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."
The American tuning company Vivid Racing has been hard at work for the past four months developing the ultimate Nissan GT-R. Their goal was to create a car that would not only turn heads, but also freeze people in their tracks. This GT-R is a showcase for their performance, handling and aero abilities, a car that not only terrorizes drag strips but is competitive on the circuit as well.
Remember the GT-R spied the other weeks testing at Nurburgring? It was a prototype of a 2011 model. But why did Nissan wanted a new model when it has just launched the 2010MY? The answer is simple: they need more power. And if the 2010 model brings an extra 5 hp. well the 2011 one will go up to 500 hp!
Besides that the 2011 Nissan GT-R will add new aero bits and a redesigned front bumper. Under the hood there will be a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine.
The Japanese tuning house Mine’s have been hard at work developing parts for all versions of the R35 Nissan GT-R, SpecV and traditional. They have already unlocked and remapped Nissan’s uncrackable ECU and are currently developing a Super Big Throttle Body to work with their VX-ROM. The tuners have also created a number of dry carbon fiber products and are working on a VR38DETT Super Complete Engine.
Answering the age old question about the benefits of affordable speed, the gang at AutoCar took the opportunity to look at two different versions of cheep speed. The Focus RS running with Subaru STi’s and rally bred EVO’s, while the $80,000 Nissan GT-R makes supercars twice as expensive seem like a joke. So which is a better bargain? Check out the video to find out!
Imagine an endurance race that lasts for over a week and covers more than 3000 miles. In the spirit of the original Cannonball Run and more recent Gumball Rally America’s largest rubber donut distributor will be sponsoring the 2009 Tire Rack One Lap of America. When it all begins today, May 1st, Derek Whitis’ Freedom Autosport team with veteran Grand Am Rolex driver Tom Long behind the wheel, will be competing in a heavily modified Nissan R35 GT-R.
The Japanese supercar has been tuned by Tym Switzer’s Ohio-based tuning house, Switzer Performance, to deliver more than 700 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque. The power comes thanks to Switzer’s P800 performance package, the next step up from their P700 power package. The race begins at the Tire Rack factory in South Bend, Indiana and wraps up 8 days and 3200 mile later, back where it all began.
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