It’s lonely at the top, or so Lamborghini would like us all to believe. In conclusion to Lamborghini’s 50th year celebrations, the Italian manufacturer unveiled the Egoista concept, which literally translates to “selfish” in Italian. Why is it named so? Well, because it only has one seat, that’s why.
The Egoista is very futuristically designed with one seat in the middle of the cockpit and is inspired by an Apache helicopter. Reports suggest that the extremely lightweight car is made entirely out of carbon fibre and the cockpit canopy may be removed to save weight. Power comes from a 5.2-litre V10 engine.
Designer Walter De Silva had this to say about the car, translated from Italian:
This is a car made for a single person, to have fun and to express their own personality. It is designed for people who want the most extreme and most special things in the world. This car represents extremes of hedonism; it is a car without compromise. In a word, it is selfish.
Some of the 350 Lamborghinis gathered at Sant’Agata Bolognese as part of the celebrations
The Egoista was revealed by brand boss Stephan Winkelmann at a dinner held to mark the end of the week-long drive by 350 Lamborghinis through Italy, organised in celebration of the marque’s 50th birthday. Another dramatic announcement was made at the ceremony, about the Lamborghini Urus SUV Concept going into production in 2017.
Lamborghini Urus Concept
At the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year, the truly extreme Lamborghini Veneno was revealed as an initial part of the firm’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Three examples of the 740bhp, 221mph road-going racer were sold for around £2 million each.
While the automotive world is still enamoured with the Jaguar F-Type roadster, the Indian-owned British manufacturer is busy preparing for the F-Type coupe’s expected launch next year. The F-Type coupe was spotted for the first time testing outside the firm’s HQ in Gaydon. Although dressed in heavy camouflage and a black roof, there was no mistaking it for anything other the hard-top version of Jaguar’s stunning convertible.
The coupe’s looks are almost identical to the C-X16 concept, which originally launched the idea for Jaguar’s new F-Type convertible. The on-road testing can only mean that the car should be launched within the next 12-18 months. The F-type coupe is expected to be powered by the same V6, V6 S and V8 S engines as the drop-top versions. Reports also claim that it will be the base for faster R and RS versions as well as a very extreme 600 bhp RS-GT street legal racing version.
Jaguar insiders say that the unusual decision to launch the roadster first was taken because it was perceived to have a large market and deliver a better image for the firm’s halo model. But in our honest opinion, the hard-top F-Type will look just as gorgeous as the convertible, if not more.
Chevrolet has launched its first MPV model in India. It’s called the Enjoy and it will set you back between Rs. 5.49 lakh to Rs. 7.99 lakh. The compact SUV and MPV segment has really picked up in India of late, with the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and Toyota Innova enjoying runaway success and the Ford EcoSport hitting the Indian market in the summer this year. The Enjoy is Chevrolet’s hope to give the Ertiga competition, and at first glance it seems more than capable of doing just that.
The Enjoy is available with both petrol and diesel engines. The petrol engine is a 1.4-litre unit putting out 103 bhp and 13.25 kgm of torque while the 1.3-litre diesel unit produces 76 bhp and 19.17 kgm of torque. Both engines are mated to a five-speed manual transmission.
The Chevrolet Enjoy has very spacious interiors which can seat 7 or 8 people depending on whether the middle row has a bench seat or captain seats. It comes with simple but comfortable interiors offering power steering, power windows, stereo and air conditioning. Safety features include anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution and dual front airbags. With a straightforward design, the Chevrolet Enjoy surely won’t blow anyone away, but it ticks all the right boxes considering what one would want from an affordable and spacious entry-level MPV, and should ‘Enjoy’ its fair bit of success.
Jaguar is planning on bringing its new convertible supercar, the F-Type, to India in July this year. Creating waves around the automotive world, the E-Type’s spiritual successor is trying to head Jaguar in a new and refreshing direction. Breaking from the tradition of building elegant, luxurious sedans, Jaguar is trying to carve out its place in the sports car segment with the svelte and feline F-Type, promising supercar performance with gorgeous looks.
The F-Type will reportedly be launched in India in two variants. The F-Type S has a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 under the hood producing 375 bhp and 460 Nm of torque. It can get the F-Type from 0-97 kmph in 4.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 275 kmph. The top of the line F-Type V8 S has a massive 5.0-litre supercharged V8 power plant under the hood producing 488 bhp and a tire-shredding 625 Nm of torque. This translates from nought to 100 kmph in 4.3 seconds and on to a 300 kmph top speed. Both models have the engines at the front sending all the power to the rear wheels, and are mated to 8-speed automatic transmissions with paddle-shifters offering manual override. The V6 employs a mechanical limited-slip differential and the V8 an electronic limited-slip differential to manage the F-Type’s raw power most efficiently. The F-Type has a double-wishbone front and rear suspension with adaptive dampers and adjustable suspension settings to allow the driver to tweak ride and handling.
Image Courtesy: Top Gear
The first thing that strikes you about the F-Type however, is surely the way it looks. The F-Type is almost identical to the C-X16 Concept and that’s a good thing because it looks stunning. Beautifully proportioned and quite compact, the F-Type has done away with the oval front grille. The shark gill openings on either flank of the new grille are very modern and give it an edge. The shape of the hood and the taillights resemble those of the iconic Jaguar E-Type. The rear diffuser and integrated tail pipes (dual on the V6, quad on the V8) add to the aggressive looks but with plenty of elegance. A hidden spoiler pops out at speeds over 90 kmph and goes into hiding when speed drops below 60 kmph. The F-Type is built with extreme care and quality, and the interior is very luxurious and tasteful, typical of Jaguar.
There’s no doubt that the F-Type looks the part, and goes like it too. However, it’s expected to lighten your wallet by Rs. 1.3-1.5 crore, and in a highly competitive sports car segment, it remains to be seen if the Jag can hold its own among traditional supercar giants such as the Porsche 911, the Audi R8 and the Aston Martin Vantage. We’ll surely find out in the months to come. Meanwhile, check out some pictures of the F-Type below, as seen by iGyaan at the 2013 New York Auto Show.
With a flurry of additions to its lineup at the Shanghai Motor Show, Honda is planning on launching some of its new models in India soon. The successful launch of the Amaze shows the Japanese manufacturer’s new direction. Earlier, Honda would stick to a few specific segments and churn out model after model pertaining to the same. However now, Honda is venturing into many new segments and the new Crider is a case in point.
Honda Crider
The Crider is the production version of the Honda Concept C, and is the rare occasion when a production model ends up looking similar to its concept. Smaller than the Accord, and dimensionally similar to the Civic, it aims to spawn a new segment to take on upcoming markets. The sharp lines on the muscular shell house a 4 cylinder 1.8-litre iVTEC engine producing 140 bhp.
Honda M-01 Concept
Honda is mulling a seven-seater multi-purpose vehicle. And we are, at this moment, studying the market whether we have to launch it or not…
– Jnaneswar Sen, senior vice-president, sales and marketing, Honda Cars India
Along with the Crider, Honda unveiled two MPV concepts at the Shanghai Motor Show, namely the Jade and the M-01. The M-01 is a full-size MPV, dimensionally similar to a Toyota Innova. The concept’s styling is not groundbreaking but looks fairly nice with smooth flowing lines and a strong, poised profile. The M-01 should come with diesel engines and a variety of seating options and an expectedly subtler design.
Honda Jade Concept
The second of the MPVs, called the Jade, is much more compact and borrows its styling from the Civic. It does look rather interesting, and seeing its length and low profile, it could perfectly fit into the almost defunct station wagon segment in India. With compact SUVs and MPVs like the Quanto and Ertiga doing rather well, Honda seems to have made a rather good move here. Not much information has been released about the three new models from the Jap manufacturer, keep checking this space for updates.
According to reports, the model range for the Indian version of the much anticipated Ford EcoSport has been leaked. Four trims namely Ambiente, Trend, Titanium and Titanium optional will be on offer. These trims will be available in a choice of 3 engines, a 1.5-litre petrol, 1.5-litre diesel and obviously the center of attraction will be Ford’s much awaited 1.0-litre turbo charged direct-injection EcoBoost petrol. The EcoBoost however will be available only with the top-end Titanium trim.
The Ambiente is expected to be the base trim and comes with a quite a bit of equipment despite it. Tilt and telescopic steering, a music player with Aux-in and Bluetooth, electric wing mirrors, remote locking, a multi-function display, front power windwos and 15-inch wheels make up most of the Ambiente trim. Next up the ladder is the Trend trim, which comes with anti lock brakes, rear power windows, steering-mounted audio controls and driver-seat height adjust over everything that the Ambiente has to offer. Both these trims will be available only with manual transmissions coupled to 1.5-litre petrol or diesel engines.
Further up is the aptly named Titanium trim. The famous 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine is available only with the Titanium trim which also comes with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, 16-inch alloy wheels, climate control, cooled glovebox, roof rails, front fog lamps, reverse parking sensor, and dual airbags. An option pack for the Titanium will also be available, which offers push-button start, leather seats, keyless entry, and side and curtain airbags. The EcoBoost engine is mated to a manual gearbox but an automatic-gearbox-equipped Titanium version will be available with the normal 1.5-litre petrol. There is no diesel version available for the top-spec EcoSport.
The 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engines will produce 107 bhp and 88.8 bhp respectively and the new EcoBoost is expected to put out between 95 and 100 bhp. The Ford EcoSport is expected to have a base price around Rs. 7.5 lakh with the top of the line Titanium trim costing upwards of Rs. 12 lakh.
Mercedes Benz is expected to launch the hotly awaited new A-Class hatchback in the Indian market on the 30th of May. Foraying into a relatively unexplored segment, the luxury hatchback is expected to make waves when it hits the market, as suggested by the success it has enjoyed in Europe earlier this year.
The new A-Class has a very striking design and will surely turn a lot of heads when it hits the market. A whopping 6 inches lower than its predecessor, it continues with Mercedes Benz’s new direction in styling, bringing forth a bold and sporty design. The low and sloping roofline along with the long hood impart the hatch an athletic stance and the ducted rear bumper as well as the diffuser add character to the well sculpted rear end. Flaunting a massive three-pointed star on the newly designed radiator grille with pride, the attention-seeking A-Class is all in all, very easy on the eyes.
Coming to the important bits under the hood, the A-Class is expected to have two engines on offer at its launch. A 1.6 -litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 122bhp and a 1.8-litre turbocharged diesel engine churning out 109 bhp and 250Nm of torque are the most likely variants we’ll see in India, although Mercedes Benz has given no confirmation yet.
Shortly after the launch of the B-Class Tourer, the A-Class will be Mercedes’ cheapest car on sale in India, at an estimated price of Rs. 18-20 Lakh. It will directly compete with BMW’s Mini Cooper line of cars, and later with the BMW 1 series and Audi A3 when they go on sale in India. The A-Class seems a very promising prospect at a competitive price and we can’t wait to see it on Indian roads. This exciting new luxury hatchback segment may very well shape the 3 German automotive giants’ fortunes in India in the coming years.
Volkswagen has launched a performance variant of its popular Polo hatchback called the Polo GT TSI. However the steep price of Rs. 7.99 Lakh may turn customers away from what is an otherwise excellent small car.
At its heart is a potent 1.2-litre turbocharged, direct injected TSI engine which produces an impressive 103 bhp and 175 Nm of torque. The power is sent to the front wheels through a seven speed dual clutch automatic gearbox. However there are no paddle shifters behind the wheel and no manual transmission on offer. Volkswagen claims that the Polo GT TSI can go from 0-100 km/h in 9.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 190 km/h. The ARAI fuel efficiency figure of the Volkswagen Polo GT TSI has been rated at 17.2 kmpl.
The Polo GT TSI is on offer in the Highline Trim only and can be distinguished externally by the alloy wheels and prominently placed GT badging. It comes with more kit than the lesser 1.2 Highline variants such as a climate-control system and a double DIN music system with USB, AUX and SD card input. Front and rear fog lamps, electric ORVMs and a tilt and telescopic adjustable multifunction steering wheel are standard as is Bluetooth connectivity. It comes with parking sensors to help you park in tight parking slots. The seats are wrapped in new ‘Milan’ fabric and the pedals have an aluminium finish to round off the relatively plush interior. Safety equipment includes front airbags, ABS, ESP and pinch guard safety for all 4 power windows.
The Polo GT TSI will be available in three colours namely, Candy White, Flash Red and Deep Black. To conclude, the Polo GT TSI packs in a very impressive powertrain, giving it performance miles ahead of its competitors. However a Rs. 2 Lakh premium over the slower top-of-the-line Polo may lead potential buyers to think twice, and consider other options.
The annual Vienna International Motor Symposium showcases some of the up-and-coming technologies in the automotive industry. This year, Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn revealed that Volkswagen is working on a 10-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox. It was also confirmed that a high-performance diesel engine was being developed which would produce a staggering 134 bhp per litre. The diesel engine will feature “variable valve-train assembly, a high-pressure injection system at up to 3,000 bar and combined charging with the innovative e-booster (an electric turbocharger)”.
Since the year 2000, we’ve reduced the fuel consumption of our TDI and TSI engines by more than 30 per cent. I’m convinced that by 2020 we can achieve further increases in efficiency of around 15 per cent.
– Martin Winterkorn, CEO, Volkswagen AG
Winterkorn spoke of a multi-faceted approach that Volkswagen is looking to reduce its fleet fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. Winterkorn said he believes that petrol and diesel internal combustion engines could be made more efficient with improvements in the combustion process, lightweight design and improved friction levels and thermal management. VW’s plug-in hybrid technology was also touched upon. The PHEV versions of the Audi A3 and Porsche Panamera are confirmedly on the way and Winterkorn also said that these two models will be followed up by Golf, Passat, Audi A6 and Porsche Cayenne plug-in models.
Winterkorn also had the following to say on natural gas technology:
The technology is fully developed and the vehicles are already in the market. We need to make the public even more aware of the benefits of natural gas engines. Everyone needs to play their part in this: carmakers, politicians and the fuel industry.
The news about the new gearbox could indicate that a paddle shift equipped car with a ten speed double clutch could be coming. We hope its the rumoured Audi R4 supercar.
32 years after removing it from its lineup, Nissan is all set to revive the venerable Datsun brand in markets like India, South Africa, Russia & Indonesia. Carlos Ghosn, global CEO of Renault-Nissan, will formally launch the brand at the Kingdom of Dreams in New Delhi on the 15th of July this year. Also expected is the unveiling of the first Datsun model, which will be a five-door hatchback costing less than Rs. 4 Lakh.
India is a tough market and it’s not going to be a picnic for us, but we believe Datsun can crack it with modernity and a superior product.
– Vincent Cobee, Corporate VP, Datsun Business Unit
Datsun is targeting the budget end of the market primarily, hoping to sell large volumes of cars. Nissan is depending heavily on Datsun to create a good blend of affordability and Japanese reliability in order to attract Indian consumers in the most competitive segment in the market. They hope that superior styling will help sway opinions, with the entire family sporting a prominent hexagonal grille for it to stand out among other new-age design elements.
Datsun Fairlady 240Z
The first model is expected to be a five-door hatchback powered by the same 1.2-litre 3 cylinder petrol engine as the Nissan Micra. Its expected to be as spacious as the Micra, but much lighter. Datsun says that it will have much superior performance and best in-class fuel efficiency. The car is expected to hit the market in mid-2014 and give tough competition to the Hyundai Eon/i10 and various Maruti Suzuki hatchbacks.
We saw some pretty high-profile reveals along with an array of launches by Chinese manufacturers over the weekend in Shanghai. Here’s our pick of the best on display.
MG CS Concept
One of the bigger stars of the Shanghai Motor Show was also one of the biggest surprises. MG unveiled its CS Concept SUV, adding to the competition in the compact SUV segment. However, the production model is at least 2 years away, and in all probability won’t look as flashy as the concept. Still, we like MG’s new direction, and can’t wait for more details about the CS to be released.
Nissan Friend-Me Concept
When it comes to identifying future trends, and thinking ahead, few automotive manufacturers have the foresight that Nissan does. For this reason, the long and unconventionally designed 4-door sedan caught everyone’s eye with its sharp styling. Knowing Nissan, there is a good chance that the ‘Friend-Me’ may actually reach the production stage, though we’re not sure how long the name will stick for.
Buick Riviera Concept
Sharing its name with the famous Buick, last seen in 1999, the Riviera Concept is said to be a preview to Buick’s future styling direction. The Riviera Concept incorporates some beautiful flowing lines over its long shell, and shows-off new versions of the marque’s classic waterfall grille design. It’s powered by Buick’s dual-mode wireless plug-in hybrid electric vehicle propulsion system, which allows the car to be charged wirelessly just by driving atop a special charging mat on the ground, the car’s powertrain is just as futuristic as its exterior shape. This one’s for the future.
Icona Vulcano
One of the standouts of the show was the stunning Vulcano concept from Italian-owned but Shanghai-based design firm Icona. Designed by a former Bertone employer, and engineered by a former Scuderia Ferrari engineer, the Vulcano was mobbed at the Shanghai Motor Show. Originally conceived as a one-off example to showcase Icona’s styling prowess, it has now been announced that 5 total Vulcanos will be built. Reminiscent of the Lexus LFA as well as the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, the Vulcano has an option of two powertrains, 870 or 950 bhp and goes from 0-97 kmph in 2.9 or 3.0 seconds depending on the powertrain. It also boasts a top speed of 217 mph.
Acura SUV-X Concept
The SUV-X Concept from Acura is another in a long line of aspirants in the compact SUV segment. Acuras have known to be packed with tons of technology on the inside, but have never really turned heads on the streets. The SUV-X Concept deviates from the trend, with bold and eyecatching styling, pleasantly surprising all of us. Acura says that the SUV-X is the precursor to a production offering from the brand in China that will come in about three years.
Ford Escort Concept
The Escort is back!! Well, as a concept for now. At the very interesting reveal, Ford said, “Customers in China described seeking a vehicle that is stylish – but not one that is arrogant or pretentious” and that’s what it believes the new Escort will be about. Always known for being excellent as an affordably daily driver, but not one to set benchmarks in performance or design, the new Escort Concept’s minimal design is contemporary and appealing on the whole. This car will probably be launched only in the Chinese market, and is expected to create quite a stir when it does.
Volkswagen CrossBlue Coupé Concept
This sportier member of the CrossBlue family sits in between the Tiguan and the Touareg in size and has all the hallmarks of becoming another success for the brand. Featuring a high-tech drivetrain that consists of twin electric motors, one up front and one at the rear, powered by a 9.8-kWh lithium-ion battery, the Concept also has a 295 bhp, direct-injection, gasoline-burning V6 under the hood. These three powerhouses put out a total of 415 bhp. Also, atleast in theory, the Concept should be able to travel 21 miles on electricity alone and we think it looks pretty nice as well. What’s not to like?
Lamborghini Aventador LP 720-4 50° Anniversario
Lamborghini unveiled the Aventador Anniversario at Shanghai as part of its 50 year celebrations. Offering the same engine as the base Aventador, it manages to produce 720 bhp instead of 700 due to different tuning, and features a couple of external upgrades. Read more about it here.
Maserati Ghibli
The Ghibli name is back in the form of an entry-level luxury sedan as Maserati hopes to expand its sales figures to compete with the likes of BMW, Audi and Jaguar. The Ghibli is the first Maserati in history to have a diesel engine as an option, with a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6. Read more about it here.
BMW X4 Concept
Yet another addition to the compact SUV segment, BMW unveiled the baby X6 or the X4 concept at Shanghai. BMW claims that the X4 is a preview to what the entire X range will look like in the coming years. Read more about it here.
The Renault Alpine A110-50 Concept was created last year to pay homage to the original Renault A110 on its 50th anniversary, but the 2013 Shanghai Motor Show was the first instance where the eyecatching concept could be seen in person. The concept sports a curvaceous body sculpted out of carbon fibre, sprayed with the familiar and iconic Alpine Blue paint.
Designers have added a nice touch up front with a set of half-ring yellow LED lights, reminiscent of the hood-mounted fog lights on the original A110. The radically designed concept is based loosely on the very futuristic Renault Dezir Concept, as is evident from the low stance, wide fender arches and scissor doors. The Alpine Concept also comes with a big split-wing rear spoiler, hinting at lots of performance as well, if it ever makes it to production.
Powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 400 bhp, used in conjunction with a dual-clutch six-speed gearbox, the A110-50 Concept shares the same chassis as the Renault Megane Trophy, and sits on 21 inch wheels with adjustable Sachs dampers on board. A roof mounted-intake funnels air from outside the engine bay into the concept’s carbon fibre air-intake.
The Alpine A110 was first introduced in 1961 and went on to be very successful in the rally circuit in the 1970s, adding to Renault’s motorsport heritage. Although Renault has given no official word on production, we really hope to see it on the roads of India someday.
One of the more lustworthy attractions of the Shanghai Motor Show, the Mercedes Benz GLA Concept is said to be 90% representative of the GLA production vehicle to go on sale next year. Mercedes aims to heat up the compact SUV segment with a competitive price tag of about $40,000.
Mercedes seems to have hit the right chord with its new design fundas, as the GLA takes more than a few cues from the new and equally attention-hungry CLA saloon. The striking GLA concept offers an aggressive yet modern front end with only two horizontal bars for a front grille, with the three-pointed star at the centre acting as the cherry on the cake. The sloping roofline flows into the tailgate giving it a very sporty and sleek silhouette. Strong character lines down the sides, alongwith the frameless doors further enhance this image.
The front headlights are one of the usual outlandish concept car features, with in-built laser beam projectors, capable of projecting videos and images on a screen. This along with the very intricate, yet impractical interior will surely not be on the options list when the GLA hits the market. What is expected to make the final cut, is the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine sitting under the bulging hood, which sends 208 bhp and 258 pound-feet of torque through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission to all four wheels via Mercedes’ proprietary 4Matic all-wheel-drive system. The GLA class is expected to give tough competition to the BMW X3, the Audi Q3 as well as the Range Rover Evoque, when it launches early next year.
Next to their impressive collaboration with Monster on new luxury headphones, Hublot has presented another highlight today at Baselworld – the Masterpiece MP-05 LaFerrari. Paying tribute to the new flagship Ferrari super car, the LaFerrari, the brand has developed a watch from the future.
Hublot’s MP-05 “LaFerrari” has been designed, developed and manufactured entirely by the Swiss firm and features a 50-day power reserve–a world record power reserve for a hand-wound tourbillon watch. It has a unique in-house crafted mechanical movement principle, that can keep it ticking as far as two months after you stopped wearing it.
It has a special microblasted black PVD-coated titanium case, which encases 637 individual components and thanks to the tour billion movement system, they are arranged to look like a Ferrari engine bay, hinting to the red cylinder banks with the admission manifold in the middle.
With carbon fiber on the case, there are some light design cues in the watch from the Ferrari car. The top crystal is one, and the entire case design is meant to mimic the shape of the beautiful car, though it is a light connection. The Ferrari relationship allows Hublot to experiment in new areas and work with the famous automaker to produce rather original timepieces such as this one.
The hour and minute are displayed to the right of the barrels, also indicated by means of one anodized black aluminum cylinder each. On their left is the cylinder indicating the power reserve. Reinforcing bars either side, made from anodized red aluminum, also bring to mind Ferrari’s signature exteriors.
Hublot will make only 50 of these stunning watches, so only one in ten LaFerrari buyers will be able to have one.
Price or the Hublot Masterpiece MP-05 LaFerrari watch will be about 300,000 Swiss Francs (or Rs 17234400.00). When are you getting yours?
Nissan realised the gamble they had made by discontinuing one of their most successful cars, and thus did not want to hurry the GT-R back simply to pacify enthusiasts. Carlos Ghosn, who became Nissan’s CEO in 2001, along with chief designer Shiro Nakamura made sure that no stone was left unturned in its development. Their brutal attention to detail was the reason that between 6 and 8 years were spent on the GT-R and the production model wasn’t unveiled until 2007.
2005 GT-R Proto Concept
The first GT-R prototype was displayed at the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show, further pushing the case that Nissan had been planning for this since before the R34’s discontinuation. At the 2005 edition, Nissan said that the production GT-R would be almost entirely like the on-display GT-R Proto and the 2007 edition finally witnessed the much anticipated unveiling of the production version of the GT-R. Nissan’s first supercar, the new Godzilla, had created a ton of hype over the previous half decade. Has it lived up to it?
That would be a resounding ‘yes’.
The well-balanced and extremely capable powertrain of the GT-R
Powered by a twin-turbo 3.8-litre V6 engine, the R35 (as the GT-R’s chassis is encoded, succeeding the Skyline GT-R R34) models manufactured between 2007 and 2010 produced 478 bhp and 588 Nm of torque. With a 0-97 kmph time of 3.5 seconds, the sub $70,000 (costing half that much in Japan), 4-seater was thrown well into supercar territory. Over the years the powertrain has been regularly upgraded, producing an incredible 545 bhp and 628 Nm of torque in the 2014 model.
The 2014 Nissan GT-R has a special launch control called ‘R-Mode Start’ and Nissan claimed that this could get the GT-R from 0-97 kmph in 2.9 seconds. However, they were slightly mistaken. Comparison tests have now proven that it can get there in an unbelievable 2.7 seconds. That’s faster in terms of acceleration than the $1.7 million Koenigsegg Agera R hypercar, as well as almost every production car in the world. Even though the 2014 model now starts at $100,000, it still costs a fraction of its very fast, yet slower accelerating peers. It also managed an astonishing time of 7:24.22 at the Nürburgring, making it one of the fastest production cars in the world around the famous racetrack.
2012 GT-R Track Pack
The GT-R is all about grip, grip and then some more grip. The reason for its brutal acceleration is because of the very intelligent ‘ATTESA E-TS’ all wheel drive system designed by Nissan. Used in conjunction with a rear mounted six-speed dual clutch semi-automatic transmission, it puts the GT-R’s power to the road with as much efficiency as the extremely skilled workers who build it by hand. For this reason, Nissan confidently encourages its customers to drive the GT-R in snowy or wet conditions, claiming it will perform just as well as in dry conditions. The stiff suspension may mean decreased ride quality in everyday usage, but is crucial in making the tyres cling to the asphalt at all times, and allow the GT-R to produce the figures that it does.
2009 GT-R SpecV
2009 saw the arrival of the even higher performance Nissan GT-R SpecV. Powered by the same engine as the base GT-R, the SpecV produces the same horsepower, however larger turbos, a reworked suspension, carbon ceramic brakes as well as a weight reduction of 60 kg allow it to accelerate faster and corner harder than the base GT-R. Because 3.5 seconds just wasn’t quick enough.
Visible changes include a carbon fibre spoiler, grille, brake ducts and an exclusive paint job called the ‘Ultimate Black Opal’. The rear seats were completely removed, the front seats were replaced with carbon fiber Recaro seats, and most of the interior trim was covered in carbon fiber for further weight reduction.
Brimming with more state of the art technology than Tokyo, the GT-R is a tech geek’s dream come true. Its body construction has a ‘Premium Midship (PM)’ platform, which is a hybrid unibody assembled using high-precision, ultra-low-tolerance jigs. The PM platform allows the transaxle to be placed at the rear, which is connected to the lightweight V6 engine at the front through a carbon composite prop shaft. This results in near perfect weight distribution making the GT-R very balanced improving vehicle dynamics significantly. The tyres are filled with nitrogen instead of air to ensure pressure retention for longer periods, reducing drag and creating more stability. Another stand out feature is the customisable multifunction display in the dash, developed by the creators of the Gran Turismo video game series. The amazingly functional display shows all kinds of information like cornering forces, oil pressures, brake pedal positions and steering angles among many others. Nobody knows who Nissan really had in mind when they chose to include the Playstation like display, but the inner nerd in me definitely likes the idea of knowing how many g’s I’m cornering at.
The GT-R’s lines are inspired by Gundam Robots from Japanese Anime, the rear three quarters were shaped by Nissan’s American designers whereas the roofline was taken care of by their European designers.
According to Shiro Nakamura,
The GT-R is unique because it is not simply a copy of a European-designed supercar; it had to really reflect Japanese culture.
Very modern looking, the GT-R is quite large for a supercar, but considering it can seat 4 people, comes with a lot of kit and offers a sizable boot, the curb weight of 1,740 kg is reasonably low. It doesn’t retain a lot from the Skyline GT-R save for its signature four round taillights and although featuring a contemporary design, it may not turn every head on the street. But its aggressive front end, flared wheel arches, rear spoiler and large wheels give it tons of character. The designers at Nissan have really managed to strike the right balance between a supercar, and a daily driver, getting the GT-R’s proportions uncannily spot on.
A large number of petrolheads claim that a $100,000 supercar should look the part and that the GT-R simply doesn’t. “It’s too bulky, look at that rear end. Wouldn’t you much rather spend a 100 grand on a 911 Turbo? Atleast you’ll be driving a Porsche, not a Nissan.” And that’s the dilemma this car creates everywhere it goes. Its a $100,000 Nissan. Some people claim that the computers are too intelligent, that they don’t feel like they have any control over the car themselves. The GT-R is faulted simply because its not an Audi, or a BMW or a Porsche.
Well, they’re all wrong. The GT-R is a celebration, of the legacy of the legendary Skyline, and of the sheer brilliance that is Nissan. All of us haven’t owned or driven or even seen Skyline GT-R’s, but we’ve all watched the Fast and Furious films, played Need for Speed and seen YouTube videos of a tuned 700 bhp GT-R obliterating a Lamborghini Gallardo. The GT-R is an amazing feat of engineering and a prime example of what mankind is capable of producing, given the right amount of dedication, and attention to detail. It’s the perennial underdog, the David among many Goliaths.
If I had $100,000 to spend on a car, I know exactly what I’d get myself.
