You might think a video comparing a 2013 Nissan GT-R Black Edition with a 997 Porsche 911 Turbo S would be pretty entertaining. Especially when you consider the test involves some stunning mountain roads before a balls out drag race on an empty airfield.
Well, we’re not so sure. Take a look at Jonny Lieberman’s work from Motor Trend and let us know what you think.
[Thanks to Tim for the tip]
A little while back you may have heard the news that Nissan will be coming back to top level touring car racing in Australia next year. But they don’t really have a V8 sedan, so what car would they enter?
We can tell you they will be using a Nissan Altima and Speedcafe.com has produced this artist’s rendering of the Kelly Racing Nissan Altima V8 Supercar. You can download it for yourself, if you like.
The latest fifth-generation Altima was only revealed a few days ago, at the New York Auto Show. It’s a front-wheel drive model, powered by a 2.5 litre four-cylinder or a 3.5 litre V6.
Let’s repeat that: a front-wheel drive model powered by a 2.5 litre four-cylinder or a 3.5 litre V6.
But, under the new V8 Supercar “Car of the Future” regulations the Nissan Altima is eligible for entry into the series when the category commences its new world order next year. All of a sudden the Altima will become a rear-wheel drive, V8 powered racing taxi. (Actually, that last bit is true, too, thanks to a deal that will see the new Altima introduced to the NYC taxi fleet.)
That’s right, thanks to the introduction of a control chassis and a control engine all that will differentiate one V8 Supercar from another will be its outer skin and bagdes; which, you’ll be pleased to know, are real. Yep, the badges will be about the only real things on the bloody car.
What a con!
Fifth Gear luminary Tiff Needell moonlights for Evo in his latest track comparison. His weapons of choice are the MY12 Nissan GT-R and the 991 Porsche 911 Carrera S. Nissan v Porsche, it’s the Ford v Holden of the supercar world.
In many respects it’s an astonishing question to ask, but can the 394bhp normally aspirated Carrera S ever be a match for increasingly extraordinary 542bhp GT-R? For example, the GT-R annihilates the 911 in standing start acceleration.
Which one do you want and do you think the results of this video could change your opinion?
This is the Nissan Juke-R. If you’ve not been playing at home, Nissan has taken its, frankly quite ugly, Juke crossover, ripped the guts out and stuffed in a GT-R drivetrain. The twin-turbo V6 has been pegged back a bit to around 480hp (the latest GT-R now has 540hp) but that doesn’t seem to have negatively affected the driving experience.
After the break you watch Autocar scribe Matt Prior enjoy his time behind the wheel of the Juke-R on an empty track. He reckons it is brilliant. The engine, suspension and handling all get the thumbs up. The Juke has a shorter wheelbase than the GT-R and Prior says that helps make the Juke-R more alive and agile.
At this point in time the Juke-R is only ever likely to be a concept model. That said, we applaud Nissan for taking us on this journey. It’s daft, utterly pointless and that’s what makes it so great. A major manufacturer just having a bit of laugh. There should be more of it.
Oh, actually, we’re not sure if a mother could love that face.
Nissan Australia advises the MY12 spec GT-R, announced last November, officially goes on sale this week. You’ll need $170,800 if you want to get yourself the world’s best 1:1 scale PlayStation driving simulator. It really is a technological marvel, the GT-R.
Headline stats for the 2012 model say the twin-turbo V6 now produces a healthy 404kW (+14kW) and a hefty 628Nm of torque (+16Nm). Nissan also points out that the torque curve is now flatter and the peak figure can be enjoyed from 3200–5800rpm.
The use of race-bred transmission oil helps to improve shift speed and feel. While asymmetric suspension tuning, allowing for the weight of the driver and propshaft on RHD cars, affords better handling balance.
Since its original release around 420 Australians have said yes to the GT-R. By our quick back of the envelope calculations that’d represent close to $70 million in sales in around three years. Handy stats for a pretty handy car.
Carlos Ghosn, Nissan CEO, has announced they will be reviving the Datsun brand for use in new growth markets. From 2014 you’ll be able to buy a Datsun in India, Indonesia and Russia.
We reckon this is pretty good news, although bemoan the fact that a new 21st century logo has been created for the relaunch. The retro Datsun logo would be a welcome relief in a sea of slick corporate design.
To celebrate Datsun’s return we found this great brochure cover of the classic Datto 1200 ute, check out the uncropped version after the break.
[Source: Nissan | Pic: hugo90]
Last week Nissan revealed its radical DeltaWing concept. The idea behind the car isn’t actually to see how odd a racecar can be, rather to try and halve the weight, engine size and fuel consumption while maintaining a cracking pace. Indeed, when the DeltaWing races at Le Mans later this year Nissan expect it to lap in between the times set by the outright-chasing LMP1 category and the LMP2 cars.
But how can it steer? Those skinny tyres, so close together? We bring you a couple of videos, then, to prove that it does work. Thanks to Road and Track you can see former F1 driver Eric Comas explain the initial success of the concept.
The DeltaWing was originally conceived for a submission to IndyCar, where it would provide a chassis to teams. It was around the middle of 2010 that they got knocked back by IndyCar. Hopes were boosted a year later, in mid-2011, when word came through the Le Mans project had been approved. You can read more at the DeltaWing website.
After the break you can watch a couple of videos of the DeltaWing in action. We’d love to hear what you think.
This crazy looking creation is called the Nissan DeltaWing and it will be racing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year. It’s an experimental car and has been invited to race by Le Mans organsiers the ACO. It won’t be eligible for any class honours and as such will carry the 0 number.
Nissan is really pushing the track to road technology with the DeltaWing which has been built by Dan Gurney’s All American Racers organisation. The concept behind the DeltaWing is half the weight, half the power, half the engine size, half the fuel economy but all the performance.
The car runs a 1.6 litre DIG-T four cylinder turbocharged engine producing around 300hp. Nissan reckon it will lap the famous La Sarthe circuit in between the LMP1 and LMP2 cars.
Ben Bowlby, Nissan DeltaWing designer, says the engine is just what he wanted, “Nissan has provided us with our first choice engine. It’s a spectacular piece. We’ve got the engine of our dreams: it’s the right weight, has the right power and it’s phenomenally efficient.â€
British Sportscar racer Marino Franchitti and Nissan’s reigning FIA GT1 World Champion Michael Krumm have been named as two of the drivers for Le Mans. Nissan will no doubt have more detail for us after the DeltaWing makes its public debut at Sebring in the next couple of days.
In the meantime there’s plenty of pics and an intro video to accompany the official press release after the break.
Here’s the second and final part of our 2012 Geneva Motor Show photo gallery, featuring manufacturers from L–Z (well V actually). Highlights include the Aventador J pictured above along with a reappearance of the stylish Mazda Takeri concept. The awesome Pagani Huayra is also on show, check the raw carbon fibre model, it looks sublime. Oh, we’d love to hear what you think of the Valmet Automotive Dawn, if it was a person it would no doubt be referred to as one weird cat.
Last month Australians signed off on 85,723 new vehicle sales, that’s almost 5000 more than February last year. A bit over half of all vehicles sold were classified as passenger cars. Fair enough. But around one quarter, that’s one in every four sales, is now an SUV. Shame on you people!
FCAI Chief Executive, Ian Chalmers is just happy that punters are splashing their cash. “The SUV market has clearly made a strong connection with auto customers by meeting their diverse needs,” he said. “This is demonstrated by overall SUV sales being up 23.8 per cent (4,505) since last month and 26.6 per cent (9,578) compared with February last year.”
Toyota was miles ahead of its nearest competitor, Holden, on the overall sales charts. While Mazda is having a turn as the third best seller nation wide, a position that generally rotates between them, Ford and Hyundai.
In his latest Drive clip Chris Harris has put a 2012 BMW M5 up against a 2012 Nissan GT-R? That doesn’t make any sense. Well, according to Google and YouTube it does. From the video description: “It’s perfect for YouTube search results, and thats why we’re doing it.”
Okay, then. Well they are both considered heavy cars for their segment. They both have twin-turbo motors, a V8 in the BMW and a V6 in the GT-R. Both have double clutch transmissions. And, so we’re told, they’re both great search fodder.
But that’s where the similarities end, really. That said, in isolation Harris provides some good in-depth feedback on both cars and, well, who wouldn’t spend a few days in these two cars if given the chance?
The Nissan GT-R is quite something. It’s big, it’s heavy, but at the same time it’s as sharp as a knife. Like Rafa Nadal winning an unwinnable point, how do they do it? In MY12 spec the GT-R can sprint to 100km/h in under three seconds. Time after time, after time.
Crank and Piston have created a short, but very cool video of the GT-R roaming the streets of Dubai. Perhaps they describe Godzilla best, too: “This graceful creature, as its ruthless alter ego, could snap your head off with the slightest provocation.”
[Source: Crank & Piston]