Nissan USA Hikes GT-R Prices by 10% or about $7,000

Blaming higher costs for raw materials, Nissan USA has announced a hefty price increase for the 2009 GT-R sportscar. In particular, the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP) for the base GT-R has been raised by $6,990, from $69,850 to $76,840. For the GT-R Premium model the MSRP has been increased by $7,190, from $71,900 to $79,090. Nissan said that the adjusted prices do not apply to customer orders already in dealer hands prior to September 5. -Continued

According to the Japanese automaker, to date, about 70 percent of the first year allocation of GT-Rs for the U.S. market have been sold as part of a pre-sale program that has been underway since February 2008. The first customer deliveries of the limited production Nissan GT-R supercar began in the States on July 7, 2008.

Nismo Launches Club Sport Package for new Nissan GT-R

Nissan’s official motorsports and performance division, NISMO has finally released a new range of performance accessories for the 2009 GT-R under the name ‘Club Sport Package”. Starting with the chassis enhancements, Nissan’s in-house tuner offers a set of race-spec Bilstein Damptronic adjustable dampers, stiffer front (18.5kg/mm) and rear springs(9.6 kg/mm) and new 20-inch Rays forged aluminum wheels wrapped around in Bridgestone RE070R run-flat tires, sized 225/40 and 285/35, front and rear. -Continued

For those wanting to shave off a few extra pounds, NISMO’s new lightweight exhaust system that comes with a carbon fiber under-tray designed to reduce drag will remove 11 pounds from the GT-R’s overall weight while the carbon fiber backed and leather trimmed bucket seats that retain the side airbags but ditch the electronic adjustments, will save you an extra 13 pounds.

If you go for the full Monty, the Club Sport will cost you ¥5,460,000 or about $50,000 / €34,000. For the time being, the NISMO’s tuning parts for the GT-R are available only in Japan.

Via: Autoblog.com , Source: NISMO

Datsun 240Z - Fairlady Z Retro Concept with a Touch of GT-R

Looks like the Datsun XLink concept that was created by Benjamin Nawka at Nissan’s Yulon Design Center (see here) has given birth to a newly found interest for the long-gone Japanese brand. This modern interpretation of the iconic Datsun 240Z / Fairlady Z of the 1970s is the work of a Polish designer Jacek Kolodziejczyk who goes by the alias 'Iacoski. The Fairlady Z Concept study combines the classic lines of the original 240Z with several design elements from the new Nissan GT-R such as the front grille, the side air vents and the headlamps. And while it may never go into production, the end result is pretty dang cool. What do you think? -Image gallery after the jump

Source: Iacoski , Via: Jpcnews

2009 Nissan GT-R Transformers Prototype

This past weekend we reported that Japanese toy maker Takara-Tomy is preparing a new Transformers series called Alternity that will include a Nissan GT-R figure. Well, we managed to discover a set of photos from a Japanese site called Fantofan that snapped the prototype Nissan GT-R at the Takara Tomy’s 2008 Tokyo Toy Show stand. According to company sources, the Transformers’ version of the 2009 Nissan GT-R will be available in two colors, red and silver. Sales of the 1/32 scale model are excepted to begin this November. -Continued

Photos via: Fantofan

2009 Nissan GT-R Transformers Toy

The craze surrounding the new GT-R has spread into the world of Transformers as Japanese toy maker Takara is readying a 1:32 scale robot version of Nissan’s supercar. The sketch seen in the picture above was scanned from a Japanese hobby magazine by our reader Jey and it gives us a first view of the robotized GT-R that’s expected to find its way into stores this November.

Thanks for the tip Jey!

Video: Nissan GT-R vs Lamborghini Murcielago LP640

Some folks in Japan – or at least we think it’s in Japan, if not feel free to correct us- drag raced a Nissan GT-R against the almighty Lamborghini Murcielago. We won’t tell you who crossed the finish line first, but we must mention that the two supercars weren’t drag raced from standstill but from a running start. -Video after the jump

Via: Autoblog.nl

Infiniti’s 4Door-Coupe Version of the Nissan GT-R

In its latest issue, Japan’s Car Top magazine features a scoop story on a new 4door-coupe model from Infiniti based on the Nissan GT-R. Citing inside sources, the Japanese magazine states that Infiniti’s four-door version of the Nissan sportscar would use a stretched version of the GT-R’s platform. Power would come from the same 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 while the Infiniti would also maintain the GT-R’s highly advanced AWD system and six-speed dual-clutch automated manual gearbox.

While we have no inside information whatsoever to support this story, we must admit that a 4door-coupe version of the Nissan GT-R from Infiniti sound like a pretty good idea as it could serve as the ultimate halo model for the Japanese marque in its quest to win buyers from other (European) luxury brands.

Thanks for the scans R.T!

Fantasy Island: Nissan GT-R Convertible

While pipe-dreaming never hurt anyone, we really doubt that Nissan will ever seriously consider adding a convertible version to its highly acclaimed GT-R sportscar. Plus, Nissan can hardly satisfy the demand for the GT-R Coupe, let alone add another version of the car to its production line. Having said that, this photoshoped GT-R Convertible that was created by a Dutch artist will probably remain forever in the realm of Fantasy Island.

Via: Autoblog.com , Source: Autojunk

NISMO to Test Tuned Nissan GT-R at Tokachi 24H

Nissan’s official motorsports and performance division, NISMO, will enter a specially-prepped Nissan GT-R into the 15th Tokachi 24-hour race, to be held from July 20th to 21st in Hokkaido. The NISMO GT-R that will be based on the standard production car will be equipped with the newly-developed NISMO tuning parts and competition motor oil jointly developed with MOTUL. The GT-R specific NISMO tuning parts used in the race will be available as accessory options to GT-R customers this summer

Team Director Taro Kumagai said, "This is the first Nissan GT-R to race based on the standard road-car specifications. Our target is to complete the race distance, testing both the performance and reliability of the car. Following its success in Super GT, we know that GT-R fans want to see the car compete in this kind of endurance racing series.” -Continued

Team:
Entrant: NISMO
Entry Name: MOTUL NISMO Racing Team
Vehicle Name: MOTUL NISMO GT-R
Team Director: Taro KUMAGAI
Drivers: Masami KAGEYAMA, Tetsuya TANAKA, and Kazuki

Car Specification:
Base Vehicle: NISSAN GT-R (R35)
Engine: VR38DETT
Displacement: 3799 cc
Max. Power: over 480 ps/6400 rpm
Max. Torque: over 60 kgfm/3200-5200 rpm
Weight: over 1600 kg
Tyres: Bridgestone Racing POTENZA

Why the Corvette Z1’s Nurburgring Time Shouldn't be Compared with the Nissan GT-R

We’ll give GM plenty of kudos for creating a sports car that officially lapped the famous Nurburgring in a mere 7 minutes and 26.4 seconds as it puts plenty of supercars costing double its price to shame, but ultimately, its somewhat unfair to compare the Corvette ZR1 with the Nissan GT-R. True, in our article on the ZR1’s Nurburgring time we mentioned that GM’s sports car beat the Nissan GT-R (7 minutes and 29.03 seconds), but we only did it to give you a comparable example of how good the Corvette is.

However, we must put things into perspective. The 640Hp Corvette ZR1 is priced from $103,300, the 480Hp Nissan GT-R from $69,850. That’s a huge price difference -$33,450 or nearly 50% more. Practically, the GT-R should be compared with the 505Hp Corvette Z06 that starts from $72,125. Although this is not an official time, various sites (including Motortrend) have stated that the Z06 lapped the Nurburgring in 7 minutes and 42 seconds or 13 seconds more than the GT-R. -Continued

But to be totally honest, a sportscar’s Nurburgring time would be the last thing that would matter if we were in the market to buy one. Well before that we’d take into consideration a variety of factors including the emotional impact that the car has on us, the way it communicates with us on the road -maybe even on the track, and of course, the price tag. (Pic: Carscoop)

Nissan Launches Race Academy for GT-R Pre-Order Customers

As if being on the waiting list to receive the all-new 2009 GT-R wasn’t enough to make us jealous, Nissan has now launched the ‘Race Academy’ for GT-R pre-order customers that could lead to them obtaining a full racing licence. In particular, UK GT-R customers will be offered the opportunity to participate in Race Academy events at Silverstone or at the Nürburgring race track in Germany.

The events will take place during August and September with customers having the unique opportunity to get up close and personal with the 2009 GT-R, long before taking delivery of their own vehicle. The track day experience will include a one-on-one tuition and over 45 minutes behind the wheel of the GT-R, while there will also be the opportunity to learn how to ‘drift’ in a Nissan 350Z. -Continued

Stephane Cottin, Vice President, Marketing for Nissan in Europe, said: "All of us at Nissan who have been working on the launch of this fantastic car want to provide a customer experience for GT-R customers which reflect the passion they have for GT-R, a passion which is matched by our own. It's important to us that GT-R customers enjoy everything about the car - and these customer events will give customers the opportunity to fully enjoy the GT-R's capabilities on a track, while they await delivery of their car." -Picture: Carscoop

Video: Nissan GT-R Lapping Nurburgring in 7:29’

Finally, we have live footage of the Nissan GT-R lapping the Nurburgring race track in Germany in 7:29.03. According to Nissan, the GT-R’s time was recorded on April 17, 2008 with the Japanese supercar’s chief test driver Tochio Suzuki behind the wheel of a base specification vehicle fitted with standard Japanese market tires. -See the video after the jump

Nissan GT-R Scale Model by Tamiya: A GT-R We Can All Afford

Even though the $70k that Nissan is asking for the all-new GT-R in the U.S. is a steal considering the car’s capabilities, how many of us have that kind of cash lying around? Well, Japanese model hobby manufacturer Tamiya has the next best thing: a 1/24 scale model of Nissan’s new supercar that will hit Japanese stores on Saturday May 24, 2008 with the rest of the world following shortly after. Prices in Japan are set at 3,990 Yen which is approximately $38.5 or €24.5. -More pics after the jump

PlayStation and Nissan Unveil GT Academy That Blends Virtual With Real Life Racing

It took us a while to figure out what exactly the GT Academy is all about but we finally managed to make ends meet. Basically, Nissan has joined forces with the PlayStation folks to create an eight-month long pan-European competition that merges virtual and real-life racing.

To earn a place in GT Academy, candidates enter an online Gran Turismo 5 Prologue tournament hosted on PlayStation Network. The two finalists of the competition will win a four-month training program to earn their racing licences, followed by a real-life race driving a Nissan 350Z as part of the Nissan team at the 24H endurance race in Dubai in January 2009. The GT Academy will go live at the end of May and to enter, you must register, via your PS3s on the Playstation Network (PSN).

Brits Support that the Nurburgring Record Breaking Nissan GT-R Was Tweaked

British automotive site Pistonheads (which by the way, is owned by the publisher of Autocar magazine), is reporting that the GT-R that managed to lap the Nurburgring in a record breaking 7 minutes and 29 seconds was not a current, base specification production car as Nissan supports but a modified version featuring a number of tweaks that are intended for its European launch.

So what do we think about this “headline breaking story”? Even if PH's story turns out to be true, honestly now, who cares? The GT-R is one heck of a fast and superbly developed supercar. And if indeed the European and American versions are further enhanced compared to the Japanese spec model, that’s more than fine with us.

Link: Pistonheads

First Year Supply of Nissan GT-Rs in Europe Sold Out

Not that we weren’t expecting it, but Nissan has received over 1500 orders for the GT-R in Europe in one month’s time, meaning that the first year supply of GT-Rs in Europe is booked up. What we weren’t expecting however is that from the 1,500+ orders that were taken from the 56 nominated Nissan High Performance Dealers across Europe, a whopping 63% or 950 orders came from the UK!

In the US, the allocation for model year 2008 GT-Rs is sold out, and 60% of 2009’s allocation has already been pre-sold. Customer deliveries of Nissan’s supercar begin in the US this July.

Video: Playstation Gran Turismo Creator Tackles the Nurburgring in a Nissan GT-R

The producer of Sony Playstation’s iconic Gran Turismo videogame series, Kazunori Yamauchi leaves the digital world for a bit and travels all the way to Germany to take on the Nurburgring race track in real-life with Nissan’s 2009 GT-R sportscar. Click through to watch the video. –Continued

Kudos to Mike for finding this video!

$70k: What Sportscar Would You buy?

In our latest poll, we’re trying to figure out what would you do if you were lucky enough to have about $70,000 (that’s approx €45,300 with the current exchange rates) lying around your bank account. The reason why we chose the specific sum is no other than the U.S. prices of Nissan’s highly anticipated 473Hp GT-R sportscar: $69,850 (€45,200) for the GT-R and $71,900 (€46,500) for the GT-R Premium model.

For about the same amount, U.S. buyers have the choice to include in their list the 505Hp Corvette Z06 ($72,125 or €46,650) and the entry-lever 325Hp, RWD Porsche 911 Carrera ($73,500 or €47,550). Though significantly cheaper, we also consider the $56,500 (€36,550) BMW M3 with its 414Hp V8 engine as a logic alternative – plus we’re pretty sure that BMW will find a way to get another $10k out of your wallet.

Have your say in the comment section and don’t forget to vote on the poll we added on the sidebar.