Nissan has taken the covers off of their latest factory tuned GT-R, the Spec V, and unfortunately this model has been uncovered to be the slowest of the R-35s. Despite this, Nissan is still developing the GT-R in order to release an upgraded version that they are calling the Series II. This vehicle will receive an upgraded suspension; a retuned transmission, stickier rubber and a 5 HP increase. Toshio Suzuki, Nissan’s head test driver, told GT-R blog that the modifications made to the Series II should allow the vehicle to navigate the 33 left turns and 40 right turns that make up the Nürburgring in about 5 seconds less than the current model.
The Nürburgring’s Nordschleife circuit is a 12.9 mile loop in western Germany that has been used since 1927 to test man and machine. Since 1983 automobile manufacturers and the media alike have been recording lap times on the circuit’s current configuration. The lap times are a benchmark for a vehicle’s performance, and are used to evaluate and compare the fastest vehicles in the world.
The GT-R has some history with the Green Hell. The R-33 Skyline GT-R was the first production car to lap the Ring in less than 8 minutes. More recently the Japanese car maker has had some words with the Porsche camp concerning lap times. In every video of track tests of the preproduction GT-R there is a Porsche 911 Turbo following not far behind. The 997 Turbo was the benchmark that Nissan had set for the performance of their supercar.
When Nissan announced an initial lap time of 7 minutes 38 seconds the people at Porsche took notice. With some more tuning Nissan engineers were able to bring the time down to 7 minutes 29 seconds. When this happened Porsche purchased a GT-R and put it head to head against their products. Porsche did not use their normal driver former World Rally Champion Walter Rohrl, but instead a Nürburgring expert. They managed to run a lap time of 7:54 in the GT-R, a 7:38 in the 911 Turbo and a 7:34 in their 530 HP GT2. It was then that August Achleitner, product chief for the 911, called foul. He stated that the lap time is impossible from the stock GT-R on stock tires. Nissan retaliated by posting the video of their 7:29 run on the internet and offered Porsche an opportunity to attend driving school.
The Series II GT-R would hypothetically bring the lap time down to 7 minutes and 24 seconds. Ahead of the Ferrari Enzo, right between a Pagani Zonda and Maserati MC12 supercars.
BMW announced the US pricing on the 2009 7-Series that made its world debut at the Paris Auto Show. The base price for the 750i is $81,125 and the 750Li is $85,025 (including $825 for destination and handling). Both models began production in November and will arrive at BMW Centers in the spring.
On the other hand, BMW announced that starting January 1st, 2009 all the price for all the models sold in USA will be increased by 0.7 percent.
The new BMW 7 Series is entering the market with a V8 and a straight-six gasoline engine both featuring Twin Turbo technology and direct fuel injection (High Precision Injection). The eight-cylinder developing maximum output of 407 hp between 5,500 and 6,400 rpm in the BMW 750i, for example, is the most efficient engine in its performance class and the only engine of its kind worldwide with the turbochargers fitted in the V-space between the two rows of cylinders.
Fisker Automotive, Inc., a green American premium sports car company, today unveiled its first production car, the Fisker Karma, at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The first of its kind four-door plug-in hybrid premium sports sedan will have a starting price of $80,000. Initial deliveries of the Karma will commence in the 4th quarter of 2009 with annual production projected to reach 15,000 cars. The first 99 cars off the assembly line will be individually numbered and signed by Henrik Fisker and will be produced in the color and trim of the show car seen at NAIAS
Full story
Following the huge success of the Range Rover Sport in the U.S. market, Land Rover North America is delighted to announce that a special version known as the LE will go on sale immediately.
Full story
The National Viper Club of America has announced that the 2008 Viper STR10 is now available on dealers. The base MSRP is $83,145 for the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 Roadster and $83,895 for the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe
Full story
Audi today announced the U.S. MSRP for the 2008 RS4 Convertible. The pricing is set at $81.900, price that does not include the $775 destination charge.
Full story
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is now available with 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive. Developed entirely in-house by Mercedes-Benz, this all-new drive system combines perfect traction, first-class comfort and impressive driving dynamics with good fuel economy. Two powerful eight-cylinder models are available in the form of the S 500 4MATIC and S 450 4MATIC while the S 320 CDI 4MATIC is the first S-Class all-wheel-drive variant to be equipped with a particularly economical V6 diesel engine. The new models with all-wheel drive are identified clearly by the 4MATIC legend which appears both on the boot lid and on the wooden trim element on the centre console.
Full story
At the 2006 Los Angeles International Auto Show, Lotus Cars USA, the subsidiary of Lotus Cars in North America, unveiled the MY2007 Lotus Sport Exige Cup. The 252 bhp, supercharged and intercooled sportscar is a completely out-of-the-box track car with a specification designed to prepare the budding driver for the grid at some of the finest and most challenging circuits in North America.
Full story
Voted 2006’s Best Luxury Car by respected motoring magazine What Car?, the new S-Class combines state-of-the-art technology with effortless performance and peerless refinement: “When Mercedes-Benz launches a new S-Class the rest of the world gasps in amazement;” explained David Motton, Editor of What Car? magazine.
Full story
Porsche Targa 4 and 4S will make its official North American debut at Los Angeles Auto Show, next week, but before being official it is allready on sale at the USA Porsche dealers.
The 911 Targa it is available only with permanent all-wheel drive and a rear body profile that is 44 millimeters (1.73 in.) wider than the standard 911 Carrera.
The Porsche Targa 4 it is powered by a flat-Six Boxer engine, delivering 325 horsepower from 3.6 liters. A true sports car, the 911 Targa 4 will (...) > Full story
