Nissan reveals Altima V8 Supercar [w/video]

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Nissan, Australia, Racing

Seven months after announcing it was reentering the series and $1.5M AUD later ($1.56M USD), this is your new Nissan Altima for the Australian V8 Supercar Series. Just unveiled in Melbourne by Kelly Racing, the racer is Nissan's take on the Car of the Future (COTF) regulations credited with returning other manufacturers to the series. Under the hood is a derivative of Nissan's VK56DE engine, the 5.6-liter V8 that will be slotted into the 2013 Nissan Patrol SUV. Beefed up but downsized to five liters to satisfy regulations, it will put out more than 600 horsepower.

Todd Kelly of Kelly Racing says it didn't take all that much to transform the production Altima's production bodywork to fit over the control chassis: "Aside from flaring of the rear guards, and extending of the front guards; the doors, roof, bonnet and bootlid panels are all the same length as the road car." Shapelier and more compact than the entries from Ford, Holden and Mercedes-Benz, the V8 Supercars bosses will be testing this Nissan to ensure aerodynamic parity with the other cars.

Kelly Racing namesakes Todd and Rick will take the wheel at the season's February opener in Adelaide, the Clipsal 500. As of today, the team is known as Nissan Motorsports but the livery you see is just for the launch; the competition car will wear the Jack Daniels sponsorship worn by the team's Holden Commodore racecars now. Nissan hasn't been in the series in the two decades since that car (the GT-R) was kicked out, and its return throws four carmakers into battle, doubling the current tally. Now enjoy the video and press release below while we wait for Mercedes to show its hand.

Continue reading Nissan reveals Altima V8 Supercar [w/video]

Nissan reveals Altima V8 Supercar [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nissan Altima V8? Only for Australia's touring car series

Zach Bowman — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 19:33:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, Videos, Nissan, Australia, Specialty, Racing

By all accounts, the 2013 Nissan Altima is an excellent vehicle, but that doesn't mean it couldn't benefit from the addition of a heady V8 under the hood. Nissan Motorsport has cured that ail by constructing four Altima racers for the Australian V8 Supercars Championship, each with their own 32-valve VK56DE engine in the nose. The bruisers will start campaigning next season, and will mark the first entry in the series from any brand outside of Ford or Holden in nearly twenty years. Nissan has already produced the first of its race engines, and the team is currently working on whipping up another 14 examples for the next season.

Nissan Motorsport is set to unveil the actual race cars next week, but until then, you can check out the video below. In it, the team shows off the progress that's been made so far, including cranking out body molds and building cage structures. Looks like fun.

Continue reading Nissan Altima V8? Only for Australia's touring car series

Nissan Altima V8? Only for Australia's touring car series originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 19:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments