about 12, which is already a big difference. The price isn't nearly as ridiculous as I had imagined for a system of this quality either. SCP has it listed at $6460, which seems to be exactly what all other companies sell it at. So, if you're in the market for a new exhaust, I would highly highly recommend this one for you. I have not been nearly this impressed on first listen to an exhaust in a long long time, and think it's totally worth a look. Once again, that's Akrapovic, and whoever these guys are, their quality is unbeatable!

Akrapovic GTR Exhaust

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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.

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!

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).

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

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Source:AutoGuide