Autoblog

2013 Nissan GT-R and 2013 Alpina B6 mix it up on track and street

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, BMW, Nissan, Luxury, MISC

Here we have Autocar making an unforeseen comparison: the Nissan GT-R against the Alpina B6 at Brands Hatch and on public roads. Steve Sutcliffe clobbers the circuit in the 3,828-pound, all-wheel-drive sports car, then sees how well the 4,114-pound, rear-wheel drive grand tourer does against it.

Sutcliffe says there are quite a few similarities between the two cars, but that's really only on the spec sheet. The Nissan's got two turbos attached to its 3.8-liter V6, 542 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. The Alpina's got two turbos attached to its 4.4-liter V8, 532 hp and 528 lb-ft. But one's brief is to be a monster on the track, the other on the boulevard, and if there's anything the video demonstrates, it's each car's focus.

The results are lopsided, and so is the way the winner was chosen. Sutcliffe's still fun to watch, though, and you'll find him in action in the video below.

Continue reading 2013 Nissan GT-R and 2013 Alpina B6 mix it up on track and street

2013 Nissan GT-R and 2013 Alpina B6 mix it up on track and street originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 May 2013 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan gives history lesson on how the Skyline legend was born

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Japan, Videos, Nissan, Racing

The only reason we have the Nissan GT-R is because of the exploits of all those GT-Rs we didn't get, and it started with the first one, a model at the time called the Skyline GT, at the 1964 Grand Prix at Suzuka. It was there that modified Prince Motor Company Skyline sedans, only just homologated and never raced, took the green flag and drifted their way to second through sixth places.

The video also explains how the rivalry between the GT-R and Porsche didn't just begin with competing lap times at the Nürburgring a few years ago. The car that came in first was a Porsche 904 Carrera GTS, and when one of the Skyline GT drivers got in front of it to lead the race, the men in charge decided to keep tinkering with the vehicle that would become the second Godzilla. Scroll down to enjoy the rest of the story in video and a press release from Nissan.

Continue reading Nissan gives history lesson on how the Skyline legend was born

Nissan gives history lesson on how the Skyline legend was born originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Dec 2012 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 gets shaken down

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Videos, Nissan, Racing

Nissan introduced its privateer Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 racecar last year. Unlike GT-Rs competing in other series like GT1 and Japan's Super GT, the GT3 version utilizes the same 3.8-liter twin turbo V6 from the street car, the engine retuned to produce 523 horsepower. Nissan and Nismo engineers are already hard at work on next year's entrant, throwing the development car over the curbs at what looks like Fuji Speedway.

If you want to buy one, it'll cost you just about 300,000 euros ($380K US). If you just want to watch and hear one, you can watch the video below for free.

Continue reading 2013 Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 gets shaken down

2013 Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 gets shaken down originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Nov 2012 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan planning another Nürburgring record run with 2013 GT-R

Zach Bowman — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Japan, Luxury

Nissan is reportedly gearing up for another assault on the Nürburgring. According to The Truth About Cars, the company believes the refinements it made to the 2013 GT-R will be enough to skip the supercar around the track in record time. Chief Engineer Kazutoshi Mizuno says there's "quite a bit of margin" in the car's current 7-minute, 18-second time for the course. That's just over five seconds slower than the unofficial time by the Dodge Viper ACR. But Nissan has something special up its sleeves.

The company has whipped up a new Track Edition that Mizuno says is good for under seven minutes. That machine makes use of the same engine as the production car, but lacks a full interior in the name of weight savings. Likewise, there's a set of super-sticky Dunlop race rubber on all four corners. The car isn't legal in Japan because it does not come equipped with the required 112 mph speed limiter. Even so, we can't wait to see what it does around the Green Hell.

Nissan planning another Nürburgring record run with 2013 GT-R originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Nov 2012 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan announces latest updates for GT-R [w/videos]

Jeffrey N. Ross — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 08:03:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Japan, Nissan

As another model year approaches for the Nissan GT-R, another round of improvements are being made. Rather than simply bumping up the horsepower, Nissan has decided to make refining changes to its supercar, which was recently unveiled in JDM spec for the 2013 model year.

Rather than milking more power out of the 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6, Nissan fine-tuned the engine with new injectors for quicker response, a baffle added in the oil pan to maintain constant oil pressure during enthusiastic driving and an improved turbo bypass valve for better acceleration at higher speeds. Nissan also optimized the car's handling potential by giving it a lower center of gravity, new shocks and stabilizers, and reinforcements in the dash giving the car a more rigid structure. Finally, the Premium Edition model adds a new Semiarinin leather and will even offer custom colors for the interior.

We've already seen a left-hand drive GT-R testing at the Nürburgring, so we will likely see these changes in the US for the 2014 model year, where it will be interesting to see whether or not the car's price will finally break into the six-figure range. The 2013 GT-R goes on sale in Japan later this month, but we'll have to wait until at least January to see the updated car here.

Until then, scroll down for a couple videos about the testing and development of the revised GT-R as well as Nissan's press release for the JDM model.

Continue reading Nissan announces latest updates for GT-R [w/videos]

Nissan announces latest updates for GT-R [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Nov 2012 08:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Usain Bolt, World's Fastest Man, goes for gold with Nissan GT-R [w/videos]

Jeffrey N. Ross — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 09:14:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Nissan, Celebrities

Usain Bolt, the Jamaican Olympic gold medalist and world's fastest man, is teaming up with Nissan to auction off a Nissan GT-R on eBay later this month with the proceeds going to the Usain Bolt Foundation. The one-of-a-kind GT-R is painted in a special gold hue and the hood has been signed by Bolt.

In addition to helping create this car for his charity, Bolt, who has been named Nissan's "Director of Excitement," will also be working with the automaker to create numerous "What If_" advertisements and even assisting in the development of a limited-edition GT-R. This last little tidbit really perked up our ears, but Nissan says that it will release details about this car "at a later date."

Until then, Nissan has included some videos below showing its involvement with Bolt including the ceremony where he signed the gold GT-R for his auction and some entertaining footage of the Olympian being driven around Nissan's Japanese proving ground in a GT-R.

Continue reading Usain Bolt, World's Fastest Man, goes for gold with Nissan GT-R [w/videos]

Usain Bolt, World's Fastest Man, goes for gold with Nissan GT-R [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 09:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan GT-R future in doubt?

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:27:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Nissan, Luxury

Next up in the "Whoa, what?!" department is a report on Inside Line wondering whether the current Nissan GT-R will be the last Nissan GT-R. The website's sources have learned that Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn has yet to sign off on a next-generation car, which suggests the future model hasn't even begun development. And those same sources say they're not sure Ghosn will ever give the green light.

We're only speculating, but perhaps the problem - if there really is a problem and this isn't Ghosn machinating - has to do with this tidbit taken from the IL story: "Ghosn approved the original GT-R only after being assured that it would make money for the company even at low volumes." We wouldn't be suprised if the shade under 6,000 sales in four years is quite a bit lower than the "low volumes" predicted in Nissan's original cost/benefit calculus.

At launch, the 480-horsepower GT-R MSRP was $69,850, or $71,900 if you wanted the Premium model. Peanuts are cheaper, which is probably why the GT-R has cost substantially more every single year: after its first year, the price jumped to $76,840 for the base model and $79,090 for the Premium; the next year brought a price bump to $80,790 or $83,040 for the Premium; the following year, the base model disappeared and the Premium rose by a premium of $1,020 to $84,060; in 2012 the price took another leap to $90,950; and for 2013, it was another gulp-worthy price boost to $96,820. Yes, the 2013 iteration has 55 more horsepower than the original model and a 2.7-second 0-to-60 time, and yes, you'd look a long time for a sub-$100K car to match its performance, but at that price, the GT-R is mixing with the kinds of sexy metal that can bring attributes to the table that the GT-R can't match.

But of course, along with not knowing if Ghosn will approve a followup to the current car, we don't know why he hasn't done it already - maybe he's changed his mind about that Infiniti GT-R after all, or maybe he hopes you'll be satisfied with the Juke-R. If this car is a "one-hit wonder," though, it was certainly a wonder, if perhaps not enough of a sales hit.

Nissan GT-R future in doubt? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan designers consult Blue Angels for inspiration, photo op [w/video]

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Technology, Videos, Nissan, Design/Style

We've been hearing about automobiles being inspired by jets for decades. Saab even used it as a slogan for a number of years. But what exactly does it mean? Nissan recently paid a visit to the United States Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron training facility to get a feel for the fighter jets they fly as well as how the pilots interact with their machines.

The result? Well, we still don't know what it means for a car to be inspired by jets... Nissan says its "personnel returned with a number of creative ideas and actionable items from both a design and product development standpoint," but the Japanese automaker declines to get more specific. Maybe the next GT-R will come with an ejector seat, or perhaps a joystick in lieu of a steering wheel. But probably not.

Even if we don't quite get it, that doesn't mean nothing good came from the exercise. Blue Angels airframe structural mechanic Eric Vandamme (who has the second best name ever) got the chance to drive a new Nissan GT-R, and he came away predictably impressed: "If I had the keys to the jet, I would trade you," he says. We know a GT-R doesn't come cheap, but we suspect Nissan would make out quite well in that fantasy transaction.

Want to watch a video produced by Nissan about the Blue Angels and how its engineers were inspired? Of course you do. Scroll below for the news broadcast-style story, where you'll also find a related press release.

Continue reading Nissan designers consult Blue Angels for inspiration, photo op [w/video]

Nissan designers consult Blue Angels for inspiration, photo op [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jul 2012 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan rolls out new Track Pack for GT-R

Noah Joseph — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:31:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Nissan, UK

The Nissan GT-R has become something of a cult favorite for a number of types of enthusiasts: supercar slayers, import tuners, and especially track-day junkies. Particularly in the UK, where congestion (and a proliferation of speed cameras) prevents stretching out your car's legs, where there are legendary racing circuits abound and where, subsequently, Nissan has now rolled out a new Track Pack for the recently updated GT-R.

The Track Pack doesn't touch the engine, so the same 542-horsepower twin-turbo V6 applies. What it does provide is better cooling for the brakes with extra ducting front and rear, lighter six-spoke Rays alloys, a stiffer suspension (whose dampers can, of course, still be softened for road use), and an interior stripped of its rear seats and bolstered in the front for harder cornering.

Nissan UK is pricing the Track Pack at £10,000 ($15,000) on top of the £74,450 ($116,000) purchase price of a stock GT-R, and fortunately, the kit's addition doesn't preclude it from being driven on public roads. Although the package is currently only available overseas, we're hopeful that when the revised Godzilla makes its way to these shores, we'll have a chance to get our driving gloves on it as well. In the meantime you can check it out in the press release after the jump and the fresh batch of high-resolution images in the gallery.

Continue reading Nissan rolls out new Track Pack for GT-R

Nissan rolls out new Track Pack for GT-R originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Nissan GT-R is more of a great thing

Zach Bowman — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:31:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Nissan, Luxury

The 2013 Nissan GT-R has officially bowed at the 2011 LA Auto Show. The latest interpretation of Japan's premier supercar may look the same, but it's the most powerful to date, with a full 15 additional horsepower over the 2012 model. That bumps the final figure up to 545 hp and 463 pound-feet of torque from the same twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6. The extra pep comes from a redesigned intake system, complete with larger intercooler ducting and reduced airflow resistance. Nissan says it has also taken the time to recalibrate the shift action on the vehicle's transmission and both differentials now use new lubricants.

Carbon ceramic brakes have also made their way to the option sheet for 2013, which is a good thing considering that Nissan claims the machine can hit 60 mph from a dead standstill in just 2.7 seconds. Two. Point. Seven.

Engineers have also managed to stiffen the chassis somewhat, and the whole package helps the vehicle lap Germany's Nürburgring a whopping 10 seconds quicker than the old model. The new GT-R is scheduled to whip into U.S. showrooms beginning this January, but you can check it out in our high-res gallery and in the official press release after the jump.

Continue reading 2013 Nissan GT-R is more of a great thing

2013 Nissan GT-R is more of a great thing originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan releases updated 542hp GT-R overseas [w/video]

Noah Joseph — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Japan, Nissan

There's no question that Nissan has done some radically impressive things with its GT-R, proving beyond the shred of a doubt that Japan's mainstream automakers can stick it to Europe's elite. But you don't get to where Nissan has gotten with the GT-R by sitting back and letting it grow old. Yokohama's finest spend day and night keeping Godzilla razor-sharp and ready for action. And to that end, they've launched a series of improvements for the latest model.

To say that the updated GT-R represents any sort of major step forward would be a gross exaggeration, but it does pack some new features. Among them are a retuned version of the 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 that now delivers more power - 542 horsepower instead of 523 - while returning higher efficiency and lower emissions. A recalibrated shift action, new differential lubricants, an even tauter frame, available carbon-ceramic brakes and an available "track pack" for hot-lap enthusiasts are also part of the improvements. Right-hand-drive models get an assymetrical suspension setup to compensate for the weight of the driver and steering column, there's a new Bose sound system and a rearview camera now comes as standard.

The improvements are said to shave an astonishing eight to ten seconds off the GT-R's already impressive Nürburgring lap time and drop the 0-60 time to as little as 2.7 seconds. Now that's what we call progress. Click past the jump for the official video and press release.

Currently, the new model is being rolled out in Japan and Europe - set to debut later this month at the Tokyo Motor Show - but it's probably only a matter of time until we get the improvements Stateside as well, where we expect it will debut soon as the 2013 model. So stay tuned. In the meantime, you can check out the huge batch of fresh high-resolution images and follow the jump for the video clip and Euro-spec press release.

Continue reading Nissan releases updated 542hp GT-R overseas [w/video]

Nissan releases updated 542hp GT-R overseas [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next Nissan GT-R may produce up to 570 hp

Zach Bowman — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Nissan, Luxury

The Nissan GT-R is an impressive piece of machinery on a number of levels, but perhaps most astounding is the fact that it's performance continues to improve year over year. If the rumors kicking around NAGTROC forums are to be believed, that trend will continue for the 2013 model. Nissan reportedly held a European press event at the Nürburgring where the company unveiled some of its plans for the next-generation supercar. Thanks to new engine mapping, a revised intake and exhaust, the 2013 Nissan GT-R may produce as much as 570 horsepower - around 40 more ponies than the current variant. In addition, the transmission and suspension mapping will also receive minor adjustments.

Underneath, the vehicle will likely sport new aero tweaks for better cooling and efficiency, and the report suggests that the 2013 model will be even cleaner than its predecessors, emissions-wise. Don't expect any aesthetic adjustments, however. The model is expected to sally forth with no new color options or visual changes, though both the Premium Black and Egoist editions are anticipated to be available worldwide.

Next Nissan GT-R may produce up to 570 hp originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Next-gen Nissan GT-R in the works for 2013

Noah Joseph — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:07:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Nissan

2010 Nissan GT-R - Click above for high-res image gallery

Hot on the heels of reports, brought to you by British car site PistonHeads upon their visit to the Nissan's Ring-side test facility, of updates planned for the current R35-generation Nissan GT-R comes another report detailing the Japanese automaker's plans for the next-generation R36 model.

With competitors lining up to challenge the current GT-R's performance benchmark, Nissan's senior veep for global product planning, Andy Palmer, confirmed that plans are underway to succeed Godzilla with a next-generation model. The R36 will, according to the report, carry over the current model's twin-turbo V6, but with enough modifications to keep it ahead of the pack. The new GT-R is expected to hit the road by 2013 at the latest. Beyond that, Palmer didn't disclose many details, except to say that Nissan is committed to the GT-R program and won't be letting the Porsche 911 GT2 alone without a fight.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Nissan GT-R

Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: PistonHeads]

REPORT: Next-gen Nissan GT-R in the works for 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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