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2012 Nissan R1KX GT-R "Red Katana" by SwitzerGodzilla is running loose again and its "Dr. Frankenstein" is at it again. The Japanese Nissan GT-R is already considered as one of the most menacing beasts on the streets, but when you add the aftermarket know-how of Switzer, then special things happen. And we mean special. One of the GT-Rs that has gone the way of Switzer’s magical tuning process is this monster called the "Red Katana," a model based on the first R1KX model Switzer GTRs to hit the drag strip. The fully-customized GT-R has been equipped with a twin-bill of bone-rattling performance and a plush exterior and interior set-up with the latter including high-quality carbon fiber and Alcantara. In addition, the car also features a high-end audio system that will shake the roads. The real highlight is the Switzer’s R1KX engine set-up that takes the mighty Red Katana’s performance capabilities into the realm of the unfathomable. Yep, all 1,500 horsepower’s worth of it. In case you need any more convincing, this red rocket recently hit Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio last weekend and blazed the strip with a quarter-mile time of just 8.97 seconds at a speed of over 163 miles per hour. Car and Athlete: Andrew Bynum may no longer be a Laker, but he’s still a bonafide car nut 
Philadelphia 76ers center Andrew Bynum - yeah, he’s not a Los Angeles Laker anymore - is a pretty tall dude at 7’0", but even with all that length, not to mention the bulk of being close to 300 lbs, the 24-year old certainly has a pretty strong affinity for top-of-the-line supercars. As we previously showed in the last installment of Car and Athlete, athletes with this kind of financial security have become more adept at splurging their dollars on something as insatiably satisfying as a limited edition model. Andrew Bynum fits into this mold because the man is more than just a highly-paid basketball player; he’s got the garage to back it up too. So have you ever wondered what kind of cars Bynum has in his garage? True to his reputation as one of the most popular auto enthusiasts in the world, Bynum’s list of cars run long and impressive. Find out what kind of cars Andrew Bynum has tried to fit his seven-foot frame into after the jump. Full story Report: Loads of Performance Nissans are Coming Soon Recently, Auto Express had a sit-down with Andy Palmer, Nissan’s executive vice president of product planning, and he let us all in on what’s coming up for the Nissan lineup. In the interview, Palmer confirmed that the Nismo Leaf would make it to production with numbers expected to be in the 125-horsepower and 320 Nm (236 foot-pound) range. That’s nothing spectacular, but it is a significant bump from the standard specs. Palmer also confirmed that the 370Z Nismo would make its way to the UK, which we already get here in the U.S. He also let us know that the GT-R would receive the Nismo treatment sometime in late-2013. The biggest news comes in the form of the announced Nismo RS models. We already know that the Juke-R is heading to production, but it will almost certainly carry with it a $100,000+ price tag. Buyers can opt for a lower—powered Juke Nismo RS and still get good performance, without the huge price tag. This model will likely push 270 horsepower from its boosted 1.6-liter 4-pot. The biggest of the big news is Palmer’s announcement that the 370Z and GT-R will both get an RS configuration in their next generations. We have no idea what to expect from these models and we likely won’t know until their respective base models arrive in 2014. The 370Z has a very high ceiling, as little has been done to make it perform on a higher level, but how exactly Nissan plans to add to the 545 horsepower that the GT-R already pumps from its 3.8-liter V-6 engine just baffles and excites us. We will keep a close eye on the entire Nissan RS lineup and keep you updated as these models inch closer to production.
2012 Nissan GTR P600 PKG by Switzer
Switzer Performance has unveiled quite a few tuning packages for the Nissan GT-R, and it seems they won’t be slowing down anytime soon now that Nissan has inadvertently announced another generation for the sports car. Their latest package is called the P600 GTR PKG and delivers an astounding 600 HP, up from the standard 545 HP. In order to obtain this amazing power increase, the tuner has added Switzer-specific high-flow filters, Switzer’s own high-performance ECU software, and the free-flowing SS90 exhaust that not only helps increase power, but also improves the 3.8L twin-turbo V6 engine’s sound. This allows the P600 GTR to get from 0-60 mph in just 2.6 seconds (one second faster than the standard model) and make it from 60-130 mph 2.5 seconds quicker than the stock car. Switzer’s main focus was the power increase, so no major aesthetic changes were made to the vehicle. The only change they made was the addition of a new set of new Switzer Signature series lightweight forged aluminum wheels with Michelin Pilot Supersports tires. The absence of exterior and interior modifications doesn’t affect the price, however. The P600 PKG by Switzer will set Nissan GTR owners back $12,990. Nissan confirms new generation GT-RAbout two weeks ago, rumors arose that Nissan would be offering just one generation for the GT-R, with no plans for a new model. However, today, the company has revealed a video that proves the contrary. When talking about the race version of the GT-R, Chief GT-R engineer Kazutoshi Mizuno stated: "After the debut in 2007, this vehicle has been evolving year after year. By changing it to a racing specification to be implemented in the future, no matter what kind of super high performance feature or a new version is developed in the next five years, the durability and reliability in varying conditions can be verified in this race. I would like to make a promise that all this will be reflected in future GT-R." That just proves that the newest rumors about the Nissan GTR aren’t something to toss out like yesterday’s garbage. Check out the video to see for yourself. Of course, in the process, you will also get a ton of information surrounding history of the GTR since its launch in 2007. Report: Nissan GT-R May be a One-Generation-and-Done Model Since its release in 2009, the R35 Nissan GT-R has been a relative success, given its niche and $90,000 price tag, as it has sold a total of 5,914 models in the U.S. For a while, it seemed as if the R36 GT-R, the replacement for the R35, was a near certainty to be produced. Well, we are getting mighty close to the fourth production year for the R35 and the fifth year is the typical redesign year for any model and according to reports, the R36 GT-R has yet to receive the green light. Nissan has been pretty preoccupied lately with its development of electric and hybrid models, so we are not too surprised to see the R36 take a back seat. Add in the fact that sales have fallen to just 583 units, as of late July, and we are living with the possibility of Nissan axing the U.S. model altogether. At its current pace, the GT-R is only going to sell just over 1,100 GT-Rs this year, which is its lowest total since 2010 and over 600 units fewer than its debut year. Nissan may also be worried about the CAFE changes in upcoming years and might be looking for a way to get a few more mpg from its sole sports car. A big possibility is the use of a hybrid drivetrain mated with a 4-cylinder engine to keep its horsepower near the 550 mark, but increase its overall mpg. With the near-$100K price point of the 2013 GT-R, it shouldn’t be too hard to fit a hybrid system somewhere near that price. This could explain the lack of approval, as Nissan would need a little extra time to develop a drivetrain suitable to replace the current twin-boosted 6-pot. We’ll keep you updated on how things are progressing with the potential R36 GT-R just as soon as there is some information released. Video: 1100 HP Nissan GT-R vs. 950 HP Porsche 911 TurboThe war between the Nissan GT-R and the Porsche 911 Turbo continues, even in their tuned-up or turbocharged versions. In this video, you will see a Nissan GT-R AMS Alpha 12 put up against a Porsche 911 Turbo Proto R911. The GT-R Alpha delivers a total of 1100 HP and the 911 Turbo R911 a total of 950 HP. So, who do you think will win this drag race? Judging by the horsepower, some may say it would be the GT-R, but does more power necessarily mean a car is faster? The race takes place on a full mile drag strip and at the beginning, it looks like the Porsche Turbo has an advantage despite its 950 HP. However, the extra 150 HP may help the GT-R recover the little disadvantage. Check out the video to see who was the victor in this race!
Video: Nissan GT-R Track Pack at GoodwoodYoutube user Shmee150 has been presented at the Goodwood Festival of Speed where he shot a pretty cool video of the Nissan GT-R Track pack. Answering customer demand, the new GT-R Track Pack is even more hardcore than the standard GT-R. The car is about 33 lbs lighter and will be distinguished by lightweight six-spoke RAYS alloy wheels with gloss black painted centers and additional cooling ducts built into the front bumper. The new Track pack version has received new brake system and a new suspension system revised to be optimal for track use, while adjustable dampers offer more comfort when the car is being used on the road. Enjoy the video and do not forget to turn up your volume to enjoy the amazing engine sound of this GT-R Track Pack.
2013 Nissan GT-R Ultimate Street Edition by Switzer
A lot of people can become too solely infatuated with a car that produces 1,000 horsepower. But through all of this, it’s also important to understand that if a car packs that much power under its hood, certain compromises have to be made to ensure that it can deliver the kind of power it’s been given. That’s why it’s no surprise that a lot of these 1,000-horsepower super cars are best left to be ridden on a race track than on an actual road. Noted Nissan GT-R tuner Switzer Performance already has one of these models in its GT-R line-up - the R1K package - but now, the Oberlin, Ohio-based company has prepared a new program for Godzilla that comes packed with 1,000 ponies. It is also capable of being used as an everyday car. That’s right, you can have your cake and eat it too. The vehicle is called the Ultimate Street Edition, and it’s without question, one of the meanest and road-friendly, 1,000-horsepower GT-R’s you can get. In order to achieve that output while retaining its road capabilities, Switzer fitted the GT-R with a plethora of modifications, none more so than to the Japanese sports car’s VR38DETT 3.8-liter V6 engine, which is now capable of producing 1,000 horsepower on premium pump-gas. To gain all that horsepower, Switzer went to work on fitting the GT-R with Switzer-specific pistons, pins, rings, connecting rods, and specially-ground camshafts. The tuning firm also reprogrammed the ECU and added a stainless-steel performance exhaust, front mounted intercoolers, an upgraded cooling package, and a pair of liquid-cooled turbochargers that come with billet compressor wheels. ’Nano carbon’ brake pads are also being offered, as are Switzer’s lowering springs, a modified version of the car’s launch control set-up and, last but not least, a new set of lightweight alloy wheels. "For people who want a 1000+ horsepower car that they can drive comfortably every day, to the track or the office or the grocery store, on the highway or in bumper-to-bumper traffic, we’ve built this car," says Tym Switzer, owner and founder of Switzer. UPDATE 09/11/12: DRIVE’s Matt Farah knows a thing or two fast cars so when he was given an opportunity to get behind the wheel of Switzer’s Nissan GT-R Ultimate Street Edition, he wasted little time jumping at the opportunity. Check out what Farah has to say about the 1,000-horsepower Godzilla after the jump! Full story 2013 Nissan GT-R by Vivid Racing
Sometimes, it’s easy to get caught up with all the tuning programs being done on the 2013 Nissan GT-R. But other times, the hype is certainly warranted because you end up with an undoubted gem. US tuner Vivid Racing managed to build an aftermarket GT-R program that fits that bill. The aesthetic and aerodynamic modifications weren’t that extensive and are limited to a new Super Silver paint finish, a new set of 21" tinted brushed MHT Niche SPA 3-piece super concave wheels, and a KW Variant 3 Coil Spring Kit that gives the GT-R better handling and maneuverability. Where Vivid Racing nailed it is in the performance upgrade. Already sporting 542 horsepower under its hood, the US tuner worked on reprogramming Godzilla’s ECU unit while also adding a new Agency Power Titanium exhaust system and a specially customized titanium cutback. The result is a GT-R that produces as much as 605 horsepower, which if you’re not too sure about numbers, is right around the vicinity of some of the finest European exotics you can buy. It’s also 63 HP more than the standard 542 HP pushed out of the twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 engine.
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