Hennessey Performance, via a pair of new turbochargers, upgraded boost control, and revised intake and exhaust systems, has increased the power of the already-blistering-fast 2009 Nissan GT-R to a stout 700 hp. Designated the Godzilla 700, the complete package will cost $24,500 installed or approximately $101,340 including the cost of the car. If 700 hp sounds like overkill, a 600-hp upgrade, called the Godzilla 600, will cost $14,500 installed or $91,340 including the car. Compared to the Corvette ZR-1’s, and our 2009 Best-Bang-for-the-Buck winner’s, MSRP of $103,000, the Godzilla 700 sounds like the deal of the decade.

[via Motor Trend]

Provided by duPont REGISTRY

The Corvette ZR-1 has just knocked off four seconds from its ‘ring time, bringing it down to 7:22.4 from its previous record of 7:26. The new time is still slower than the 7:22.1 time claimed by a Dodge Viper ACR a couple months ago. The ZR-1’s first record-breaking lap was hot on the heels of Nissan’s claim that the GT-R lapped the course in 7:29, which, at the time, was the second-fastest lap time ever recorded; a Pagani Zonda F held the record at 7 minutes and 27 seconds.

All of this has to be taken with a grain of salt. The times these cars are recording are with the supervision of their manufacturers and not an outside governing body, which could standardize how these lap times are procured.

[via Autoblog]

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This is Septskyline's post in the Nissan America GT-R Owners Club's forums:  

[via NAGTROC]

Awhile back a story came across my desk about a man who put a deposit down on a Nissan GT-R but refused to take delivery because of the little black box located inside. 

Today, that man’s fears may have been verified. On the North American GT-R Ownership Club forums, a man wrote to describe how Nissan refused to replace his $20,000 transmission because the car was driven too long without the Vehicle Dynamic Control, or VDC, system activated. This information was all downloaded from the car.  

Later in the post, a member with the handle ZO6-GTR states that the fine print of the warranty does not cover “operating the vehicle with the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) off, except when rocking vehicle when stuck in mud or snow.” 

Stability-control devices, like the one in the GT-R, are required to be in all new vehicles by 2012.  Its purpose is to take in information like throttle position, wheel angle, etc. and brake certain wheels if it feels like the car is, or may soon become, out of control.  The problem is this box also records and stores all this information, which can be later retrieved by dealerships or even authorities, if they feel it is necessary. Many people in the Japan were also upset when Nissan announced that their car's Engine Control Unit, or ECU, in conjunction with the car’s GPS, would limit the top speed of the GT-R on anything but a racetrack. 

Read about the man who canceled his Nissan GT-R order here and read about the owner that now needs $20,000 for a new transmission here.

[via NAGTROC]

Although Nissan has not released any written statements commenting on Porsche's claim that it cheated when recording the 7:29  lap time around the  Nürburgring Nordschleife, one spokesperson did comment on the accusation:

Nissan is "..not going to get into a war of words with Porsche. The final word from us is that it was done on absolutely standard tires which are available to customers in the showroom. They're not trick tires – absolutely standard tires, normal road tires. The GT-R comes with Bridgestone and Goodyear (Dunlop). One tire gives slightly better times around the 'Ring. We did it on Dunlop. They're available with the car." said Neil Reeve, a Nissan spokeperson, at the Paris Motor Show.

[via StreetDrift]

In April, Nissan flabbergasted the automotive community with an incredible lap time around the infamous Nurburgring track inside the then soon-to-be-released Nissan GT-R. It seems that Porsche was a little suspicious of the claim and purchased a Nissan GT-R to duplicate the 7:29 lap time. The closest they got was 7:54, which is well behind the 7:34 and 7:38 lap times achieved by the Porsche GT2 and Porsche 911 Turbo, respectfully, that same day. Porsche believes that Nissan is being dishonest about their factory-car lap time and believes it equipped the GT-R with semi-slick tires to cut off at least 25 seconds.

If we cannot believe the lap time, should we at least believe the automotive community? Car and Driver gave the Nissan GT-R the gold in a comparsion test with a Porsche GT2, a Dodge Viper ACR, and a Corvette Z06. Automobile called the Nissan GT-R “Quicker, faster, and a better value than Porsche’s iconic 911 Turbo.” On the other hand, Road and Track rated the GT-R fourth—one spot below the Porsche GT2—in a ten-car comparison and Motor Trend said the GT-R “doesn’t serenade you with the steering, doesn’t charm you with its driving demeanor like a similar performance Porsche or Ferrari.”  

[via Autocar]

Top Gear, the show responsible for teaching a Koeniggsegg CCX some off-road tricks, reportedly was involved in a small fender bender with the only Nissan GT-R press car in Britian. The accident took place in the Isle of Man and was supposedly and ironically right after the testers were told to calm down. The car was in the middle of a photoshoot for the Top Gear magazine at the time. The damage wasn't as bad as the picture below makes it seem. The same car was used in the Goodwood Festival of Speed only a couple days later. 

 [via Autoblog via CarTribe.co.uk]