R35 Nissan GTR (2007–2009)
The R35 GTR
made its debut at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, and its launch to
the Japanese market was the 6th December 2007. It was launched
to the U.S.A July 07, 2008. The R35 has its engine and rear-mounted
dual-clutch gearbox built by hand, limiting production to around
1000 cars a month. The Nissan GTR also features the world's first
independent transaxle 4WD developed by Nissan.
Although the
Nissan R35 GTR no longer carrys the "Skyline" badge,
it has heritage in the Nissan Skyline GT-R. Just like its predecessors,
the "R32-R34", the R35 is all-wheel drive with a twin-turbo
6 cylinder engine. But thats about all they have in common, the
traditional Straight-6 RB26DETT engine has been replaced with
a new V6 VR38DETT, also the four-wheel-steering HICAS system has
been removed. The R35 GTR, with the chassis code CBA-R35 or 'R35'
is carrying on the naming trend from previous Skyline GTRs. It
has also retained the nickname "Godzilla".
The first
R35 concept was shown at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2001 to show
how the 21st century GTR would look. Nissan unveiled a redesigned
concept at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show, the GTR Proto, stating that
the production GTR would be 80-90% based on this concept.
The creators
of the Gran Turismo series of racing video games, were contracted
to design the GTR's multifunction display. The Nissan GTR gives
ultimate performance for virtually every driving condition whether
it be on the Nurburgring circuit, on snow, rain or urban streets,
it is all manageable to the GTR driver through the advanced technology
and driving dynamics.
Nissan have
claimed the GTR will reach a top speed of 195 mph "314 km/h"
and that the R35 has been tested to achieve 0-60 mph "97
km/h" times as low as 3.2 seconds. Nissan have also claimed
a lap time of 7:29 sec using standard Japanese market tires, which
makes the GTR currently one of the fastest production cars to
lap the Nürburgring circuit. Porsche have accused Nissan
of falsifying these claims, Porsche conducted their own test of
the R35 GTR using no modifications and stock tires and achieved
a best time of 7:54. Nissan have officially disputed Porsche's
claim in October 2008. Another independent test recorded a time
of 7:50, although one key corner of the track was damp. The GTR
currently holds a lap time of 1:19.7 around the Top Gear Test
Track, "equal with the Ferrari F430 Scuderia". On the
Las Vegas Motor Speedway infield road course, Motor Trend were
able to achieve lap times with the GTR that were equal to the
Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano and Porsche 911 GT2 and only 3 seconds
slower than the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.
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