I was looking for some pictures earlier today, and ran across this whole album of old Motorex pictures. These are from around December 2000. IDRC held a bunch of drag racing events at Palmdale. Import drag racing was huge. From Battle of the Imports, to IDRC, Palmdale was the place for import drag racing on the west coast.
MotoRex attended a number of these events with groups of Nissan Skyline GT-R's. We had fun, ran some cars down the quarter mile, watched a bikini contest or two.
This is Kak. He was staged here.
Big Bird R33 GT-R at IDRC MotoRex
Al's R32 GT-R. Purple with Dragonball Z
Toshi's MotoRex US legal R34 GT-R
Victor Reyes getting ready to drag race Big Bird
Victor getting ready to race Big Bird
Big Bird at IDRC in Palmdale
Blackbird R34 GT-R that was sold by MotoRex
Blackbird R34 GT-R that was sold by MotoRex
Pretty sure this car was Slim Shady
MotoRex R33, R32, R32, and R34 GT-R
Kak and Nicks R32. Cha Cha is a Japanese hostess club in LA
The Nissan GT-R has piqued your interest, and now you are looking for a used example. Should you pick a 2009, 2010, 2011,2012,2013, 2014 , 2015? What are the differences? What is it that I hear about the transmission? Does it have launch control? What are some of the problem areas with the car? Which year is fastest? What is the NISMO? This guide is going to be based around US models first sold in July 2008. Worldwide models are similar but not exactly the same as US models. Stock the Nissan GT-R is fast, however with a strong aftermarket behind it, modified it is nearly unbelievable.
First Look
Titanium(KAC), the rarest color
The Nissan GT-R or R35 was first sold in the US as a 2009 model starting in July 2008. Why is it called an R35? The chassis code for the 2009-2011(US) GT-R is CBA-R35. The 2012 up(US) GT-R has undergone several minor updates and is referred to as a DBA-R35. In Japan and other parts of the world, there has been a Nissan Skyline GT-R sold from 1969 to 1973, a 16 year break, and then from 1989 to 2002. From 1989-1994 the chassis code was BNR32, 1995-1998 was BCNR33, and 1999-2002 was BNR34. Even though the "Skyline" name is no longer used officially by Nissan, there are still many journalists and enthusiasts that refer to the R35 GT-R as a Skyline GT-R.
In 2009, from July though December there were 667 cars sold in the US. In the first year of sales from July 2008 though June 2009 there were 2597 sales though the 691 certified GT-R dealers. July 2009- June 2010 there were 1171 cars. Total sales from July 2008 though October 2012 were 6489 cars. Breakdown by year, and some other countries is listed below.
Two models of the GT-R were first offered in 2009 and 2010, the Base, and Premium, in 2011 the only model was the Premium,. In 2009 and 2010, there were a few options available on each model, ipod connector($400) in the glovebox, GT-R labeled floor mats($280), and a cold weather package(NC). In 2011, the GT-R floor mats($280) and the cold weather package(NC) were options. Super Silver(KAB) paint was a $3000 option in each year. There were 3 runflat tire options, the Bridgestone(Premium), the Dunlop(Base), and the Dunlop all season(cold weather package).Six exterior colors were available in 2009. In 2010 and 2011 there were five exterior colors(Titanium was dropped). The interior had two color options, black and gray from 2009-2011.
For 2012, there were a few changes to the color, and model options. A Premium and a Black Edition were available. The Black Edition sports unique wheels, red and black trimmed Recaro seats, and a black headliner. All performance aspects are the same for the Premium and the Black Edition, both now running a new version of the Dunlop Sport Maxx tires, or the Dunlop all season tire, the Bridgestone was dropped. For 2012 a backup camera became a $600 option for the first time officially in the US. The Black paint was changed to Jet Black(GAG), and Deep Blue Pearl was introduced (RAY).
For 2013 Nissan GT-R the Nissan GT-R gets a world wide increase to 550PS (545hp). Torque has been
increased to 463 lb-ft from 448 lb-ft. In addition, the suspension has been retuned and a handmade dry carbon
rear spoiler has also been added to the Nissan GT-R Black Edition model. A RearView Monitor is now standard on all models. There is also a model called a Track Pack, that is built of a "other than the US" market Pure model. Information on the Track Edition was released in February 2013. Look for it to hit the streets in May 2013.
2014 US - 2013 Nissan GT-R Japan information. What we see on the Japanese 2013 Nissan GT-R, will probably show up on the US cars. However we only have a Premium GT-R, and a Black Edition. Some items will not find their way onto US cars as an option, like the carbon fiber Recaro seats. 0-62 (0-100 km/hr) time for the 2013 Japan drops to 2.7 seconds, with a 7:18.6 Nurburgring time. Just a second faster than the Corvette ZR1. The US Market will get 150 Track Edition (Track Pack) GT-R's starting in May 2013. Nissan also offered a special edition Midnight Opal Nissan GT-R. Only 100 were offered worldwide. 50 in the US. The 50 for the US were all snapped up within two weeks. 48 went to Japan, and two were sold to Europe.
NAS - Regal Red - New color for 2015
2015 US. - For 2015, the big news is the NISMO version of the Nissan GT-R. Not a lot of information about the car has been released yet, but its 600 horsepower, lots of carbon fiber, new turbos from the GT3 car, new wheels and tires and a 7:08.67 Nurburgring time. With the harder NISMO version hitting the streets, Nissan has made moves to "soften" the Premium. An often critique of the R35 GT-R has been the harsh ride and noise. Bose active noise control has been added that is supposed to reduce interior noise by 10 dB. The spring rate and suspension tuning has been revised to improve ride. An additional color for the interior, ivory goes along with black, and amber red. An additional color Regal Red(NAS) is added for 2015. The MFD and instrument cluster see revisions.
From all the current rumors, we are expecting the current R35 GT-R chassis to continue for several years.
0-100 km/hr is about 0-62 mph. This video shows some testing of the 2011 Japan(2012 model year US) GT-R undergoing testing. There is supposed to be a part 2 soon. The 2012 car is supposed to have a new version of the controversial launch control called LC4. Warrantied, and quick. So what is he actual time? Looks like we have to wait until part 2 to find out.
It was quite a year for DG-Spec, capturing the World Challenge touring car championship, manufacturer's championship, rookie of the year, and driver's championship. Check out this season recap.
In 2010 I worked on the DG-Spec Scion tC World Challenge touring car team. Here is a season recap from Scion Racing.
As the weather gets cooler, the turbo cars get faster. sleepdoc from NAGTROC has done it again, gone faster with his stock turbo R35 GT-R. He is killing it with his 60 foots, best time of a 1.47. Drag radials in the back, stock wheels and tires in the front. We may see a 9 second stock turbo car soon. Nice passes congratulations.
Cobb AccessPORT, Kreissieg downpipes, HKS midpipe, HKS Legamax Catback, e85 Custom Tuned by Jack Cecil @ HPlogic ID1000cc injectors, Cobb SF intake, HKS upgrade B fuel system
The LA Times just published an article on Kaizo, and Daryl Alison filing paperwork for a guilty plea on the misdemeanor charge of removing markings from an imported vehicle. Kaizo Industries agreed to plead guilty for a violation of the Clean Air Act for failing to file proper paperwork on imported Nissan Skylines, and other right hand drive imported vehicles.
"The defendants allegedly put bogus 17-digit Vehicle Identification Numbers on the cars in place of the actual Nissan VIN plate," the statement read. "To avoid California’s stricter registration and emission requirements, many of the cars were registered out of the state and sold to California residents with Florida and Arizona plates."
Federal and state investigators seized three Nissan Skylines last year after executing a search warrant at Kaizo Industries. The cars did not meet U.S. environmental and safety standards.
They confiscated nine other vehicles in connection with the probe, including what federal officials described as the “hero” car from the fourth installment of "The Fast and the Furious” movie series.
Kaizo is closed, and has been closed since July 2009, when its offices were raided by several government agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
For more information on the Kaizo drama, you can check out some of my past postings. There are many individuals that imported car bodies though Kaizo, and what happens to them remains to be seen. Overall, its a very small number of vehicles in the grand scheme of vehicles sold, or imported to the US. Even since this first started, the early R32 GT-R's have turned 21 years old, and are EPA exempt for importation. In a few years, these first R32 GT-R's will be 25 years old and DOT exempt. The only thing these seizures are doing, are hurting individual owners, tax payers. Most of these cars are just recreational vehicles for the owners. Most are driven only a few thousand miles a year, if at all. The 1999 Nissan Skyline GT-R is even listed on the "Show or Display" exemption, however EPA requirements make meeting those standards nearly impossible. Show or Display allows the car to be DOT Exempt.
The Nissan Skyline has become, and always was a big target. Do we really need law enforcement going after these few cars, cherished by the owners, rather than other bigger, more dangerous elements in our society? Thanks ICE, I feel safer already.
The car has performed flawlessly all week and Mark and Joe have done a great job maintaining the car and making sure Steve and Phillip have exactly what they needed all week. Jodi and Vivian (Phillip’s wife) have been great team moms and looked after the service crew and the drivers better than anyone could have asked for. We are all very happy to come home with the drivers and car all together in one piece and with a very strong finish! I am pretty sure this is Steve’s best finish in a Targa Rally and the competition is fierce! Tony Quinn is a great driver and has a lot of Targa experience with his GT-R having competed in three New Zealand Targa’s as well as others in Australia. Glenn Inkster is a very talented driver and will surely make a name for himself in the Rally scene. Watching him flick his Evo through turns is a thing of beauty!
Professional Formula D driver Daijiro Yoshihara and GTChannel's Taro Koki talk about drifting, cars and anything that comes to mind. First guest of the show is Dai's chassis engineer and MotoIQ.com founder Mike Kojima. We will be inviting random guests to the show at our discretion.
Beer and cars. Dai and Mike both acted a bit shocked at the beers. Its not TV, so anything flys.
SleepDoc set a new high mark for stock turbos with his Nissan GT-R. He ran a 10.34@ 132.2 mph pass with a 1.50 60 foot time. His best 60 foot time of the night was a 1.48. Modifications to the car are 1000cc injectors, HKS intake, exhaust, midpipe, down pipe, fuel pumps, burning E85 and rolling on Nitto NT05R drag radials in the rear.
The information on the 2012 Nissan GT-R has started to flow in. 530 hp , 7:20 at the Nurburgring. Photos and videos when they are available. Japanese official site.
Japanese Price (yen) GT-R Pure edition 8,694,000 GT-R Black edition 9,303,000 GT-R Premium edition 9,450,000 GT-R Spec V 15,750,000 GT-R EGOIST 15,000,300
With the current exchange rate of about 81 yen to a dollar, a premium would come in at $116,000 USD. We no longer have the base(pure) in the US. It is unlikely we will ever see a Spec V or Egoist in the US.
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