First: Tim is at it again!



Jalopnik - Switzer P800 Nissan GT-R: First Drive - Switzer P800 Nissan GT-R

A sharp right turn looms dangerously close and you're traveling about 50 MPH too fast for a safe transition. Physics are against you as the rear attitude of your Switzer-tuned Nissan GT-R yaws to the right whereas it should be radically left. Overzealous on the throttle after the long left sweeper, only a carefully controlled slide will save your hide now. You pitch the wheel right and apply a sharp stab on the accelerator. Counter-intuitive as it may seem, the genius differentials work their magic and spread the new energy towards all the right vectors. The heavyweight hypercar rotates clockwise in preparation for the immediate turn while you're fighting the precision wheel with instinctive, twitching movements. No time stumble through the traction circle in your head now. Even in laissez-faire R-mode, the dynamic stability control works diligently to keep everything in order while you're sailing through the tight, flat bend sideways.

The more mild-mannered P700 –- developing only 626 HP at the wheels –- rattled off a no-launch-control 0-60 time of 3.35 seconds and a 1/4 Mile of 11.28 seconds at 132 MPH. Here with more boost and up over 74 HP, the as-yet-untimed P800 should do even better.

A flat foot on the gas then a pull on the right paddle and you're back in the triple digits. 110 MPH. Audacious power like you've never experienced grips your chest. The straight hugs gently left to follow the curvature of the landscape — but not enough to deter you from your pursuit of ultimate speed. 130 MPH. The small white braking markers register on your radar, but, if you remember one thing from driving school, it's that you brake too damn early anyways. 145 MPH. You're rocketing past the 200m mark and still flat out. You're even with the 100m mark and threshold braking for your life. The delicate ballet of velocity and balance repeats itself and you manage to make it through yet another hectic turn. On the exit, you lay into the pedal and you're gone.

Riding in the van on the way back from the track, you're utterly depleted; both physically and mentally. Only now are you able to reflect on the day's events and the details of exactly what piece of demonically engineered hardware did this to you. Through the fog, the technical details come streaming back to you. The assailant was a Switzer P800 Nissan GT-R with over 700 HP at the wheels. The meat of the tuning package included a new pair of turbos, monster intercoolers, a new fuel management computer and catalytic converter deletes. The kit resembles the Switzer P700 package, but de-smogged and loaded with even more piss and vinegar. Other than these carefully chosen pieces of precision racing equipment, the car essentially remains stock. You keep everything, from the Gran Turismo-themed center gauge stack to the 8-way power driver's seat. In automatic mode, the dual clutch transmission cooperates as smoothly as the new Town and Country minivan. Astonishingly, all of this added power comes without any major drivability compromises. Turbo lag is basically nonexistent compared to a stock, 480 HP GT-R. Aside from the slight flutter of aftermarket blow-off valves after lifting the throttle, even the most vetted Nissan enthusiast would have difficulty distinguishing this P800 GT-R from a stock vehicle This goes double when you stop at the gas station and feed it the recommended 93 octane fuel instead of the race gas that most setups of this caliber demand.

Surely, there must be some strong disqualifying factor about this whole package, right? The new Godzilla has been called "mechanically untouchable" by many. If you go home to your cadre of driving buddies with nothing but sunshine, you'll surely come off as nothing more than a converted fan-boy. There are indeed minor troubles; the off-road-use-only designation as a direct result of the cat delete pipes. The only other issue that exists is the cost of the package: roughly $16,650, plus the cost of the cat delete pipes and a few other small parts. You also need to bring your own custom cat-back exhaust. Chances are, if you've got the money to be playing with a GT-R, you've got the residual income to boost it into hypercar territory. This early in the Godzilla tuning game, Switzer's P800 package appears to comes out far ahead of the other shops as far as total package value, reliability and streetable performance. Even in the snow.

And secondly: Take that Germans!

Nissan GT-R breaks Ring record | Car News | evo

Quote:

Nissan has tried to put to bed the controversy surrounding the GT-R’s Nurburgring lap record by having another crack. And it’s good news for the Japanese – the 2010 model year GT-R, with 478bhp and a modified launch control – beat the previous 7min 29sec time with a 7.27.56.

The car was piloted by Toshio Suzuki, a former stand-in Formula 1 driver, but Nissan still isn’t quite satisfied with the time – ‘although dry, the track surface grip was impaired by dust and sand’. That means another attempt is due in the next few days, with the Corvette ZR-1’s 7.26.40 firmly in Suzuki’s sights.

As well as a smidge extra power, the updated GT-R gets a retuned gearbox, fettled suspension, a larger fuel tank and slightly better fuel economy, although this probably wasn’t too key around the Nordschleife. Stay tuned for more updates as Nissan continues its efforts at the Ring.

 

Gratuitous tranny money shot.....

 

wonderfurr!
i would love to see the GTR trample on the ZR1's time. it's always fun watching the "daily driver and part time track car" beat the "track car and part time daily driver"

some people are tired of seeing the ZR1 and GTR exchange punches, i think it's necessary. look at all the wonderful things that have happened since it began :)

thanks for the articles -- again!