Has Nissan Unveiled The Next GT-R?

Gamers and motoring fanatics have combined forces for many years now. A love of cars and video games has brought us many titles. Gamers can opt to steal and destroy cars on Grand Theft Auto V, whilst speed freaks can destroy lap times on Gran Turismo 6. The latter has become famous for revealing concept vehicles which later made production. Furthermore, the design team behind the Gran Turismo saga were actually contracted to work on the current generation Nissan GT-R to produce a multi-function display.

Now it seems that Gran Turismo and Nissan have rekindled another former romance. The result is the Nissan Concept 2020 Vision Gran Turismo, a futuristic design featured as a downloadable vehicle. Interesting you might think, however how does this affect the motoring world outside of the realm of virtual reality?

Apparently the concept, formulated by Nissan's young designers during a design study, was so impressive that it encouraged the Japanese manufacturer's European headquarters to draft in the experts engineering teams from the land of the rising sun. The result, the 2020 Vision Gran Turismo Concept has made the giant leap from virtual reality to virtually existing.

Unveiled at this week's Goodwood Festival of Speed, the possibility of a similar production vehicle resulting from this study just edge a tiny bit closer. Joining a class of manufacturers, including; Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi and automotive design company Zagato, Nissan's new concept vehicle is part of the Vision Gran Turismo series. A series commemorating the 15th anniversary of the Gran Turismo brand, Vision Gran Turismo was created to demonstrate innovative new designs and futuristic concept vehicles from brands involved in its history.

The Concept 2020 Vision Gran Turismo is a 2+2 sports car comprising of race and track technology. The purposeful and sleek design implies sublime performance, and was crafted skillfully by aerodynamics technicians. To put it simply, air will flow along this body like a hot knife through butter.

Nissan state that although innovative, the design features some elements typical of previous models. Modernised certainly, but there is surely only one destiny for this concept besides video games.

Piecing together this jigsaw, some may conclude that this could eventually be the next generation Nissan GT-R. Whilst unconfirmed, everything certainly does add up. Nissan unveiled the concept for the current model in 2001 at the Tokyo Motor Show, six years prior to the Japanese launch of the production model. This current concept arrives in 2014, six years prior to the 2020 date hinted in the name.

Should this prove too coincidental for you, try to deny the 2+2 sports car layout isn't in a similar class to the current model, as are some of the design elements. Gran Turismo's involvement is also a large hint, as the 2001 concept was available in Playstation 2 title, Gran Turismo Concept in 2002, even featured as the cover art.

A conspiracy theory for sure, if not merely an intelligent speculation, the potential is certainly there for future release. Although no word has been given on power sources, figures or prices, we can be safe in the knowledge that Nissan will take their sweet time to perfect this supercar killer - six years to be precise. Instead of carting me off to the lunatic asylum amongst those who consider 9/11 an inside job, wait and see what is revealed in the coming years. Mark my words, this will probably be a large portion of the design for the Nissan GT-R for the next generation.

By Mike Armstrong

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The Best Looking New Cars At 2014 Goodwood FoS - #Goodwood #FOS

I saw every single new car on display at the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed.  The one that made me stop, turn and take in its lines was the new Mercedes S Coupe.  It's absolutely fabulous.

The Mercedes corporate grille looks too big on the CLA but perfect on the S Coupe

So pretty is it I reckon the 2014 S Coupe will be considered in years to come as a highlight of Mercedes output in the 2000s.

Under the S Coupe photos are my other contenders for best looking new car or concept.

The Mercedes S Coupe looks best from the rear

The S Coupe's interior is a masterpiece of luxury and simplicity

The new Renault Twingo may be a game changer for the small car market

I couldn't find any nasty materials in the new Twingo's interior

The Mazda Hazumi is a concept. If it makes it to production it'll be a hit

Mazda Hazumi from the rear is the best looking supermini

Nissan iDx Freeflow concept. Awesomely retro-modern

Looks just as good from the back

By Matt Hubbard

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#LM24 2014 Le Mans - Detailed Guide To Every Car, Driver And The Race

Le Mans is upon us. Here is a complete, downloadable, guide to Le Mans with hi-res images and details for every car, every driver, a track map, timetable and a guide to the various classifications of cars racing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Each page is a hi-res jpg image and can be downloaded and viewed on smartphone, tablet or PC.

Check out our 2014 Le Mans live stream

By Matt Hubbard

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#LM24 2014 Le Mans Live Streaming

This is an embedded link of the official Le Mans Live TV feed.  Obviously it will come and go as practice sessions and the race itself take place over the coming days.

Below the feed are some useful Le Mans links and a live #LM24 twitter feed.


Live - 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours by lemans-tv

Le Mans live timing - opens in a new tab
Spotters Guide - Huge, downloadable guides to each car and the circuit - opens in a new tab
2013 Le Mans Results and Summary
Beautiful tribute to Allan Simonsen who lost his life at Le Mans 2013
Pictorial history of Porsche at Le Mans from 1951 to 2014

Tweets about "#LM24"



By Matt Hubbard

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How To Buy A Supercar For £10,000

For ten grand you can buy a brand new Skoda Citigo, Dacia Sandero or MG3.  But that would be very boring.  For ten grand you can also buy a supercar.  Here's how.

First things first, the above cars will come with warranties, servicing will be cheap and they'll generally be economical and reliable.  If you buy a supercar parts will be expensive, they'll drink fuel and your insurance payments will rocket.  But who cares if you've got a car in your drive that transports your soul to a better place as well as your shopping back from the supermarket.

Maserati 3200

Let's start with something Italian and exotic.  You can buy an early 2000s Maserati 3200 with 100k on the clock, a full service history and in good condition for a shade under £10k.  History is crucial and even then if it goes wrong it'll cost a fortune to put right and your local garage won't touch it.  But with 370bhp, four luxuriously appointed leather seats, a shape to die for and the fact it is a Maserati you just would wouldn't you.

BMW 8-series

Built as BMW's flagship car the 8-series was a super sexy supercar for the 80s.  You can pick up a top notch 840 Ci for about £7k.  Go for the later 4.4 litre V8 from the late 90s and it'll be one of the most reliable and useable cars on this list.  If you're feeling a bit mad you can pick up a super smooth V12 850 Ci for similar money.  Check out this review of an 840Ci by Scrof.

Chevrolet Corvette C4

Ford Mustangs are muscle cars, Chevrolet Corvettes are supercars.  Suggest otherwise to any American car enthusiast and you'll be told you don't know your Citroen C4 from your Corvette C4.  For under £10k you can buy a late 80s C4, one of the best looking Corvettes.  It might be an 80s car but it doesn't look it.  There'll be a full fat 5.7 litre V8 stuffed under the bonnet and plastic body panels which won't rust.  Full service history is a must and if it's lived most of its life in the US chassis rust shouldn't be a problem.  It'll also be left hand drive.

Nissan Skyline R34

From American to Japanese, the Skyline is the connoisseurs Japanese supercar - for sensible money.  Ten grand buys an R34 from the late 90s.  This model is the first modern looking Skyline (or GT-R as they're known now) which still looks good today.  Most have been tuned or modded but as long as previous owners have looked after them reliability should be fine. If the shape doesn't do it for you then the performance will - a lightly modified Skyline will be faster, and probably more reliable, than anything else in this list.

Mercedes SL 55 AMG

When Jeremy Clarkson sold his Ferrari 355 he bought a Mercedes SL 55 AMG because it was more relaxing than the Ferrari and could "monster" it in performance terms.  Ten grand buys an early 2000s, 500bhp, 5.4 litre, V8 chunk of AMG's finest with full service history.  Mercedes reckoned that the SL 55 AMG could reach 208mph if it wasn't restricted to 155mph.  It looks pretty special too.

Porsche 911

No list of supercars on a budget would be complete without a Porsche 911.  For £10k there's only one model - the 996. Derided by some as it was the first of the water-cooled 911s the 996 is also a modern, relatively reliable performance car that's universally recognised. It also has bags of character.    For the budget it is best to buy as new as possible, and with full Porsche dealer and specialist service history.  You'll get a 320bhp, 3.4 litre flat-6 engine and bags of kudos.

TVR Chimaera

The last of our budget super cars is a British bruiser from Blackpool's finest - TVR.  The Chimaera existed from 1992 to 2003 and you really need to buy on condition and how well it's been cared for as much as anything else.  Engines range from 4 to 5 litres and all are V8s.  The Chimaera is light as its body is formed from fibreglass panels, but don't let that fool you if you're looking at one.  TVR chassis' can rust even though the car looks fine so take a look underneath even if the car looks in great condition.

By Matt Hubbard

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Nissan at the Tokyo Motor Show

Graham King looks at what Nissan has brought to the Tokyo Motor Show

Nissan has unveiled four cars you might actually want at the Tokyo Motor Show. Unfortunately, you can only buy one of them.

The press release for the Nissan IDx is written almost entirely in design-speak. I won’t bore you with it, largely because I don’t really understand it. But in a nutshell, it’s been designed in collaboration with so-called ‘digital natives’ (otherwise known as anyone under 23) to appeal specifically to that age group. It could have been a disaster, but they’ve ended up producing something really desirable. It looks like a retro-futuristic Datsun 510 from and is about the same size (i.e. tiny). The road-going IDx Freeflow would be powered by a small petrol engine. There’s no indication of what’s under the racing-inspired IDx Nismo’s bonnet, but you’d hope for a whacking-great turbo at the very least. Unfortunately, you can’t buy one. But here’s hoping.

The triangular BladeGlider clearly takes its inspiration from 2012’s Nissan DeltaWing Le Mans racer and the related ZEOD RC that will compete at La Sarthe next year. Its three-seater (1+2) ‘swept wing’ shape is right at the cutting of road car aerodynamics and it’s powered by Nissan’s first in-wheel electric motors. The lithium-ion battery pack is much the same as that in the LEAF. The low centre of gravity and innovative aero mean the BladeGlider should handle brilliantly. Unfortunately, we’ll never find out as you can’t buy one. Probably ever. Unless you live in The Jetsons, perhaps.

The Nissan GT-R has always produced some big (and small) numbers. In the new GT-R Nismo, those numbers get even bigger (and smaller). The 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V6 engine now produces 591bhp, up from 542bhp, thanks to turbos pilfered from the GT-R GT3 racing car. Nissan hasn’t revealed any performance figures, but the standard car’s 0-62mph time stands at 2.7secs. Might an extra 49bhp shave a couple of tenths off? Under 2.5secs would be truly astonishing. Almost as astonishing as its lap time at the Nurburgring Norschleife: 7:08.679s. That’s the fastest time ever recorded for a volume production car. Fortunately you will be able to buy the GT-R Nismo when it goes on sale in 2014.

Article by Graham King

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Catch-up Corner - A Bespoke Roller, Devel Sixteen, Nissan Qashqai And More

Graham King rounds up some of the week’s motoring stories you might have missed

Another week, another Bespoke Rolls-Royce

Dubai clearly loves Rolls-Royce Bespoke, RR’s in-house tailoring division. Last week I brought you the rather wonderful Phantom Chicane Coupe, but this one, the Phantom Celestial, is a bit gratuitous. It starts with the exterior paintwork, a shade of dark blue given extra depth thanks to glass particles mixed into the paint. Then there’s interior, which has the Starlight Headliner usually found in the Phantom Coupe. And 446 diamonds inlaid by hand into the door, dashboard and central divider cappings. And yes you did read 446 diamonds. If you’ve got the money…

Land Rover sets Empty Quarter record

A couple of weeks ago I told you about Land Rover’s attempt to cross Saudi Arabia’s Empty Quarter desert in record time. Well, they have done just that. Rally driver Moi Torrallardona drove a completely standard supercharged Range Rover Sport the 849km route in 10 hours, 22 minutes. That’s an average speed of 51.87mph. On sand. With road tyres.

Toyota designs oddly familiar-looking taxi

With three big motor shows coming up in the next few weeks, there’s a stream of concept car previews coming along already that will soon become a deluge. I’m not going to saturate Catch-up Corner with them, but this one amused me so I thought I’d point it out. It’s the Toyota JPN Taxi Concept. It’s completely obvious what it’s for - presumably Toyota’s thinking it might be time to start phasing out the ancient Crown saloon that still sells in vasts quantities to Japan’s taxi fleets. It looks kind of familiar, doesn’t it?

Amy Williams to tackle Rally GB

Britain’s favourite Winter Olympian, the very lovely Amy Williams, will switch from being a Skeleton gold medal winner to an international rally co-driver on Wales Rally GB later this month. She will partner Sky F1 pundit and rally regular Tony Jardine in an Evo 9. Amy got a taste co-driving during a challenge on the sports-themed gameshow ‘A League of Their Own’. Jardine was sufficiently impressed to ask her to navigate for him on the UK’s round of the World Rally Championship. They’ve already completed four rallies in preparation, taking some class wins along the way - Amy says the goals is simply to finish in Wales. She retired from Skeleton a couple of years ago, but hasn’t said if she wants to take co-driving further post-Rally GB. Personally I’d love to have her sat next to me in an enclosed space for hours on end…

Do you believe the Devel Sixteen?

Amidst all the highly conspicuous displays of mind-boggling wealth at the Dubai Motor Show, the Devel Sixteen is by far the most boggling. The people behind it, whoever they are, claim it has a V16 engine producing 5000bhp! I’ll say that again: 5000bhp! Quite where that engine comes from, you can only guess. Performance? 0-60mph in 1.8 secs, top speed 348mph. Apparently three stooges, I mean customers have already signed up at $1 million each. I’ll leave you to make up your own mind, but personally, I think this might be the world’s first bullshit-fuelled car.

BMW i3 finally arrives

After years of concept cars doing the rounds at the world’s motor shows, the BMW i3 has finally been officially launched. I’m sure you’ve already read about it so I’m not going to go over the facts here. Instead, I’m just wondering if I’m alone in thinking it’s one of the most amazing-looking cars of recent years? I think it’s what all family cars should look like in the near future. But then I am a design progressive. Speaking of which…

New Nissan Qashqai revealed

Let’s be honest, you don’t buy the current Nissan Qashqai for its looks. It got a little better after the 2010 facelift, but it’s always been a car that sells on practically first and foremost. And while the new one is very much more of the same - more space, more technology, more economy - it looks pretty good too. And it’s built the UK.

Article by Graham King

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Nissan ZEOD RC 2014 Le Mans entry launch video

You've seen the photos, now see the video.  This is Nissan's 'Garage 56' entry in the 2014 Le Mans, the ZEOD RC

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This is Nissan's 2014 Le Mans entry - and it's electric

Nissan will race this, the all-electric ZEOD RC, at the 2014 Le Mans 24 Hour race under a 'Garage 56' entry, just as the Deltawing was in 2012.

The ZEOD RC will be assessed for potential entry in LMP1 in future Le Mans'.  For the time being Nissan are quoting a top speed of 186mph but give no powertrain details as they are assessing various different options.

Whatever, it looks pretty out of this world.

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The Nissan Juke, other Mini SUVs and the only MSUV you should buy

I read in one of the top car magazines recently that the Nissan Juke kick started the craze for mini-SUVs and that other car manufacturers are working hard to bring out rivals to the Juke to cash in on the market niche it created.

That niche presumably isn't for elevated, ugly little blobs with 2 wheel drive and a front end that looks like it was designed by someone in the middle of an LSD trip.  The so called niche is known as the Mini Sports Utility Vehicle.

Given that the Juke was launched in 2010 I'd have to take odds with the magazine's assertion that the Juke created the MSUV niche.  Normally that magazine imparts wisdom and knowledge on all matters automotive but it obviously hasn't heard of the Suzuki SJ413 or Vitara, or the Honda HRV or various Mitsubishis that have been quite a lot smaller and cheaper than the Shogun and other large 4x4s.

I'd take further odds and say that the Land Rover Freelander, Nissan X-Trail and Mitsubishi Outlander have been around for absolutely donkey's years and none of those are exactly large SUVs.  Maybe now they are known as MSUVs  (Medium Sport Utility Vehicles).

Actually, market sector micro-nichery be buggered.  Nobody actually wakes up one morning and says, "You know what, I quite fancy a front wheel drive mini SUV crossover compact.  Maybe I'll pop down my local dealer and see if they've got a Rover Streetwise in stock."

Car buyers tend to fall into three groups - consumers, enthusiasts and company car drivers.  Company car drivers tend not to go for MSUVs, instead preferring whatever BMW or Audi is available at the top end of their allowance with the least tax, and enthusiasts (if you are reading this then you probably fall into this group) wouldn't be seen dead in a car described as a mini-SUV.

This leaves us with the consumers who are people that need a car and will buy whatever looks nice and suits them, doesn't cost much and won't break down.  Thereafter consumers are unable to be subdivided in a short article as the myriad variations are almost infinite, but sufficient to say advertising and 'what the neighbours have got' often influence consumers decisions.

Back to the Juke.  It's small but tall, cheap (between £13,400 and £20,000) and most versions are two wheel drive.  The engines are small, efficient diesel or petrol units.  The Juke has been a huge success, which is why other manufacturers are trying to replicate the formula.

I've seen this success.  I drop my son off at school most days.  He goes to a small, rural village school.  A few years ago all the mums arrived in enormous 4x4s - X5s, Range Rovers, Q7s etc.  Now they've all downsized to the Juke and it's ilk.

MSUVs tend not to be beautiful or handsome cars.  The Mini Paceman, Vauxhall Mokka, Ford Ecosport have all been rushed out to meet the demand for this niche.  Mercedes' GLA will probably look better on the road than it does in photos.  The BMW X1 looks awful.  The Audi Q3 looks like a Ford Focus on steroids.

If there is a point to this article it is that there is only one MSUV that I consider to have any semblance of credibility and that therefore any car enthusiast worth his or her salt should consider buying.

It comes with two or, preferably, four wheel drive, can off-road, has economical yet powerful engines, looks good, is massively spacious and has been styled for what it can do rather than what a designer thought it should represent.

That car is the Skoda Yeti.  It tops all sorts of owner satisfaction surveys, costs between £14,000 and £21,000 and has been endorsed in his brilliant ownership review (Living with - Skoda Yeti 4x4) by @scunjee

Don't buy a Mini Sports Utility Vehicle.  Buy a Skoda Yeti, which was designed not as a MSUV but happens to fulfil all the requirements of a MSUV.  And is a good car.

Leave the Juke and other MSUVs to the consumers.

Matt

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This is the new Nissan 370Z and it's an absolute bargain

This is the new Nissan 370Z.  The external changes are limited to a new bumper and some new colours and wheels.  The big news is that the base model costs £26,995 - over 3 grand cheaper than the previous 370Z.

The 370Z has a 326bhp 3.7 litre V6 and does 0-60 mph in 5.3 seconds.  It also comes with 6-speed manual transmission only.  Perfect.  Pricewise it falls between the Toyota GT86 and BMW M135i.

Also available is the 370Z GT which costs £31,995 and the 370Z Nismo which will cost £36,995 and gets an extra 15bhp.

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Here's what the established car manufacturers are doing to capture the Chinese market

Car manufacturers are falling over themselves to please the Chinese, and it's no wonder.  The population of China is 1.35 billion, 240 million Chinese were born in the 80s and annual economic growth has hovered around 10% for years.

The middle classes in China have grown to 100 million and there are 1 million UK equivalent millionaires.  And 130 US dollar billionaires.  In 2011 18,900,000 cars were sold in China compared to 12,778,171 in the US and 1,941,253 in the UK.

Which means they are buying more cars.  The Chinese home-grown (and often state owned) manufacturers can supply a certain amount of the Chinese growth in car ownership, but not all.  And with more money and freedom of choice, in what is still a communist country, Western manufacturers can satisfy an increasing demand for individuality - and beauty - from Chinese consumers.

So we see the familiar (to us in the west) car manufacturers pushing their product like hell at the Shanghai Motor Show.  We are seeing joint ventures with Chinese companies and we are seeing China specific models.

Jaguar Land Rover saw sales in China increase by 60% over the course of 2011, and by more than 80% in 2012.  JLR will be opening a manufacturing plant in China in conjunction with Chery, a state owned Chinese manufacturer.

The Ford Focus, recently announced as the world's bestselling car, was helped to that title by a 50% increase in sales in China.  Ford are one of many manufacturers introducing models specific to the Chinese market.  In Ford's case that model is the new Ford Escort - an iconic name in the UK and, as it turns out, in China which loves the old model so much Ford deigned to revive the name for a new saloon that sits between the Focus and Fiesta.

Nissan's attempt to capture the Chinese market is the Friend-me which, if it were a film, would be the ultimate high-concept movie.  According to Nissan, Chinese in their 20s (the target market) have no siblings so like to be with their friends but also to have their own individual space.  So they've designed a car with room for four but that gives each occupant their own space.  Maybe by accident they've also designed the best looking Nissan ever made - strange for a market normally so conservative.

Amongst the many manufacturers on display in Shanghai is MG who's MG CS concept (known as the MG3 in the UK) is hugely important for the resurgent British br, now in Chinese hands.  The MG6 hasn't really been the success many hoped for, despite being a good car, and, with the premium mini-SUV sector chasing after the market share created by the Range Rover Evoque, MG have high hopes for it's first brand new car in two years.

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