Nissan GT-R Spec-V officially revealed

The GT-R Spec-V that we heard about so much for the last year is now officially unveiled in Japan. While based on the already super-hyped production GT-R, the fully reworked Spec-V model promises to offer thrill seeking enthusiasts even more bang for their 15,750,000 yen ($160,000).

The Spec-V is a different beast both inside and outside. Open the doors and you’ll notice the addition of two special Recaro carbon fiber bucket seats and the removal of two bulky rear seats. Carbon fiber inserts wrap around the center storage, instrument panel and other trim pieces. Outside, the carbon fiber theme continues with a new carbon fiber spoiler, a carbon fiber grille, and carbon fiber brake ducts. In other less interesting news, Nissan has also introduced an exclusive Ultimate Black Opal body color for the Spec-V.
Mechanically the Spec-V gets to play with a 3.8-liter V6 fitted with twin turbochargers. Officials at Nissan claim performance is enhanced with a new high gear boost control device that allows greater torque in high speeds while maintaining fuel economy when it’s time to slow down.
The Spec-V is Japan-only, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Nissan eventually introduces a few modifications to North America or Europe.


PRESS RELEASE

Nissan Announces New GT-R Spec-V Model

TOKYO (Jan. 8, 2009) — Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today announced a new limited-production Nissan GT-R SpecV model, which goes on sale at seven specially selected Nissan dealers throughout Japan on February 2, 2009. The GT-R SpecV is targeted specifically at enthusiast drivers who desire race car-level performance in a street-legal vehicle.

NISSAN GT-R SpecV

Developed around the multi-dimensional Nissan GT-R sports car, which was introduced just more than one year ago to universal global acclaim, the new SpecV model builds on the original’s “ultimate supercar that anyone can enjoy driving anywhere, at anytime” philosophy - taking it to an entirely new level of “oneness between man and machine.” The SpecV model includes unique body, interior and performance equipment and modifications, raising the GT-R’s unmatched performance to even higher levels.

The GT-R SpecV’s new exterior features include a carbon fiber rear spoiler, a carbon fiber grille, and carbon fiber brake ducts. The SpecV is available exclusively in Ultimate Black Opal (RP) body color. Inside, the SpecV’s unique two-seat interior (non-SpecV GT-R models also include a two-place rear seat) offers special Recaro carbon fiber bucket seats, while carbon fiber insets embellish the rear center storage box, instrument panel and other trim areas.

Performance is enhanced with a new high gear boost control device, which momentarily increases boost of the engine’s twin turbochargers for greater torque in the intermediate-to-high speed ranges to provide a more powerful feeling of acceleration, while also allowing the engine to operate at a lower speed for improved fuel economy. Other modifications include a titanium-coated exhaust system and carbon-ceramic brakes that provide powerful stopping performance.

The GT-R SpecV is also equipped with lightweight, racing-style forged aluminum wheels that were developed for this model and have been sold by Nissan Motorsports International (NISMO) since September 2008. The lighter unsprung weight provided by the new wheels, together with the enhanced braking capability, an exclusive suspension and high-grip tires, combine to deliver the SpecV’s exceptional performance.

The SpecV will be sold at the following seven dealer outlets, each of which is staffed by mechanics with special GT-R SpecV training and who are knowledgeable of racing circuit driving.

Dealer outlets selling the SpecV
Ibaraki Nissan Sales Co., Ltd. Mito Sennami Outlet
Nissan Prince Tokyo Sales Co., Ltd. Kamedo Outlet
Nissan Prince Nagoya Sales Co., Ltd. Fukiage Outlet
Nissan Prince Osaka Sales Co., Ltd. Horie Kawaguchi Outlet
Nissan Prince Hyogo Sales Co., Ltd. Nada Outlet
Nissan Prince Kagawa Sales Co., Ltd. Takamatsu Outlet
Yamaguchi Nissan Sales Co., Ltd. Ogori Interchange Outlet

Source : http://japancarblog.com

Read More...

GOLDING’S TAKE: Can anyone help GM with the maths?

Here's a game for many players with a serious side to it. GM (amongst others) needs to avoid going bust in one big bang. Bust over the long run in the British Leyland (once the world's third largest car maker remember) style may be inevitable, but sudden failure and the consequences of that are unthinkable.

In June GM said that it had enough cash to last the year, no matter how bad the market became. In the third week of November it asked if it could have US$12bn. In the first week of December it raised that to US$18bn.

In the third week of December GM was given the first tranche of its allowance which is to be US$13.4bn.

Last week, Ron Gettellfinger, the President of the UAW, said to a news camera that GM's pocket money would probably be enough to see it through. The Financial Times did a version saying that GM also said that the money will be enough, although the source was not identified. GM swiftly told us that if anyone had said that, they weren't meant to.

The short term problem for GM is the top line revenue number. There is a lot else wrong, but wrongest of all just now is the fact that GM sales were down 31% in December while 23% down for the year. Toyota was down 15% for the year, so GM is dealing with inadequate competitiveness in a market where declines are still way above the year average.

Buried in the Q3 financial results from GM was the cash burn for the quarter. It was $4.8bn. That means the cash-burn run-rate was annualising at $19bn even before the demand crisis worsened in Q4. It would seem self-evident that GM will not be able to show sustainability to lenders and investors.

The reason GM needs our help is that it does not yet have any money at all that it can keep. The US Treasury loans of US$17.4bn total (to GM and Chrysler) are repayable in full on March 31 if the companies cannot show by then that they are financially viable. This proviso from the Republicans still needs definition of its terms. That will be a task for the Democrats when they take office on January 20. GM (and Chrysler) then have just six weeks to establish the proof that it is viable in all weathers to the satisfaction of President Obama and his Treasury team.

There are some new clues due from GM over the next few days which may give us some new prime numbers that will allow better adding up and taking away.

On Sunday and Monday, GM faces the press in formal Q&A sessions at the Detroit Auto Show.

Later on Monday, The UAW starts the 2009 wage and conditions negotiations with GM. What is put on the table may well become public information at the outset.

Detail is awaited with interest. In round numbers, the Big Three need to trim hourly pay from an average of around US$30 to nearer US$20 an hour to be competitive and therefore viable.

Now then....Rick Wagoner was on record yesterday saying that he expected the UAW to come up with concessions in wage rates to help with survival in the current crisis; and it was UAW boss Gettelfinger who said that GM now had enough money to see it through. Are we to assume that they are both talking about the same thing and that at last the ludicrous layer of UAW pay and legacy costs are to be surrendered to make the US Big Three competitive?

Calculators at the ready ladies and gentlemen: the next few days could be very interesting.

Source : http://www.just-auto.com

Read More...

Maserati to unveil Quattroporte Sport GT S at NAIAS

Maserati announced today that the new Quattroporte Sport GT S will debut at the 2009 Detroit Motor Show next month.

The new Sport GT S variant of the new Maserati Quattroporte features - beside the updated exterior and interior styling of the new Quattroporte model - a power upgrade for the 4.7L V8 engine of now 440 hp, as well as other mechanical updates and improvements.

PRESS RELEASE:

The new Quattroporte Sport GT S debuting at the 2009 NAIAS on the 70th anniversary of Maserati’s first Indianapolis 500 win

The new Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S sets yet another milestone in terms of sportiness in the high performance luxury saloon segment of the automotive market. Conceived and developed as “a real driving machine in the guise of a luxury saloon ”, the Quattroporte Sport GT S is the ultimate expression of Maserati’s sportiness in the Quattroporte range.

The technical changes to the new Quattroporte Sport GT S in respect to the Quattroporte S concern four areas:
• the mapping of the V8 4.7 litre engine, with power increased to 323kW;
• the gearshift management software, with new features designed to increase driving enjoyment;
• the front and rear suspension system featuring single-rate dampers, stiffer springs and lower ride height;
• the sports exhaust controlled by pneumatic valves for a deep, throaty and captivating sound.

The sportier and more aggressive look is also evident due to the interior and exterior stylistic choices:
• the new black grille with concave vertical fins featuring the Trident logo with red accents, typical of the sportier versions of Maserati models;
• the new headlights, in metallic titanium finish;
• the side and rear “shadow line”, which includes black finishing around the doors, body-coloured door handles and black twin oval exhaust pipes,
• the new M-design seats with perforated Alcantara® and leather upholstery;
• the standard trim in Titantex, a “titanium coloured” composite material.


source : http://www.streetdrift.net

Read More...

2009 SSC Ultimate Aero now with 1287 hp, 270 mph

Shelby SuperCars announced a new model update for its hyper car, the SSC Ultimate Aero.

The 2009 Ultimate Aero now features an incredible output of 1287 horsepower, which constitutes a 15 percent increase compared to the previous model.

Its maker claims the 2009 Ultimate Aero will be able to reach a world-record setting 270 mph, pushing the limit even further.

PRESS RELEASE:

After holding the "World's Fastest Production Car" title for the past year, the Shelby SuperCars' Ultimate Aero is receiving several refinements for the 2009 model year. The SSC engineering team equipped the 2009 Ultimate Aero with a 15% increase in horsepower, a revamped front fascia design,


and an array of important interior upgrades. The most substantial change is an SSC-designed, 1-piece billet aluminum engine block. A milestone for the limited-production automobile manufacturer, the new block improves structural integrity and oiling capabilities allowing SSC to boost the power output to 1287 horsepower while improving durability.

Armed with the more powerful new engine, the '09 Ultimate Aero will be able to reach world-record speeds of 270 MPH, raising the benchmark for supercars and pushing the limits of current production car technology. In order to accommodate the '09 Ultimate Aero's unique fuel system requirements, SSC turned to American company Aeromotive to develop a flawless system. The aggressive nose is redesigned with enhanced aerodynamics to accommodate the 2009 Ultimate Aero's higher top speed, and carbon fiber louvers on the side intakes draw in an additional 20% of air into the radiators for improved cooling. The improvement in overall performance will widen the already sizeable gap between the Ultimate Aero and its competitors. The '09 Ultimate Aero also introduces the AeroBrakeTM a rear spoiler system that deploys under braking situations. Finished in carbon fiber, the rear spoilers actuate up an additional 8" when the brake pedal is depressed. The speed of the spoiler actuation is set by the amount of brake pedal pressure. The complete AeroBrakeTM system can be disabled by the push of a button, for town driving or situations where braking and downforce assistance are not necessary.

Rounding out the '09 Ultimate Aero's improvements is a revamped interior. A redesigned dash prominently displays sleek, exposed carbon fiber dash halves and inset air vents. Carbon fiber accents run along the doorsills, surround the new gauge cluster, and continue onto a revised steering column, which includes an analog speedometer and tachometer with a sequential shift light integrated into the tachometer needle. The new center console incorporates a digital temperature control unit and tire pressure monitor along with an Azentek PC base Infotainment unit. The revolutionary Azentek unit offers all the capabilities of a PC and processes SSC's onboard diagnostic software.

For more information and images of the 2009 Ultimate Aero, please visit www.ShelbySuperCars.com

source : http://www.streetdrift.net

Read More...

Hennessey tunes Nissan GT-R with 700 hp

Tuner Hennessey Performance, known for its extreme Dodge Viper creations, has unveiled a turbo package for the 2009 Nissan GT-R.

The turbo kit, which includes a complete overhaul of the GT-R engine, comes in a 600 hp and 700 hp version, dubbed the "Godzilla 600", and "Godzilla 700" respectively. The prices range from $11,500 (600-kit w/o installation) to $24,500 (700-kit with installation), plus the GT-R you need to bring, of course.

Official performance figures have not been announced yet, but it's safe to assume that it will be nothing less than impressive, considering the already stellar performance of a stock R35 with "only" 480 hp. More images after the jump...

Source : http://www.streetdrift.net

Read More...

Nissan factory cutbacks: 370Z delayed, GT-R on schedule

Bad news for European customers who are eagerly awaiting the delivery of their new Nissan 370Z.

The arrival of the 370Z in Europe had to be moved back to July 2009, reports EVO Magazine. According to the report, the production start of the 370Z is delayed until April 2009, due to the cutbacks at the Nissan plant in Tochigi, Japan. The projected start date was originally scheduled for this month.

The Nissan GT-R, as well as the Infiniti model line up, is produced at the same plant. When asked by EVO whether the European start of the GT-R would have to be delayed as well, a Nissan spokesperson responded saying that they are "not aware of any delays on the GT-R”.

Source : http://www.streetdrift.net

Read More...

Lamborghini announces record results for 2008

Lamborghini issued its annual end-of-year statement, announcing that it has - despite the on-going market crisis - reached a new record year in sales and profits for the fourth time in a row.

Detailed sales numbers will not be released before the Detroit Motor Show next month.

With Lamborghini not being entirely immune against the crisis, the factory will see no layoffs, but the christmas holidays were confirmed to be slightly extended.

PRESS RELEASE:

Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. will deliver another record year's results in 2008. Official sales figures will be communicated on the occasion of Lamborghini´s appearance at the Detroit Motor Show in January 2009.

Even as a low volume luxury car manufacturer, Automobili Lamborghini is not unaffected by the present downturn in economic activities in the wake of the global financial crisis. However, the company is in a favourable strategic position due to its identity as a luxury brand of longstanding tradition. One of its core brand values is exclusivity, which is maintained through tight management of volumes and a strict policy of maintaining a strong forward order bank. This exclusivity is of essential relevance to both dealers and customers and is pivotal for the appeal of the brand.

Lamborghini has the most attractive product line-up in the company´s 45 year history. With at least one new product launched every year, and the continued development of the dealer network to maximise market penetration, Automobili Lamborghini has produced a year on year record performance in terms of turnover, profit and volumes for the last four years, together with a rare double digit profit margin. The company´s development marks one of the most respected company turn-around programmes in the automotive and luxury industries.

Long before 2009, the company took decisive steps to address potential market volatility. Production flexibility is made possible by cooperative concepts developed with the union representatives. Besides flexible working hours, it provides the opportunity to create training and qualification programmes during work hours. There will be no layoffs, but an extension of the Christmas holiday for eight days has been confirmed.

Lamborghini will not divert from its long-term strategy. Investment into R&D will not be reduced, and there will be ongoing expansion of its brand presence on a world-wide scale, with more new products and further expansion of its dealer network. The company will continue its strategy of announcing at least one new product each year. The latest examples of this are the new Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 Coupe for which deliveries commenced summer 2008, and the Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder unveiled in November 2008 with market launch in spring 2009. Lamborghini continues its stated objectives of becoming the most profitable supersportscar manufacturer, the most attractive employer and the most attractive brand in its market.

Source :http://www.streetdrift.net/

Read More...