GT-R Laps 'Ring In 7min 29secs
Standard GT-R knocks eight seconds off previous best time
Nissan today announced that a GT-R has achieved a lap time of the Nurburgring in seven minutes and 29 seconds.
The time was recorded in April and the GT-R used was a base specification car and fitted with the standard Japanese market tyres.
Driven by GT-R chief test driver Tochio Suzuki, this latest lap time beats the previous fastest time for the GT-R by nine seconds.
The previous best lap time for GT-R of 7:38, also driven by Suzuki, was one of the fastest laps achieved by a production car despite conditions being slightly damp on two corners.
The new time puts the GT-R up with some of the fastest production cars such as the Porsche Carerra GT.
‘At last year’s testing, we were frustrated by the conditions at the Nürburgring, always believing that the GT-R could go under seven minutes 30 seconds,’ said Kazutoshi Mizuno, Chief Vehicle Engineer for GT-R.
‘Below seven minutes 30 seconds, the GT-R proves it is among the fastest mass-production cars in the world. We set out to build a multi-performance supercar accessible to anyone, anytime and anywhere – I believe the GT-R has delivered that promise.’
I want an independent mag to take a production example onto a reputable rolling road.
There are conflicting reports, some saying it is 480hp at the flywheel, as advertised, but some say more like 480hp at the hubs, which would be more like 550hp at the flywheel.
Judging by all its incredible performance figures (which are remarkably consistent across the world and in the hands of many different magazines), I am certain the power figure must be closer to the latter.
Which begs the question why is Nissan being shy about quoted power?
480hp is already so far above the previous "gentlemen's agreement" level of 280hp, would another 70hp really offend the Japanese government so much more?
Mine arrives next year and I keep telling myself it's not going to be my track car, but with capabilities like this, it is going to be impossible to resist taking the 1740kg barge out on track for some Elise and Caterham baiting!
Back in 2003 Phil Bennet ran a Radical SR3 Turbo around the 'ring in 7m 12s. This is essentially a racing car with headlights that packs around 300bhp and weighs 500kg. Are you seriously telling me that a 'GT' with all its leather seats and air conditioning and with a power to weight of about 1/3rd that of the Radical is only 1 second a mile slower?
The EVO test of the GT-R saw it going faster than pretty much everything in its class and snapping at the heels of the Enzo but it was blown into the weeds by the trackday specials which most closly resemble Bennet's Radical by something like 4 seconds on a 1m15lap!
If they said 580bhp for example, then the stunning times would be more easily attributed to the high power figure.
As it stands people are speculating how they get the performance from the power, and that makes the drivetrain and traction, gearbox etc, all appear more 'special' than they possibly are.
If Porsche quoted wheel figures for the current 911 Turbo for example, people would be blown away by how fast it was, and attribute it to some amazing new Porsche engineering or gearbox or something.
Dave
Back in 2003 Phil Bennet ran a Radical SR3 Turbo around the 'ring in 7m 12s. This is essentially a racing car with headlights that packs around 300bhp and weighs 500kg. Are you seriously telling me that a 'GT' with all its leather seats and air conditioning and with a power to weight of about 1/3rd that of the Radical is only 1 second a mile slower?
The EVO test of the GT-R saw it going faster than pretty much everything in its class and snapping at the heels of the Enzo but it was blown into the weeds by the trackday specials which most closly resemble Bennet's Radical by something like 4 seconds on a 1m15lap!
1m15lap *6 = 7mins 30 sec
7mins 30 sec - 24s = 7mins 6 sec
Ring is a fast circuit suiting heavy cars.
Back in 2003 Phil Bennet ran a Radical SR3 Turbo around the 'ring in 7m 12s. This is essentially a racing car with headlights that packs around 300bhp and weighs 500kg. Are you seriously telling me that a 'GT' with all its leather seats and air conditioning and with a power to weight of about 1/3rd that of the Radical is only 1 second a mile slower?
The EVO test of the GT-R saw it going faster than pretty much everything in its class and snapping at the heels of the Enzo but it was blown into the weeds by the trackday specials which most closly resemble Bennet's Radical by something like 4 seconds on a 1m15lap!
Back in 2003 Phil Bennet ran a Radical SR3 Turbo around the 'ring in 7m 12s. This is essentially a racing car with headlights that packs around 300bhp and weighs 500kg. Are you seriously telling me that a 'GT' with all its leather seats and air conditioning and with a power to weight of about 1/3rd that of the Radical is only 1 second a mile slower?
The EVO test of the GT-R saw it going faster than pretty much everything in its class and snapping at the heels of the Enzo but it was blown into the weeds by the trackday specials which most closly resemble Bennet's Radical by something like 4 seconds on a 1m15lap!
Every time a new car comes along, it the fastest around the 'ring. Its like the GCSE results which keep getting better and better whilst the government tells everyone they're not getting easier. I'm not doubting that the GT-R is a fantastic car and I will be doing my best to have a go in one as soon as possible but I think the 'ring competition is getting a bit silly now and have my suspicions that manufacturers perhaps aren't playing with a totally straight bat.
Still, this new GTR does seem to be an absolute monster.
Edited to add I was wrong, they're actually either a Dunlop or Bridgestone tyre. More information here:
Nissan GT-R Tyres
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=uGe_fyhQazg
I imagine they probably filmed the 7.29 lap too. I think the question is whether the car is "stock" and puts out the quoted levels of power, or in fact significantly more.
Still, this new GTR does seem to be an absolute monster.
As said before the weight issue would be less noticeable on high-speed circuits, and the balanced weight distribution from the transaxle design would make up for it on the low-speed corners. There's a reason why it's so heavy (compared to a 350Z).
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