2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R

The most eagerly anticipated new performance car of the century

The 2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R is a legend before it even enters production.

Born from a long line of Skyline GT-Rs dating back to 1969, this latest version — “R36″ to the hard-core — promises to pack more turbocharged power, more all-wheel-drive technology and more sheer speed than any Japanese car ever to come to America.

For six years the 2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R has been the subject of intense rumors and frenzied speculation. It has appeared in more spy photos than Area 51; and Skyline prototypes are as familiar a sight on the Nürburgring as pine trees and pavement.

Why? Because the Skyline GT-R R36 is expected to be the ne plus ultra of Japanese performance machinery; and after 30 years of waiting, it’s finally America’s turn to officially take part in all the fun.

The original Nissan Skyline GT-R might have hit the street in 1969, but it wasn’t until 1990 that the GT-R legend would be solidified. That was the year the Skyline GT-R was introduced to an utterly stunned Japanese market. It was the first of three twin-turbocharged, all-wheel-drive and all-wheel-steering Skylines (R32, R33 and R34) and it’s the generation upon which the Skyline GT-R legend rests.

Though the R34 left production after the 2003 model year, it was so beloved that Nissan’s Nismo division actually bought 20 used Skyline GT-R R34 V-Spec models during 2005 and completely rebuilt them into what is currently considered the greatest GT-R of them all — the $170,000, 500-horsepower Skyline GT-R Z-Tune.

Although Nissan never imported the Skyline GT-R to the United States, the supercar still found its way into America’s automotive consciousness. In fact, buying one in the U.S. became relatively easy. By the dawn of the 21st century, several hundred had been imported.

So prominent had the Nissan Skyline GT-R become that in 2003’s 2 Fast 2 Furious, the film’s hero drove and raced one through the streets of Miami. And the actor Paul Walker, who played the role, bought his own and modified it.

America’s GT-R At the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan showed the GT-R Concept as the prospective successor to the R34. By early 2005, modified G35 coupes with Infiniti badges, oversize wheels and tires, big rear wings, hood scoops and bodywork protrusions big enough to hide exotic exhaust systems in back or intercoolers up front were spied at the Nürburgring.

These weren’t just tuner cars, but full-fledged prototypes of the next GT-R.

Then in the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show, another GT-R showcar appeared called the GT-R Proto; and the new, innovative shape of the next GT-R was apparent. Obviously based on Nissan’s FM-code front midengine chassis, this GT-R would apparently use a turbocharged version of the VQ V6 with a seven-speed transmission and all-wheel drive.

And at the 2006 New York Auto Show, Nissan’s CEO Carlos Ghosn announced that, yes finally, the new Skyline GT-R R36 would be sold in the United States and it would be sold worldwide exclusively through Nissan, and not Infiniti. And apparently without the Skyline name.

That’s right, it’ll officially be called the Nissan GT-R. Yeah, right, just like the 2007 Mazda Miata is the MX-5.

Almost ready to rock
Since then, more prototypes of the 2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R with sheet metal nearly identical to the GT-R Proto have been often seen at the Nürburgring and in America’s Southwest, usually in the company of at least one Porsche 911 Turbo. It’s that 480-horsepower, all-wheel-drive Porsche that Nissan is obviously using as its performance benchmark for this car.

But when the new production GT-R R36 goes on sale after its debut at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show in October, we don’t expect it to carry a price tag near that Porsche’s $122,000 chit. Instead the 2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R is expected to run somewhere around $70,000, making it a contender to take the title of best value supercar from the Chevrolet Corvette Z06.

No wonder it’s the most eagerly anticipated car in a generation. And to feed that anticipation, we’ll be updating this page with new information, photos and anything else related to the 2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R R36 until the official unveiling at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show.

Driving the 2008 BMW M3 Coupe

Eight angry cylinders define BMW’s latest performance icon

Marbella, Spain—Finally, after much anticipation during the past year, we are able to climb aboard the latest, if not the most famous, performance car in the BMW model lineup, the M3.

Turn on the ignition and the M3 wakes up with a purr. Stomp on the throttle and the silky-smooth V-8 comes alive with a roar. The BMW 4.0-liter engine is capable of pumping out an impressive 414 bhp at 8300 rpm and 295 lb.-ft. of torque at 3900 rpm. And according to the folks from Munich, the car can rocket from 0 to 62 mph in 4.8 seconds.

Through southern Spain’s fantastic winding mountain roads, the new M3 feels right at home. On open stretches of straightaway, the car is fast. But instead of a sudden rush of speed as you put the pedal to the metal, the BMW builds momentum smoothly and quickly. It is not until about 4000 rpm that the V-8 really begins to sound out its power through the intake and exhaust.

Around the high-speed sweepers and tight twisties, the M3’s exceptional chassis balance and power really shine. The car is sure-footed and confidence-inspiring, despite slippery conditions during our drive due to sandy conditions on the road. However, if the BMW does lose traction at the rear, it does so in such a progressive manner that there’s plenty of time to correct without much effort.

The new M3 appears the most menacing from the front. The bulge on the hood flanked by two air vents and the blacked-out carbon-fiber roof give the car an aggressive stance. In profile and around the rear, the car appears softer and more laid-back, except for the quad exhaust tips that hint at the vehicle’s performance capabilities.

Nissan GT-R Spy Video

Another great Nissan GT-R Video that you can find in Metacafe. The quality is quite good, there is possibility that this video is release by Nissan as part of their promotion strategy.
The Nissan GT-R is scheduled to be officially released in October at the Tokyo Motor Show.

The shot was made in Nurburgring area.

For video click here

Ferrari 430 Scuderia

These are the first photos of the new Ferrari 430 Scuderia, which you will be able to see in person at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2007, unveiled by none other than Michael Schumacher.

The new Ferrari 430 Scuderia joins it’s siblings the F430 coupé and the F430 Spider, and has a weight-to-power ratio of just 2.45 kg per hp thanks to a low dry weight of just 1250 kg – 100 kg less than the F430.

Sitting in the engine bay is a 4.3 liter naturally aspirated V8 making 510 horsepower at 8,500rpm - a horsepower to displacement ratio of more than 100 horses per liter. This engine is mated to an F1 Superfast gearbox which shifts in 50 milliseconds.

The new model is a special series based on the F430 and is aimed specifically at Ferrari’s most passionate and sports-driving oriented clients. It uses an E-Diff electronic differential and F1-Trac traction and stability control combined in a single integrated system, tuned for a sporty drive naturally, one that is deserving of being in a Ferrari.

997 Porsche 911 GT2

First details of Porsche’s new 911 GT2 has been revealed. It’s 3.6 liter twin VGT turbocharged boxer engine will be putting out 530 horsepower at 6,500rpm and 685Nm of torque between 2,200rpm to 4,500rpm, compared to the 911 Turbo’s 480hp at at 6,000rpm and 620Nm of torque between 1,950rpm to 5,000rpm.

So that’s more torque, more power, yet two less wheels to drive them through as the GT2 has always been a rear wheel drive monster. You can expect some serious rubber burning with this one. 0 to 100km/h takes 3.6 seconds - 0.1 seconds faster than the 911 Turbo Tiptronic S.

Though not officially unveiled by Porsche yet, I’m already waiting to see what RUF can do to this car.

Spyshots: Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X On The Street

BMW 120d Motorsport

This is a BMW 120d Motorsport modified with a BMW customer racing kit entered by Schubert Motors in the 24 Hours Nurburgring race. Now it doesn’t have the new twin turbodiesel inline-4 that the BMW 123d coupe has, however the racing kit gives it even more power than the 123d has in stock form - we’re talking about 245hp at 4,200rpm with a 5,000rpm redline as well as a collosal 450Nm of torque at 3,000rpm.

Brakes have been upgraded to 6-piston brakes at the front and 4-piston calipers at the rear. The car weighs 1,135kg including drive, which is very little to pull around considering it has 450Nm of torque driven through only two driven rear wheels. We’re talking about ridiculous amounts of wheelspin here.