Autoblog

GT-R tuning update: Amuse breaks 600 hp, tranny woes at MCR

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Supercars, Nissan

With all the news surrounding the Nissan GT-R V-Spec, the progress on the Godzilla tuning front has been largely overlooked. According to a recent article in Japan's BestCar magazine, the Amuse team has broken the 600 hp mark (at the crank) with a combination of a high-flow exhaust and a tweaked ECU. There were no details on how the GT-R's computer was hacked, but Amuse was able to up the boost to 18 psi, resulting in an increase in output to 602.73 hp and 576.95 lb.-ft. of torque.

However, tuners are beginning to question how the stock gearbox will hold up under the strain of additional output. MCR, which brought out its GT-R for filming of Hot Version 93, has been exacting its own brand of punishment on its tuned GT-R and is worried how long the transmission will last. It's not clear if the tranny woes are due to the clutch plates or something else, but it's been all but confirmed that dual-clutch gearboxes have an issue with additional torque since the friction surface is much smaller than on a stock (read: single plate) clutch. MCR's best guesstimate is that the stock 'box might only be able to hold up to the additional power for 12 months before problems begin arise. Now, we're particularly interested in how Nissan is beefing up the tranny on the V-Spec to handle its rumored 600 hp.

[Sources: GTRBlog, NissanGTRProto]

GT-R tuning update: Amuse breaks 600 hp, tranny woes at MCR originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tokyo Auto Salon 2008: Nissan GT-Rs gone wild

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Performance, Supercars, Nissan, Tokyo Auto Salon

click above to view more modded Nissan GT-Rs from the TAS

The Tokyo Auto Salon opened up last week and our comprehensive coverage has been slightly delayed due to the madness known as Detroit. We've partnered up with our friends from Autoblog Chinese to bring you as many live shots of the show as we can procure.

There was only one car to kick off the coverage and that's Nissan's new R35 GT-R. Blitz, HKS/Kansai, Fujitsubo, Power Enterprises, Amuse and MINE'S all had vehicles on display, most of which were sporting some free-flowing intakes, wheels and a few aero pieces, including front splitters and wings.

We know that Amuse already has its R1 Titan exhaust strapped onto its shop GT-R, along with a massive carbon fiber rear wing and trick C.F. lip. MINE'S will begin selling its VX-ROM that can eliminates the top-speed limiter and tweak the ECU depending on fuel octane. According to MINE'S, they've dynoed a GT-R fitted with its VX Pro Titan II exhaust and VX-ROM, and output at the flywheel increased to 530 hp. MINE'S will allow owners to send in their ECU to be fitted with the VX-ROM at a cost of 126,000 yen (around $1,150). And they say they can supply the VX-ROM worldwide. MINE'S is also offering springs, slotted rotors and an Esta Full Spec coilover kit with remote reservoirs developed with Sachs.

We've assembled some of the shots from Autoblog Chinese in the gallery below.

Gallery: Nissan GT-Rs at TAS

Tokyo Auto Salon 2008: Nissan GT-Rs gone wild originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots, Tokyo Motor Show edition: Amuse and Top Secret taking on the GT-R

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 11:02:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Japan, Supercars, Nissan, Tokyo Auto Salon

The impending Nissan GT-R extravaganza in Japan is about to get underway. Unfortunately, the Tokyo Auto Salon runs right up against our coverage of the North American International Auto Show, so we're stuck covering the event from our couch and hotel rooms. When will they learn?

Regardless, through the power of the Web, we're able to get a sneak peak as to what some of the top tuners in Japan will be doing with the Nissan GT-R in the coming months. Amuse brought out its own GT-R to a Time Attack event at Tsukuba sporting a new rear wing, carbon-fiber front splitter, revised exhaust and a new pair of seats. We're sure there's more, but we don't have the details yet (check out Auto Otaku for pics). The car was tested by Mr. Tanabe around Tsukuba and even the old man himself clocked a lap time of 1:01.332. Color us impressed.

Top Secret, the high-powered dominators of the Tokyo tuning scene, will have another GT-R (see right) gracing its show stand, this one fitted with new wheels, a revised front splitter and God knows what else.

We're getting excited at the prospects and will be sure to keep our eye out for anything and everything of interest while battling the throngs in Detroit.

[Sources: zerotohundred.com, Auto Otaku via Kultivate]

Spy Shots, Tokyo Motor Show edition: Amuse and Top Secret taking on the GT-R originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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