Two of the most f’ing quick vehicles in the world have been put face to face in a no holds barred competition. In one corner we have the factory tuned U.K. special, the Mitsubishi Evo X FQ400 and in the other, the Nissan GT-R. The Mitsubishi can srint from 0 to 60 MPH in just 3.8 seconds thanks to the modified 4B11’s 403 HP and 387 lb-ft of torque; while the GT-R has the benefit of an additional turbocharger and two extra plasma lined cylinders that make 473 HP and 433 lb-ft of thrust. So who ended up on top? Sorry, you’ll just have to watch the video to find out!
What would you think about pitting a 1001 HP super car against a 473 HP budget speed machine? Doesn’t sound to fair does it? Well, the guys from EVO Magazine put the Bugatti Veyron and the Nissan GT-R in a head to head competition to figure out if more is always better. It should come as no surprise that the Veyron won the drag race, however not everything went the way of the Italian exotic once the roads got twisty.
When the Japanese automaker Nissan announced that they had broken their previous lap record at the ’Ring, the German sports carmaker Porsche wasn’t very happy about it and demanded proof. So here it is the run made on April 23rd earlier this year. What’s interesting is that Nissan’s test driver, Toshio Suzuki, barely needs to use the GT-R’s top gear. It looks like the Nissan engineers sized Godzilla’s fifth cog to make the super car run right under redline and in the VR38DETT’s sweet spot around the Nordschleif circuit.
In the realm of tuning the Toyota Supra like the Holy Grail: it is powerful, it is desired and it is respected. There is also a saying that when tuners were ready to grow up and get something serious, they would trade in their Toyotas for the keys to a Skyline GT-R. When the Japanese automaker decided to follow up their beloved Godzilla with the Nissan GT-R, they gave the tuning world another canvas to paint on.
One of the Japanese tuners that is taking advantage of the opportunity is Abflung, a company well know for their limited production body kits. Unlike most rice inspired creations, Abflung creates works of art in motion. Their take on the Nissan super car leaves much of the aerodynamically tuned body alone, instead focusing more on bringing the car closer to the ground with a set of carbon fiber side skirts. There is also a more aggressive front lip spoiler made from the baked black stuff. A subtle inclusion by the Japanese tuning house are a set of driving lights on either side of the front grill, this is a trend that has become more and more popular with big name European tuners like Brabus.
Out back, Abflung has fitted a taller carbon spoiler on top of the trunk and a well ventilated diffuser underneath. Finishing off this particularly beautiful white GT-R is a set of large Enkei GT series rims. Check out the link below to see other products from the Japanese tuning house, Abflung.
According to the Japanese automaker, “the GT-R is Nissan’s first supercar category vehicle.” Being so, the VR38DETT powered beast is “special, it has special needs and requires special skills. This is sounding more like a girlfriend than Godzilla.
In an attempt to keep out aftermarket tuners from pushing Godzilla so far that he might explode, Nissan has made a few additions to their rulebook. The Japanese automaker doesn’t want companies like Greddy, HKS or even COBB Tuning from cracking their ECUs. But the most blasphemous of all is number three on the list of things that will void the warranty on your GT-R, racing.
It’s true that in Japan, if you go to an approved racetrack, your Nissan super car will unlock itself and perform to the best of its abilities. Sure you have to go to an approved Nissan dealership and have special post-race tuning done at a most likely ridiculous cost, but if you can afford a GT-R, you can afford the trip to the stealership.
So, for starter we ruined out shot at launch control and now Nissan doesn’t even trust us to go to a track day. About the modification part, I wonder if an automaker will ever embrace the aftermarket and make it warranty friendly?
When Nissan offered their Series II upgrade package for the 2009 GT-R they improved the handling and added a few aesthetic pieces, but they forgot to increase the power. That is because the Japanese automaker’s motor sport division, Nismo, is offering an upgrade of their own. The Nismo power package consists of new engine and transmission software that offers more low-end torque and a higher maximum boost for more top end. They also raised the top speed to 199 MPH.
However, unlike the upgrade being offered by Nissan, you have to rent the Nismo package. The first two years of factory tuned GT-R fun will cost you $3,090; after that the lease can be extended for another year for only $330 more.
Seeing as the initial investment is about 10 times the cost to maintain the package, the Nismo power upgrade is an investment that is well worth holding on to.
Need for Speed is at it again, they must have been reading Top Speed when we talked about them tantalizing Nissan enthusiasts with classic models both new and old. These most recent screen shots of the racing simulator, SHIFT, come courtesy of Speedhunters. If you liked seeing the Hakosuka GT-R in its red, white and blue race livery; feast your eyes on this: a clean silver on black example complete with fender flares in the rear.
One of the NFS team’s goals was to create realistic racing action, both outside the vehicles as well as in the cockpit, and they have done a fantastic job. Grabbing the virtual steering wheel with your video game hand will probably be as close as you will ever come to sitting behind the wheel of this Japanese classic.
Feeling a little down because your 2009 Nissan GT-R is no longer the new kid on the block, envious of the refined suspension and faster lap time of the new GT-R? Well Nissan has something that will cheer you up. Compared to the GT-R Series II, the original version is missing a few things, and the factory is now offering a parts package that allows you to catch up. At a cost ranging from $5,140 to $5,540; customers will have their GT-R upgraded with the front and rear Bilstein shocks, stiffer springs, an upgraded transverse link bushing, and new engine and transmission mounts; all parts that were refined by the Nissan engineers in order to lap the Nurburgring in a record 7 minutes and 27 seconds 56.
Aside from the suspension, GT-R owners will be able to upgrade the appearance of the exterior and the interior of their vehicles as well. Selecting parts from the Nissan GT-R SpecV parts bin include: the 20 inch forged aluminum Rays wheels, carbon fiber Recaro sport buckets and a lightweight titanium exhaust.
If the executives at Porsche became flustered when Nissan announced their previous GT-R Nurburgring record, they should now be ready to explode in frustration. Back in April Nissan set a single lap record around the 12.9 mile Green Hell of 7 minutes and 27 seconds in their GT-R equipped with a set of SpecV rims. This time Godzilla negotiated the 33 left and 40 right turns of the ‘Ring in only 7 minutes and 26 seconds.
Previous Nissan GT-Rs have recorded lap times of 7 minutes 27 seconds on April 15, 2009, 7 minutes 29 seconds in April, 2008 and 7 minutes 38 seconds back in September of 2007.
According to Kazutoshi Mizuno, Chief Vehicle Engineer and Chief Vehicle Specialist for the GT-R: "This record demonstrates our commitment to the continuous evolution of the Nissan GT-R. We would like to continue delivering the passion and pride of ownership to our customers by improving its performance every year."
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According to the Japanese automaker, “the 
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