About 2 months ago the Nissan GT-R reported a faster Nurburgring lap time of 7:26.7. Nissan has just released the video of the Nordschleife circuit lap.

“This record demonstrates our commitment to the continuous evolution of the Nissan GT-R,” says Kazutoshi Mizuno, Chief Vehicle Engineer and Chief Vehicle Specialist. “We would like to continue delivering the passion and pride of ownership to our customers by improving its performance every year.”

Yup – we’ll see another lap time very soon.

Make the leap for the video.

- By: Omar Rana

Vorsteiner announced today that sales of its Ventross Nissan GT-R will begin from June 1. Instead of mass-producing the package, Vorsteiner will produce its Ventross Nissan GT-R on a built-to-order basis making sure that each unit is of the highest-quality.

Click through for complete details on the package and the high-res image gallery.

Vorsteiner Ventross Nissan GT-R:

The GTR exterior aerodynamic package consists of two components:

Front Fascia

Ventross has created a new replacement front fascia that incorporates enlarged carbon fiber air intakes for the radiators and includes additional side louver openings that feed air to the brakes through the front fender lining slats. The fascia is completed with an aggressive front spoiler that attaches to the factory under tray optimal fitment strength. The entire front fascia is constructed from dry carbon fiber using Vorsteiner’s proprietary dry carbon fiber vacuum technology which maximizes strength while significantly reducing overall weight.

Rear Diffuser

The GT-R rear diffuser has been redesigned to replace the factory plastic version with a more aggressive dry carbon fiber piece that houses 3 integrated diffuser fins with central heat extraction vents to aid in cooling the exhaust system. Like the Ventross GT-R front fascia, the rear diffuser is constructed using Vorsteiner’s proprietary dry carbon fiber vacuum technology.

- By: The Daily Auto Editor

Update: Thanks to Damien for pointing out that we missed the 70 at the end of the 7:26. Corvette ZR1 is still ahead of the GT-R.

While Porsche is claiming that the Nissan GT-R still can’t mange to lap the Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in a time better than 7 minutes and 54 seconds, Nissan announced today that Godzilla has improved its lap-time to 7:26.

“This record demonstrates our commitment to the continuous evolution of the Nissan GT-R,” says Kazutoshi Mizuno, Chief Vehicle Engineer and Chief Vehicle Specialist. “We would like to continue delivering the passion and pride of ownership to our customers by improving its performance every year.”

Yes, that time is officially better than the 7:26.4 seconds for the 2009 Chevrolet ZR1 piloted by GM development engineer Jim Mero. We have no word whether Chevy and Mero will be headed back to the Nurburgring to top the new GT-R time.

On a side note: In October 2008, it was reported that Jan Magnussen, a race car driver from Denmark and a General Motors factory driver, took the Corvette ZR1 around the Nordschleife in 7:22.4. However, GM nor Chevrolet ever confirmed that time so we have to count it as unofficial.

Make the jump for the press release.

Press Release:

AWARD-WINNING NISSAN GT-R ACHIEVES NEW RECORD LAP TIME AT NURBURGRING CIRCUIT

TOKYO (May 14, 2009) – The NISSAN GT-R, winner of the 2009 World Performance Car of the Year, has improved its lap time at the renowned Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany to 7min 26 seconds 70 on April 23.

This new time underlines Nissan engineering team’s commitment to constantly challenge the GT-R’s performance. Previous recorded lap times at the ‘Ring’ were:

- 7 minutes 27 seconds 56 on April 15, 2009
- 7 minutes 29 in April 2008
- 7 minutes 38 in September 2007

“This record demonstrates our commitment to the continuous evolution of the Nissan GT-R,” says Kazutoshi Mizuno, Chief Vehicle Engineer and Chief Vehicle Specialist. “We would like to continue delivering the passion and pride of ownership to our customers by improving its performance every year.”

The Nissan GT-R has won more than a dozen awards globally including Car of the Year from CAR Magazine in the UK, and Car of the Year by both Motor Trend and Autombile Magazine in the US.

While the Nissan GT-R benefits from a strong image and heritage amongst performance car aficionados, its updated 2010 version will be the first to be sold globally. It was launched:

- in Japan in December 2008,
- in the US in March 2009
- in Europe, GCC, Australia, New Zealand, and Taiwan in April 2009

Europe is currently in the process of delivering the first GT-Rs to more than 2,200 pre-order customers.

The model R35 GT-R was first launched in Japan in December 2007, selling 5,900 units until March 2009. It went on sale in the US in July 2008, where 2,100 have been sold so far.

- By: Omar Rana

We’re pretty sure you remember Porsche and Nissan going back and forth last year on their Nurburgring lap times with the 911 GT2 and the GT-R. Well, they’re both back in the ‘Ring this year and Porsche has just thrown thrown the first punch.

According to Andreas Preuninger, Porsche’s Project Manager High Performance Cars, test driver Walter Rohrl managed to take the 2009 Porsche 911 GT3 around the famous Nordschleife in 7 minutes and 40 seconds. 

Preuninger said that if Rohrl had been in a more competitive mood that day, he would’ve managed to knock two seconds off the unofficially clocked lap time. He said that the Nissan GT-R still does no better than 7 minutes and 54 seconds that Porsche achieved last year at the Nurburgring. 

Nissan recently hit up the Nurburgring with a mildly-updated 2010 GT-R and reported a lap time of 7:27.56. It claimed to achieve a time of 7:29.03 last year.

Can we just get the Corvette ZR1 in the ring and call it a day?

2009 Porsche 911 GT3:

- By: Omar Rana

Source: WOT

As reported last month, Nissan was to head back to the Nurburgring with the 2010 GT-R and the GT-R SpecV to break its own and other records at the famous German track.

According to EVO, the Nissan GT-R has allegedly broken its previous record of 7:29. Piloted by Toshio Suzuki, former F1 driver and Nissan’s Chief Test Driver, the 2010 model year lapped the Nordschleife in 7:27.56.

However that time is still slower than the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1′s 7:26.40 so Suzuki will be giving it another shot in a few days. We’re guessing Nissan will officially release all the figures once it’s satisfied with its lap times. Can’t wait to see the GT-R SpecV’s numbers.

Nissan GT-R SpecV:

- By: Kap Shah

Source: EVO

The 2010 Nissan GT-R will be getting a whole 5 more horsepower than its 2009 sibling. Of course, more powerful than that is the Nissan GT-R SpecV which will be hitting up the Nurburgring next month to set a record lap at Green Hell.

But Nissan has more up its sleeve for Godzilla. According to Nissan’s chief engineer Kazutoshi Mizuno, a more powerful Nissan GT-R is on the way.

“The SpecV, in contrast to what you might be thinking, is not the high-performance version of the GT-R,” Mizuno told Inside Line.

No word on when this ultra high-performance GT-R will hit the dealerships.

Nissan GT-R SpecV:

- By: The Daily Auto Editor.

Source: Inside Line (via AutoBlog)

Nissan today unveiled the official details and pricing info on the new 2010 Nissan GT-R. Nissan says that the 2010 GT-R features “five additional horsepower, a revised suspension, updated wheel finishes and standard front seat- and roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags.”

The GT-R’s 3.8L twin-turbo V6 now produces 485-hp (up from 480-hp). The 6-speed, dual-clutch transmission receives a new ”Transmission Control Module (TCM) programming designed to optimize clutch engagement for improved drivability, and improve vehicle acceleration with the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) on (activated)”.

The braking system has also been upgraded with more rigid brake lines and the calipers now feature both, the Brembo and Nissan logos. The suspension has been retuned with redesigned Bilstein shocks with a new valve body design and revised spring and damper rates. The 2010 Nissan GT-R is also equipped with a darker smoke-finished 20-inch RAYS aluminum alloy-wheels and a “near-black” metallic finish on the Premium model.

Pricing for the 2010 Nissan GT-R starts at $81,790 and $84,040 for the GT-R Premium model (prices include a $1,000 destination and handling charge). For 2010, Nissan is also offering a new Pearl White color while the popular Super Silver color gets a polished front bumper. Buyers can also opt for the Cold Weather Package at no charge. The special Super Silver Paint costs an additional $3000, while the iPod and GT-R floormats go for $400 and $280 respectively.

Unfortunately Nissan did not release any images of the 2010 Nissan GT-R, so you’ll have to deal with the 2009 Nissan GT-R gallery.

2009 Nissan GT-R:

- By: Omar Rana

For those of you angered by Nissan’s move to limit the GT-R’s rpm when VDC is turned off (otherwise known as ”launch-control”) this might cheer you up just a little – well maybe a lot. We know that the 2009 Nissan GT-R and the 2010 Nissan GT-R will have the new modification built in.

Nonetheless, other modifications like increased horsepower, upgraded handling and a revised software in the transmission control unit (TCM) were also made. With VDC mode on (and rpms limited), Nissan test drivers managed to best the 2008 Nissan GT-R 0 to 60 mph time of 3.5 seconds.

Reports say that on Feb. 15th at the Nissan Tochigi plant test track, Nissan test drivers and engineers clocked the 2009 GT-R at 3.3 seconds. That time was reported using the new limited launch control method. The 2009 Nissan GT-R was setup in R transmission, R suspension and R VDC modes.

The upgraded 2009 Nissan GT-R is on sale now in Japan with U.S. other markets to take delivery shortly.

2009 Nissan GT-R:

Source: GT-R Blog

According to Inside Line, Nissan has informed its dealers about changes to the 2009 Nissan GT-R which limits the car’s rpms when the VDC system is turned off – otherwise known as turning on “launch-control.” The modification will be already built into the 2010 Nissan GT-R.

Nissan GT-R’s model-line manager for Nissan North America, Marty Hussey, says that the update adds changes to the “software which alters shift points to improve acceleration by reducing transaxle stress.” He said that the move is a change to “improve the car and improve customer satisfaction.”

Nissan said that less than 1 percent of the GT-R models sold in the U.S. have reported damage to the transaxle when using launch-control. The change will come immediately to all 2009 and 2010 models. 50 units of the 2009 GT-R are sitting at the Port of Long Beach California waiting for the program change before being sent to dealers.

The upgrade will come at no additional cost to 2009 GT-R owners. Those who have already taken delivery of their GT-R will be asked to voluntarily update their cars.

Inside Line says that the new software affects the GT-R by increasing the “maximum rpm the vehicle will allow at launch with the VDC on from the present 2,000 rpm.” It will also decrease the maximum rpm the vehicle will allow when using launch-control with VDC off.

2009 Nissan GT-R:

Source: Inside Line