NISSAN CARS: SKYLINE, 350Z, , 370Z, 240 SX, SR20DET, SILVIA, FORMULA DRIFT

2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster: Pricing revealed

2009-07-16T20:09:00.000-07:00

After debuting earlier this year at the New York Auto Show, Nissan has officially priced its 370Z Roadster. The base model 370Z Roadster — complete with six-speed manual transmission — will list from $37,690 (including destination) with the car’s optional seven-speed automatic bumping that price to $38,990. The up-level Touring model carry a price tag of $40,520 with a manual box and $42,540 with the automatic gearbox.

Compared to the 350Z, the wheelbase is nearly four inches shorter (100.4 inches versus 104.3 inches) and overall length is reduced by 2.6 inches (167.2 inches versus 169.8 inches). The new Z Roadster features an aluminum hood, door panels and trunk for reduced weight. At the same time, the body structure was extensively revised, improving rigidity and stability. The 370Z Roadster includes additional structural reinforcement (over the 370Z Coupe), including in the A-pillars and side sills.

The new Z convertible picks up 26 horsepower and 2 pound-feet of torque. It delivers 332 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 270 lb-ft of torque at 5,200 rpm, compared with the previous 3.5-liter V6’s 306 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 268 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. Along with its larger displacement, the 3.7-liter engine gives better power delivery all the way to the 7,500 rpm redline, improved low-end power and more high-end torque.

The car is offered with a choice of two new transmissions: a close-ratio 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic. The 6-speed manual is available with SynchroRev Match (included in the optional Sport Package), which allows drivers of any skill level to experience expert-like gear shifts. The SynchroRev Match function automatically controls and adjusts engine speed when shifting to the exact speed of the next gear position, essentially “blipping” the throttle to smooth out any up/down shifts. Similarly, the available 7-speed automatic includes Downshift Rev Matching (DRM) and Adaptive Shift Control (ASC) and is designed to offer quick, manual-like shifting when operated in manual mode.

article from: http://www.leftlanenews.com/nissan-370z-roadster.html
author:Drew Johnson

Some cool 350zzzzzzzzz's (I tried to stretch the last picture out for you guys...)

2009-07-16T19:52:00.000-07:00

Drifting Circus!!! Hope you enjoy :O)

2009-07-16T19:47:00.000-07:00

Drivin Sidewayz

2009-05-28T13:06:00.001-07:00

Lambo Killa!!! Hennessery GTR800

2009-05-28T12:48:00.001-07:00

Henessey GTR800
800 plus horsepower for your lamborghini killer!

Power:
813 hp @ 6,500 rpm
704 lb-ft Torque @ 4,100 rpm

Performance:
0-60 mph: 2.6 sec. (stock = 3.4)
0-100 mph: 6.2 sec. (stock = 8.3)
0-150 mph: 13.5 sec. (stock = 19.5 sec.) 1/4 mile: 10.5 sec. @ 136 mph (stock = 11.8 sec. @ 118 mph)

Includes:
SUMO ™ Stainless Steel Midpipe Exhaust
SUMO ™ Engine Management Computer Programmer (17 psi boost)
SUMO ™ Intercooler Piping Upgrade
SUMO ™ Inlet Piping Upgrade with Stainless Steel Blow-off Valves
SUMO ™ Intercooler Core Upgrade
SUMO ™ Stainless Steel Turbo Headers
SUMO ™ GT30R Ball Bearing Turbo Upgrade
SUMO ™ Stainless Steel Turbo Down Pipes
SUMO ™ 44 mm External Wastegates
SUMO ™ 100 mm High-Flow Cold Air Induction
Modified Factory Mass Air Sensors
Fuel Pump Upgrade
High-Flow Fuel Injectors with Custom Calibration
Transmission Cooler Upgrade
Transmission Clutch Pack Upgrade
Professional Installation
All Necessary Gaskets & Fluids
Chassis Dyno Tuning & Engine Management Calibration
Powered by Hennessey Custom Floor Mats
Limited Edition GTR700 Plaque in Interior & Engine Compartment
Factory Engine Cover in Red with black GTR800 Badges
Hennessey & GTR800 Exterior Badges
The GTR800 kit is also available via mail order and it can also be exported internationally.

Optional Upgrades:
SUMO ™ Electronic Exhaust Cutout (75 mm)
KW Variant 3 Adjustable Coilover Suspension Upgrade
HRE C91 Light Weight Alloy Wheel Upgrade (set of 4)

SUMO ™ Brand Hennessey Performance Engineering (HPE) is proud to introduce its own line of high-performance parts & accessories for the R35 Nissan GTR. As the name implies, our SUMO ™ performance brand is big and powerful. Each individual component included in the GTR700 upgrade is available individually on a mail-order basis. GTR owners can order SUMO ™ performance parts from HPE by calling or by visiting the company’s new web store at HennesseyPerformanceStore.com

Garage Defend GTR

2009-05-28T12:45:00.000-07:00

Hennessey GTR!!

2009-05-28T12:43:00.001-07:00

Hennessey Performance has just come out with the Godzilla 600 Nissan GT-R Upgrade tuning package just in time for Christmas 2008. If you are one of the privileged to own a Nissan GT-R, you might want to re-write your Christmas 2008 wish list to include this moderately priced GT-R tuning upgrade package from Hennessey Performance!

Hennessey Godzilla 600 Price:
Mail Order: $11,500 USD
Installed: $14,500 USD

Tuned Power Output:
600hp @ 6400 rpm
570lb-ft @ 5200 rpm

First drive of the GTR by Nissan

2009-05-28T12:26:00.000-07:00

The 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 is, in Nissan's own words, a tour de force. Making 480 hp at 6,400 RPM and 430 lb.-ft. of torque between 3,200 and 5,200 RPM, the engine works double duty – pure efficiency and utter insanity. The VR38DETT is hand built by a single technician in a climate-controlled clean room after the bores are plasma-sprayed to reduce friction and increase cooling.

The symmetrically independent intake and exhaust plumbing is shortened for efficiency and the dual IHI turbos are practically married to the exhaust ports on the head. And with a thermostatically controlled oil cooling system, complete with a scavenger pump maintaining oil pressure to the turbos, no amount of lateral Gs will keep the slippery stuff from getting where it needs to be. All that, and it still gets a ULEV rating.

As impressive as the engine is, the transmission, chassis and all-wheel-drive system left us in awe. As you're already aware, Nissan developed its first dual-clutch gearbox for use in the GT-R, with six speeds available through either the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters or automatically controlled by the computer (shifts take place in .2-seconds when in "R" mode). The engine sends power to a carbon fiber driveshaft and on to the rear-mounted gearbox, while another steel driveshaft is mounted to the right (underneath the passenger side) and can send up to 50-percent of the torque to the front wheels when the ATTESA E-TS all-wheel-drive computer senses a loss of grip. The system has more sensors than the FCC, with one keeping track of steering angle, another monitoring lateral and transverse acceleration, plus systems that keep tabs on speed, tire slip, road surface and yaw rate, and then dolling out power as it sees fit. Otherwise, 100-percent of the power is delivered to the rear – exactly as God intended.

We were surprised that Nissan didn't employ a traditional torque tube to house the main drive shaft and mate the engine to the transmission. According to the Nissan crew, the motor and tranny mounts, along with the cross members, are so stiff that utilizing a torque tube would have upset the balance of the vehicle when powering out of corners.

Power is sent to 20-inch rollers, sized 9.5-inches wide up front and 10.5-inches in the rear. Nissan tapped its long-time partner, Rays Engineering, to supply the hoops, and made it a point to include bead knurling on the inside of the wheels to prevent the tires from shifting under high cornering loads – something that was apparently a problem while testing at the Nurburgring. The nitrogen-filled, Bridgestone run-flats we used on our drive are the same tires found on the Premium model, but Dunlops are standard and Nissan will be offering Blizzaks if you decide to test out the Snow setting on the ATTESA system.

As with the engine and transmission, the suspension is another masterpiece of modern automotive engineering. The GT-R is suspended by independent double-wishbones in the front and a multi-link rear setup, and uses a model-specific version of Bilstein's DampTronic system (similar to that used on Porsches) that provides even more information for the computer to sort out when pushing the GT-R to the limits.
The interior, like the exterior, is form following function. The thrones are incredibly comfortable and provide some serious bolstering, although we noticed that the driver seat might be a bit wider than the passenger seat. The rear seats certainly looked nice, but the absolutely laughable rear legroom prevented us from even considering spending time out back.

All the controls -- the paddle shifters, steering wheel-mounted switches, climate dials and in-car computer buttons -- are clearly marked and easy to read. Overall, the switchgear has a crisp feel, but you never forget that you're still in a Nissan. Some of the plastics aren't top-shelf, and the HVAC knobs lack any kind of tactility, but most of the materials were better than expected and the leather inserts on the dash, doors and center console did their best to elevate the rest of the interior.

The Nissan GT-R maxes out the bang-for-the-buck quotient like no other vehicle, but does so in a way that will only appeal to a select group of drivers. Whereas the similarly priced Z06 is the culmination of decades of refining the traditional FR arrangement, the GT-R takes everything Nissan knows about physics and speed and condenses it into a cohesive package that changes your very perception about what's possible behind the wheel. It won't bend the space-time continuum, but it comes closer than anything before it. And like the Skyline GT-Rs of yore, it has the potential to revolutionize everything we as drivers hold dear.

(article summarized from: http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/04/first-drive-2009-nissan-gt-r/)

AAAAAAHHHHH, drifting from Singapour!!

2008-12-17T11:28:00.001-08:00

The New 370Z by Nissan

2008-12-17T11:22:00.000-08:00

Nissan offers the first look at the upcoming 2009 370Z Coupe, which makes its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 19th.
The all-new 2009 Nissan 370Z, the first full redesign of the iconic Nissan Z since its reintroduction as a 2003 model, solidifies the strengths of its predecessor with an unmatched balance of performance, style and value. The all-new Z will go on sale at Nissan dealers in early 2009.

Believe it or not. Singapore will be Drifting crazy!!

2008-03-12T08:54:00.000-07:00

(article from channelnewasia.com)
Singapore to host Formula Drift race in April
By Patwant Singh

SINGAPORE : Singapore will host its first-ever Formula Drift race in April.
However, the excitement is already building up for the sport which involves cars moving sideways.

More Singaporeans are taking to drifting as motor sports gets more mainstream here.

Ivan Lim, Drift Driver, said, "(It's about) losing control of the vehicle (while) still (being) in control, which is different from track racing, because track racing is grip driving, so you are actually just gripping the road."

The organisers said that even a beginner can learn how a drift.

The drifting clinic at the new Changi Exhibition Centre is just a sampling of the real stuff to hit Singapore in April.

Marcus Lim, Organiser, Formula Drift Singapore, said, "We have 40 drivers coming down and racing and we have about three of them from the USA. Basically what is happening is we are bringing the management crew and the judges and the track marshals from Formula Drift USA. And they are coming to Singapore to manage and run the race."

Five Singaporeans, including the three conducting the clinic, will take part in the April event - which will also see drivers from the region competing.

About 10,000 people are expected to witness the adrenalin pumping action, which is very popular in the United States. - CNA/ms

HERE IS THE OFFICIAL PRICE LIST ON THE GTR.. It will be updated soon

2008-03-12T08:48:00.002-07:00

Click here to view the PDF. document

ITS HERE.. YOU CAN ORDER NOW!!!!!!!!

2008-03-12T08:48:00.001-07:00

CHICAGO (Feb. 6, 2008) – Nissan today announced that the all-new Nissan GT-R supercar is now available for pre-ordering at 691 officially certified Nissan dealers across the United States. The 2009 Nissan GT-R, equipped with a 480-horsepower, twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6 engine and advanced 6-speed dual clutch automatic transmission, has a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $69,850 for the GT-R and $71,900 for the GT-R Premium model (exclusive of Destination & Handling). Customer deliveries of the new GT-R are scheduled to begin in June 2008.

Nissan dealers have attained “GT-R Certification” status by meeting a number of strict sales, service and facilities commitments, including dedicating a master technician to GT-R service, special training for service managers and technicians, and designating dealer principals, executive managers and general managers as the primary communicators/negotiators in sales transactions. A listing of GT-R Certified Nissan dealers is available to consumers on nissanusa.com.

THE NEW GTR V-SPEC FOR THE U.S.

2007-10-25T13:15:00.000-07:00

The V-spec version of the all-new GT-R will arrive in 2009 as a 2010 model. The new car is still under development but when it arrives it will be more powerful and lighter than the standard version.

Previous V-spec cars featured an improved brake package, lowered suspension, and plenty of carbon-fiber and aluminum. The latest GT-R rumors put the vehicle at over 530hp and lighter than previous publications.

GTO vs Nissan

2007-07-18T09:59:00.000-07:00

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO!!!!!!

Check out Formula Drift @ www.FormulaD.com

2007-07-18T09:51:00.000-07:00

Check out the new Formual D website. Its packed with new information about all the upcoming events, it breaks down judging, winner payouts, entry form information, and their upcoming televison events.

Click here to visit Formula D

What is D1, and can I just start drifting??

2007-05-29T12:53:00.000-07:00

What is D1 Grand Prix?

D1 Grand Prix is a sport, which is judged, based on who has the coolest and radical drifting performance style. Drifting is a way of driving that force the rear tires slide while controlling the pass of forward motion. The steering wheel is turning to the same side of the sliding direction, and drivers are to control the vehicle in extreme speed, often exceeding 120 mph, and driving conditions.

How do I participate in D1?
Obtaining the D1 license.

"Must be a D1 license holder in order to participate in D1GP. "

Maintain good results at D1 Drivers search events that are certified by D1 Grand Prix Officials.

Sometimes,if a driver has fairly good reputation in other motorsports, then the judges may grant a right to participate in D1 Grand Prix

Check out the new 2008 G37 by Infiniti. Will this be the Skyline Platform?

2007-05-29T12:45:00.000-07:00

One look at the "G37" badge on the trunklid of Infiniti's new sport coupe, and it's evident there's something bigger and better at play here. Not that its predecessor, the G35 coupe, was in desperate need of becoming bigger or better. With a 293-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6, a stout front-mid (FM) platform, and sheetmetal so arousing you can throw away the Viagra, the G35 coupe wasn't only a standout player in its segment but also a huge hit for Infiniti. In fact, since it arrived for the 2003 model year, the G coupe has averaged annual sales of nearly 26,000, numbers that account for nearly 40 percent of all G sales. And with just over 20,000 sold in 2006, Infiniti moved more G coupes than BMW did 3 Series coupes (slightly under 15,000, not including convertibles). Who says coupes are dead?

So it's no surprise that following such smashing success, not to mention BMW's recent introduction of the twin-turbocharged, 300-horsepower E92 335i coupe, Infiniti would roll out a fresh two-door of its own, aiming to keep that hot streak hot and BMW on ice. To do so, Infiniti has remodeled the G Coupe's interior, tweaked the chassis, and enhanced the styling. And, lest we forget, it dropped a new V-6 underhood with 37 more horsepower. Bigger and better? Why not?

Offering an advanced peek at the G37, Infiniti invited us out to its Arizona Test Center, a 3050-acre oasis of sand, dirt, farms, and, most important, pavement in Stanfield, about 50 miles south of Phoenix. ATC features a 5.7-mile high-speed oval and four road courses, where we were allowed a handful of laps on the oval and one of the courses, just enough to get a feel for the new G. But before we delve into our initial impressions, some pertinent background info.

As its name suggests, the G37 is motivated by a new 3.7-liter VQ-series V-6 that delivers 330 horses and 270 pound-feet of torque. Compared with the 306-horse, 3.5-liter, 268-pound-foot V-6 in the second-gen G sedan, the 3.7 utilizes the same 95.5mm bore but features a longer 86.0mm stroke (versus 81.4 mm), a higher-compression ratio (11.0:1 versus 10.6:1), and roughly 35-percent unique parts. The "VHR" components denote Infiniti's innovative Variable Valve Event and Lift technology and the 3.7's "high-revolution" capability, i.e., a redline of 7500 rpm. According to Infiniti, VVEL, which continuously varies the timing and lift of the intake valves, provides more power and torque throughout the powerband as well as improved fuel economy and reduced emissions. This vigorous VQ will no doubt find its way into such other Infiniti products as the FX sport/ute and the M and G sedans, not to mention the next Nissan Z and the upcoming Skyline GT-R.

While upon first glance the new coupe bears a striking resemblance to the old one, longer examination reveals that designers burned plenty of midnight oil to recharge the car's lines. Every body panel is new, and the G37 incorporates fresh design cues introduced on the sedan, including a wave hood, a double-arch grille, L-shaped headlamps, and an integrated rear spoiler. The overall look is more grown up, but it still conveys that sense of speed and power, certainly with the distinct character line that links the front and rear fenders. Dimensionally, the G37 hasn't strayed far from its precursor, growing 0.9 inch in length and 0.2 inch in width, while shrinking 0.1 inch in height. Wheelbase remains at 112.2 inches, while front and rear tracks widen by 0.5 and 0.9 inch, respectively.

Article from "http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupes/112_0705_2008_infiniti_g37/"

Lookout drift website (Nissan drifting on the web)

2007-02-16T07:57:00.000-08:00

Check out this new website filled with Nissan Drifting material. They will come to you if you have a place for them to set up, and they will put on a full exhibition.

Lookout Drift Website

Nissan Previews 2008 Titan, Pathfinder and Armada

2007-02-15T20:10:00.000-08:00

FARMINGTOM HILLS, Mich. (Feb. 1, 2007) – Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today previewed the new 2008 Nisan Titan full-size pickup, Pathfinder mid-size SUV and Armada full-size SUVs at a press conference at the Nissan Technical Center North America, Farmington Hills, Mich. prior to their public debut at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show, February 9 – 18 at McCormick Place, Chicago.

The three new vehicles offer significant upgrades and enhancements, including the addition of new Titan Long Wheelbase King Cab and Crew Cab models, a new 5.6-liter V8 engine for Pathfinder, and new exterior and interior designs for Armada. The three new 2008 Nissan vehicles are scheduled to be available at Nissan dealers nationwide beginning in spring 2007.

“The addition of the Titan Long Wheelbase models and the first-ever V8 engine ever offered in the 22-year history of Pathfinder expand the available choices for buyers of these two popular vehicles,” said Larry Dominique, vice president, Product Planning, Nissan North America, Inc. “The extensive makeover of Armada, which has topped J.D. Power and Associates’ APEAL study for the Large SUV class in 2005 and 2006, adds up to an even more attractive, more premium and more complete Armada package for 2008 – one that we think will continue to make Armada stand out in the full-size SUV class

Article from:http://www.nissannews.com/

NISSAN invents new scratch resistant/self healing Paint

2007-02-08T07:35:00.000-08:00

NISSAN DEVELOPS WORLD'S FIRST CLEAR PAINT
THAT REPAIRS SCRATCHES ON CAR SURFACES

TOKYO (Dec. 2, 2005)-- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., has developed the world’s first clear paint that repairs scratches on painted car surfaces, including scratches from car-washing machines, off-road driving and fingernails.

“Scratch Guard Coat” contains a newly developed high elastic resin that helps prevent scratches from affecting the inner layers of a car’s painted surface. With “Scratch Guard Coat” a car’s scratched surface will return to its original state anywhere from one day to a week, depending on temperature and the depth of the scratch.

The water-repellant paint also has a higher resistance to scratches compared with conventional clear paints. A vehicle painted with “Scratch Guard Coat” will have only one-fifth the abrasions caused by a car-washing machine compared with a car covered with conventional clear paint. Scratches from car-washing machines account for the majority of scratches to painted car surfaces.

“Scratch Guard Coat” is effective for about three years.

“Scratch Guard Coat” will be applied for the first time on an SUV model that is scheduled for a partial makeover in the near future. The paint will be applied to the car’s chassis, bumpers, door mirrors, among other parts.

Car painted with “Scratch Guard Coat”

aritcle from http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/NEWS/2005/_STORY/051202-01-e.html

2007-01-29T11:46:00.001-08:00

Technorati Profile

2007-01-29T11:26:00.000-08:00

Nissan decided to return to their roots, at least geographically, when they broke ground this past Saturday on their new global head office in Yokohama, Japan. The city of Yokohama served as the launching pad for Japan's second largest car manufacturer over 70 years ago.

The new, 860,000 square-foot facility will be completed by October 2009 and will house close to 2,500 of the 3,000 employees currently working for Nissan. The 22-floor, 324-foot tall building will cost approximately 42 billion Yen or $350m U.S., and has been designed to mimic "a sailing ship departing for open sea."

[Source: Drive.com.au]

Nissan's role in the Drift Scene

2007-01-23T08:48:00.000-08:00

Share Videos With Your Friends And Get Paid!Click Here.

History of Drifting
Many attribute the return of drifting as a competitive sport to mountain-road racers of rural Japan. Informal challenges on back mountain roads (called "touge") eventually evolved into a heavily funded and advertised competitive events, sanctioned by organizations and held on private tracks. Drifting began in America at a grassroots level around 2002, and has exploded into a massively popular form of motorsport. Japanese drifters are still considered to be at the cutting edge of technique and car development, but their American counterparts are quickly catching up.

As rumor has it, Tsuchiya Keiichi was in a car race, and was dead last. Being a sore loser, he decided to swing the car around the corners, shocking and amazing the crowd. When accessed later for comment, Tsuchiya called it "drifting." While this is not the origin, it is probably where it obtained its name and introduction.

Before major tire technology developments in the 1970s, drifting was a popular racing technique, as it allowed a car to carry more speed through a turn than more conventional techniques. In order to go through a corner as fast as possible, drivers approached turns at high speed, turned the car in quickly to initiate a slide, and allowed the friction of the tires to slow them down as they kept their turn-in angle throughout the corner.

Over the past decade, the Nissan Silvia has not only achieved cult status among Japanese tuners, but with enthusiasts worldwide. Some may wonder how this car has managed to separate itself from a sea of tuner friendly sport compacts. Perhaps it's the four cylinder, sixteen valve, turbocharged SR20DET engine. Widely known as having almost unlimited potential, this workhorse gracefully produces 205hp right from the factory.

Maybe it's the fact that the Silvia is a well balanced, front engine, rear wheel drive chassis, perfect for the competitive motor sports crowd. Those interested in further tuning, have a huge array of aftermarket options, where the parts bins are virtually overflowing with support in performance, suspension, and cosmetic upgrades. Offering some of the sexiest curves that Nissan has ever produced.

The King of Drifting
Keiichi Tsuchiya is considered one of Japan's all time racing legends. He honed his driving skills from a young age driving nearby mountain roads (togue) in his KPGC10 Skyline. By driving hard on all types of surfaces and conditions he learned car control at the limits. In 1977 he debuted in the Fuji Freshman series, this was followed by several amateur racing events. 1984 saw him getting a drive with the Advan AE86/1984 Corolla GT-S. The Drift King was born. In this series his technique of using drift (sliding the rear of the car out) in a downhill corner yielded a better corner speed and improved lap times. This technique is what made him the Drift King not as most believe that he was first in the drift scene. While racing professionally he continued to participate in illegal Initial-D style togue battles. After videos of these races fell into the hands of authorities his driver's license was actually suspended.

Despite this, his legend grew in Japan as being a rebel racer who would take on any challenge be it street or track. His relationship racing Toyota's AE86 Trueno throughout the 1980's helped elevate the car to the cult status it carries today. It also inspired a manga author named Shuichi Shigeno to make the car a focus of his Initial-D manga. Tsuchiya would later play an integral part in the TV series, advising on the racing physics for the CGI cars and matching proper sounds to their anime car counterparts. Today the Drift King can be seen in the monthly Best Motoring and Hot Version video magazines.

Drifting techniques

There are many different ways to drift a car, including: (NOTE: ABS and TCS should be turned off before attempting to drift.)

Braking drift - This drift is performed by trail braking into a corner so that the rear wheels lose traction, then controlling the drift with proper steering and gas inputs. It is probably the most typical drifting technique for RWD cars.

Power Over Drift - This drift performed when entering a corner at full throttle to produce heavy oversteer through the turn. It is the most typical drifting technique for AWD cars.

Inertia (Feint) Drift - This is done by rocking the car towards the outside of a turn and then using the inertia of the car to swing it back to the desired drifting line. Using this technique, you can chain up many drifts into one long continuous drift where traction is never fully regained at any point. This is ideally done at the mountain passes where the continuous corners facilitates this type of drifting.

Handbrake Drift - This technique is pretty straight forward; pull the handbrake to induce rear traction loss and balance drift through steering and throttle play. Some people debate the fact that if using the handbrake creates an actual drift, or just a power slide. This is generally the main technique to perform a controlled drift in a FWD vehicle.

Dirt Drop Drift - This is done by dropping the rear tires off the road into the dirt to maintain or gain drift angle without losing power or speed and to set up for the next turn. Only permissible on roads without barriers and lined with dirt or other materials which to lose traction. This is commonly done in WRC rallying.

Jump Drift - A dangerous maneuver to accomplish and only permissible on certain race tracks. This technique requires the rear tire on the inside of a turn or apex to be bounced over a curb to lose traction, thus resulting in the desired oversteer.

Clutch Kick - This is done by "kicking" the clutch (pushing in, then out) to send a shock through the powertrain, upsetting the car's balance. It causes the car to go into oversteer.

How To Share Videos With Your Friends And Get Paid! Click Here.

Nissan Skyline Coming to the U.S.

2007-01-22T18:15:00.000-08:00

How To Share Videos With Your Friends And Get Paid! Click Here.

Literature from Automobile Magazine (www.automobilemag.com)

Japanese automakers are notoriously tightlipped about future products, but the veil of secrecy over the next-generation Nissan Skyline GT-R has been nothing short of amazing. Thus, at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show, there was a huge air of expectancy and a real buzz on the Nissan stand prior to the introduction of the Nissan GT-R Proto. In Japan, the Skyline is gearhead manna, so the car had been written about, talked about, and fantasized about for months leading up to the show.

The Proto didn't disappoint. Although hardly a car at all-there is no running gear and no interior-it is the second big clue as to what the upcoming, 2008 model Skyline will look like, following the GT-R Concept that was seen at the same show four years ago. The Proto packs real power and presence while still managing to be quintessentially and unmistakably Japanese.

The muscular front end with its massive center air intake and set of broad front fenders is very techno, very cool, and redolent of the earlier concept. The sculptured, heavy-duty body sides that bulk up toward the rear are also evolutions of the GT-R Concept, but designer Hiroshi Hasegawa (who did the Infiniti G35 sedan and coupe) has produced a new sloping roofline and an unusual kinked C-pillar. The four round taillights are a traditional Skyline design cue. Shiro Nakamura, Nissan's design chief, says that the shape is 80 to 90 percent of what will make it into production. The Proto has its own signature style, but it's one that's governed by exhaustive aerodynamic studies. This, after all, is a performance icon.

The show car rides on 255/40R-20 Bridgestone tires up front, with 285/35R-20s at the rear. It looks bigger and broader than the R34 Skyline GT-R, the last of the straight-six-powered, twin-turbo four-wheel-drive GT-Rs made between 1989 and 2002. Although the R34 fueled the modern GT-R cult, it was derived, like all Skylines, from a sedan. The new GT-R will be the first to stand alone as a model in its own right.

It will also be the first time that Nissan has officially imported the Skyline into the United States, so the company needs the car to live up to the hype that has been built around it. The Skyline GT-R, as well as being a star of video games, was hugely successful in racing and was a one-time holder of the Nürburgring Nordschleife lap record for production cars, a feat which has become a sort of holy grail for performance-car manufacturers.

As to what will underpin the macho sheetmetal, no one at Nissan is telling-at least for the time being. One of the select few who knows is Carlos Tavares, Nissan's Portuguese product chief who came from Renault and is now overseeing the plans for the next wave of Nissan/Infiniti products. Security is so tight on this project that the new GT-R is being developed in a special cordoned-off area at Nissan's Technical Center in Atsugi. Even well-connected insiders say they're kept out of the loop. "Very few people know the cubic capacity of the engine," says Tavares, "but it's just because we want to let people express their ideas. If the chief engineer comes to us tomorrow and says, 'Well, I want to do this or this,' we would restrain his room for maneuvering if we announced things beforehand."

Sitting in his Ginza, Tokyo, office, Tavares explains why Nissan has ten such an inordinately long time to develop this car (some six years). "We want to make sure [the end result] is going to be very efficient. Our mindset is to create a success that will last and be consistent with the GT-R story. When you are looking at extreme performance, you can more easily make mistakes. So we want to go step by step. We don't want to promise things we will not be able to deliver." He also reveals that the target is to produce a car that will rival the speed and driver appeal of the Porsche 911 Turbo without any on-limit trickiness.

To that end, the rumor mill in Japan says that the production GT-R will have a front-mounted, twin-turbo, 3.8-liter V-6 engine that's a development of the 350Z's unit. Nissan's original plan to do a V-8 has been axed because the engine is too big and heavy to provide the dynamic balance the engineers want. The V-6 will reputedly produce 450 hp and 370 lb-ft of torque. The power will be sent to all four wheels via a seven-speed transmission. The all-wheel-drive system will feature a development of the GT-R's famed, torque-sensing, electronic ATTESA E-TS, matched to four-wheel steering.

We've heard that the 2008 GT-R will be an inch shorter, an inch lower, and three inches wider than today's G35 coupe, thus putting a much broader footprint on the road. One reason for this latest GT-R taking so long to reach fruition has been the decision to base the car off a totally new platform, likely the successor to the FM platform that underpins the Nissan 350Z and the Infiniti G35 and FX35/45. Nissan is apparently aiming for a 0-to-60-mph time of 3.8 seconds, with a top speed north of 180 mph.

Straightline performance isn't the defining feature of the upcoming Skyline, though, according to Tavares. GT-R mules-G35 coupes with bulging bodywork and odd proportions-have regularly been spotted lapping the Nürburgring. "One thing I can tell you," says Tavares, "is that one of the standards we use is time. Our targets will be expressed mainly as time targets on reference circuits." And, yes, the 'Ring is one of those reference tracks.

The R33 Skyline GT-R was credited with setting a production-car lap record, breaking the eight-minute barrier, back in 1995, so Nissan would now be looking at a time of around seven minutes. "Well, you don't expect us to be worse than the previous one, do you?" asks Tavares, deadpan. "We will be very competitive. If we are not, we will do it again." To illustrate how passionate his team is, Tavares relates that when he asked some questions about the car recently, the chief engineer pulled out his laptop to show him the 240 parameters that are being measured during Nürburgring testing.

Ironically, the new GT-R will mark the beginning of a new Japanese supercar race. Honda has let on that it is planning a V-10-engined replacement for the NSX, and Lexus is contemplating production of the edgy, V-10-powered LF-A coupe. Against these, the GT-R may end up suffering from cylinder envy.

Make money like me sharing video...click here!!

One thing is for sure, though. The GT-R is going to look great, and Nissan is confident that it will be a rival to the Porsche 911 Turbo, for the same sort of money as a Porsche 911 Carrera. There's some debate inside the company whether it will be called a Nissan-which makes sense, bearing in mind the heritage-or an Infiniti, which also has merit, in light of this being the most expensive car Nissan will have sold in America. Whatever it's called, we reckon that, if it has the kind of searing performance and soul of the last generation, it will be worth its rumored $70,000 or so asking price.