Nissan North America Sales up 10.4%

Nissans total sales for January 2012  were up 10.4% versus January 2011, however only 20 Nissan GT-R's were sold, down 9.1% from 22 a year earlier. It looks like the buyers were anticipating the 2013 model. Will the slow sales continue for the Nissan GT-R in 2012, or will the release of the 545 hp 2013 show some more sales?

The first 2013 Nissan GT-R's are arriving to dealerships now. We should have some projections of 2012 sales by the end of the month. The GT-R had a healthy price bump to $96,820 on the Premium, and $106,320 on the Black Edition.

CRP Racing to Campaign Nissan GT-R's in World Challenge

CRP Racing have just announced that they are going to be racing a pair of Nissan GT-R's in World Challenge for 2012. Brass Monkey Racing tried racing a couple of GT-R's in 2010, and 2011, but they never got too far with the cars.  Brass Monkey had some issues with cooling, and the transmission. Now a few years along, hopefully CRP will be able to work out those issues.  The car is going to be sponsored by Hawk brakes, and Cragar Wheels. Hawk already produces brake pads for the Nissan GT-R, but I haven't seen anything in Cragars lineup that will fit on a GT-R. Maybe soon. 

World Challenge GT is a tough series, with a number of well established teams, with very fast cars. Coming from the Corvette, a lightweight V8, rear wheel drive car, the GT-R will be a new experience for the team. 

See the full press release after the break.

Inside Line: 2012 Z06 vs 2013 Nissan GT-R

2013 Nissan GT-R vs 2012 Chevrolet Corvette Z06.

The head to head tests cometh. In this one, with video from Inside Line, they pit the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette Centennial Edition Z06 vs the 2013 Nissan GT-R.  What exactly makes a Centennial Edition?

Our Centennial Edition test car features Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, Magnetic Ride Control suspension and Performance Traction Management; the last a torque-limiting traction control that manages spark, fuel and throttle at five different levels of intervention (previously only available on the ZR1). In other words, the beast of a Corvette has been tamed by technology.

In other words, its a very well equipped, and expensive Corvette. The Nissan GT-R has also had a good bump in price.  Both the cars are coming in right around the $100k mark.

And even though it has a 3.7-inch-longer wheelbase, is 7.5 inches longer overall and is packing an extra 642 pounds over the Vette, the GT-R actually feels smaller and more of one piece. Its best lap time was a 1:23.8.

The Corvette was nearly a full second faster on the Streets of Willow Springs. Carbon Ceramic brakes, magnetic ride control, and the new Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires make the Corvette Z06 shine on the track.

And when the Vette did break its tires loose, it was in a more linear fashion than the violent nature of the GT-R's tires. When we checked the time sheet, the Corvette's best lap time was 1:22.7.

The GT-R was quicker in a straight line, but on the track, and though the slalom, the Z06 has it beat.  Both cars pulled around 1 G on the skidpad. Head over to Inside Line for the full results and pictures. Video after the break.

2012 Tokyo Auto Salon : Motor Trend

The 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon is well and done for another year, and in this post from Motor Trend, Peter Lyon, managed to get some comments from Katsutoshi Mizuno, and Toshio Suzuki. Supposedly this is the first time "Mr. GT-R" Mizuno attended the event, and he thought that he might be able to learn some things from the tuners. It is an interesting comment, considering that his stance has normally been that the GT-R does not need any tuning.

 GT-R chief test driver Toshio Suzuki and Toshikazu "Mr. GT-R" Mizuno, the GT-R's chief engineer, who were visiting the salon for the first time, were impressed at what some tuners were doing. "I think we can learn something from these guys. But the issue with souping up a GT-R as with all cars is how much stress can the transmission take?" Mizuno commented.

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/events/1201_a_tour_of_the_2012_tokyo_auto_salon/#ixzz1kxk8KU3V

 How much can the transmission take? Stock, it can take quiet a lot, even though it has a few issues. The bigger issue with the GR6 is still the inability for the Nissan dealer to repair it, rather they just remove and replace the transmission in the case of issues.  Even something as simple as a fluid leak, can be a transmission R&R.

 Head over to Motor Trend for the full article and pictures.

2013 Nissan GT-R Black Edition First Pictures

2013 Black Edition Nissan GT-R

The 2013 Nissan GT-R Black Edition has a few changes from the 2012 car. The 2013 gets a power bump to 545hp, and a carbon fiber rear wing. Check out the first photos that I have seen of the $106,320* 2013 BE from Rif. The Buyers Guide lists all the differences year to year for the Nissan GT-R.

Black Edition carbon fiber rear wing.

*+$1000 destination charge