Nissan through NISMO will participate in the the Tokachi 24-hour race on July 20th and 21st with their latest monster GT-R R35.  The modified version of GT-R will be equipped with NISMO tuning parts which will also be made available to all end user later this summer.  For this race, they have chosen Masami Kageyama, former Formula Nippon racer and SuperGT pilot and Tetsuya Tanaka, a 2008 Super GT GT300 driver.

According to the the team’s director,  the aim of the campaign “is to complete the race distance, testing both the performance and reliability of the car.”

Source : GTR-World 

GT R, nissan, R35

Popularity: 8% [?]

They’ve done it again. Nissan’s familiar VQ series engine has been included in the latest ‘10 Best Engines’ list by Ward’s, making it the 14th straight year a VQ series engine has earned that distinction. This also makes it the only engine to be included in the list every year since the award began back in 1995.

The new engine is the VQ37VHR, which is actually used in the Infiniti G37 Coupe. New features of the V6 engine is VVEL (Variable Valve Event and Lift) technology, which sees final output rate in at 330hp (246kW) and 366Nm (270lb-ft) of torque. Although based on a similar design to previous VQ engines, the latest powerplant contains approximately 35% new and unique parts from the Infiniti G35 sedan’s VQ35HR unit.

The VVEL system combines hydraulic-controlled variable valve timing and electronically controlled variable valve lift on the intake side to help improve performance, response and efficiency.

To qualify for the award, engines must be available in a regular-production, U.S.-specification models and be on sale no later than the first quarter of 2008. The catch is that the cars must be priced no more than $54,000 - a price cap indexed to the average cost of a new vehicle.

nissan, VQ engines

Popularity: 8% [?]

NISMO has recently launched the limited version of NISMO Fairlady Z Type 380RS. They gave the 350Z a 3.8 liter engine with a 350 hp power output. That’s 44 hp more than the original engine. Only 300 units were made available for sale and the price is around 34,000 euros.

Technical Specifications:

• Power: 257kW / 350 hp at 7200 rpm
• Torque: 397 Nm at 4800 rpm
• Engine: 3,798 cc 6 cylinder DOHC

350Z, NISMO, Nissan Fairlady

Popularity: 37% [?]