GT-R-powered Infiniti flagship officially canned

Any hope of a Nissan GT-R-powered flagship from Infiniti have been officially dashed. According to Brian Carolin, Nissan's Senior Veep of Sales and Marketing, "It's fair to say that there's nothing in the product plan for a flagship right now. It's just not a priority in today's climate."

Rumors of a new sedan packing the GT-R's twin-turbocharged V6 and all-wheel drive system have been circulating for over a year, and when the Infiniti Essence concept debuted at theGeneva Motor Show this year, speculation began anew. The initial thought was Infiniti would bring a flagship coupe to market in favor of a sedan, but now, both plans have been shelved due to the current economic crisis and the subsequent downward spiral of luxury vehicle sales.

Carolin told Inside Line that dealers would have fallen all over each other for a new flagship last year, but "now it's way down on their wish list."

[Source: InsideLine | Image: Holiday Auto]

Nissan GT-R beats the Germans in residual value as well

It’s been well documented that the Nissan GT-R has what it takes to beat its German rivals when it comes to speed, be it in a straight line or at the track. Cars like the BMW M3, Audi RS4 and Porsche 911 Turbo all fall by the wayside time and time again whenever Nissan’s new supercar is thrown into a comparison.

However, there is another important factor that sits in the mind of most car buyers that the GT-R is also a star at – residual value. Any prospective buyers of the GT-R now have another reason to brag over, with Britain’s CAP Monitor car valuation data provider predicting that the Nissan will be worth 84% of its new list price after 12 months or 10,000 miles.

In contrast, the same data agency predicts that the Porsche 911 Carrera will retain just 68% of its original value, while a BMW M3 or M5 will retain just 60%. Even the stunning Audi R8 is only expected to retain about 73% of its original sticker price, reports CAR.

It’s important to remember that these values are only a prediction and the actual results may vary significantly in different markets. Throw in factors like the GT-R gearbox being particular prone to failure after too many hard launches, and the introduction of a new Series II GT-R that does away with the original launch control system that was necessary for the blistering 3.3 second 0-60mph times, and it is easy to see that the 84% residual prediction may be a little generous.

Nissan GT-R Wallpaper

Nissan GT-R by Cobra

Cobra Technology is ready for the release of the Nissan GT-R on the European market. Although no cars have hit the street there (officially), it allocation for 2009 is already sold out. So the modified Cobra N+ GT-R may already be on a few European wish lists.

Cobra reprogrammed the ECU, boost pressure is increased by 0.15 bar, and the air intake is modified with sport air filters. It claims this increases the standard 485 hp to 550 hp (but also remember that GT-Rs will usually appear more powerful than they actually are on a dyno.)

Other upgrades to the GT-R include three-piece lightweight 21-inch Cobra N+ light-alloy wheels, eight-piston brake calipers, and adjustable coil-over suspension. There is also a body kit with Cobra N+ front apron with large air dams, rocker panels, and rear apron.

It’s a tough thing to mess with Godzilla. The engineers at Nissan spent about seven years getting everything right, so even a body kit may seriously mess with the aerodynamics from the factory. But if nothing else, Europe will love the black and gold paint scheme that should remind many of the John Player Special F1 racers of the 1970s.

Hennessey Godzilla 700 based on the Nissan GT-R

Hennessey Performance is known mostly for modifying American muscle, especially the dodge Viper. But there are also foreign cars in the book of tricks, including the Nissan GT-R.

There are two packages: Godzilla 600 and Godzilla 700 costing $11,500 to $18,500 respectively. The package’s names explain all the important information. Hennessey takes the (claimed) 480 hp and upgrades the airflow to get 600 hp in the Godzilla 600, and adds new turbochargers and intercoolers to get 700 hp in the Godzilla 700.

Replacing the the turbochargers and intercoolers will not only probably make Nissan and its warranty devision not too happy, but also could be a little tricky considering Nissan spent about seven years developing the car and the individually-built engine. Let’s hope Hennessey knows what it’s doing.

Top ten new cars of 2008

Top ten new cars of 2008

1. BMW 1-Series

We’re already starting off with a disputed car. BMW made is reputation with small cars that could kick ass. Anyone who owned a 2002 regrets the day he/she sold it. The 1-Series is the closest thing we will get to in North America to that same spirit (even if BMW no longer sell four-cylinder cars here.) It’s got razor sharp handling and is available with 300 horsepower.

008 BMW 1-Series Coupe

Yes, the styling is a little awkward and the 3-Series overlaps in pricing, but this is exactly what a BMW should be. The 1-Series is the unassuming Sports car.

2. Cadillac CTS/CTS-V

2009 Cadillac CTS-V

The CTS is a contender because the level of quality was raised this year, but it made the list because of the CTS-V. Corvette power, Cadillac luxury…’nuff said.

3. Chevrolet Corvette

2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

The ZR-1 has 638 hp and costs about $105,000. That’s about $164.50 per horse. No other supercar offers that.

Oh yeah, this is complete car with good handling, too.

4. Dodge Challenger

The Dodge Challenger is the kind of car that alters personalities. Even an accountant feels like a badass driving one.

This is a big car, and it drives like a big car. The suspension is a little soft, the turning radius could be measured in yards, and compact parking spaces don’t apply here. But that doesn’t matter because even when you’re out on a milk run, you feel cool.

5. Jaguar XF

If the Challenger makes you feel cooler, the Jaguar XF makes you feel like a better person. Just by sitting behind the wheel and looking at the real wood, rising shifter knob, and emerging air vents, something changes. You’re social status feels elevated further than any other $50,000 luxury sedan can do.

6. Lotus Elise SC

2008 Lotus Elise SC

Okay, the Elise isn’t all that new, but Lotus did add a supercharger to to SC to haul around or butts even quicker. 217 hp in a car that weighs less than 2000 lbs. is something we love.

7. Mitsubishi Lance Evolution X

Lancer Evolution X PremiumPKG

An all-wheel drive practical sports sedan. The only one we like better is the Subaru WRX…

8. Nissan GT-R

Godzilla is back, and no other car we’ve ever experiences has been so thoroughly though out. It took almost seven years to go from clean sheet to 480 hp (disputed) 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6, all-wheel drive supercoupe. Just to be in the car’s presence (not even the drive) and seeing all the little details in person makes you appreciate the car. We’re still trying to figure out how many organs we need to sell to get one permanently.

9. Saturn Astra

This will likely be the most disputed car on the list, but drive one before you pass judgment, damnit.

Saturns are now just Opels with odd badges, and Opels are cool again. This starts at $16,500 before discounts. As far a cheap transportation with some personality, this one really has something to offer. Doubters can kiss my Astra.

10. Subaru Impreza WRX

Here’s the everyday driver for the person who doesn’t want to grow up. Take it to the office in the morning, and take the long way home. Although the redesign took place in 2007, the engine got 41 more horses in 2008.

We couldn’t get enough of the Subaru WRX in our test fleet. All-wheel drive, razor-sharp steering, 265 hp, $25,000: NO BETTER VALUE FOR THE MONEY.

Motor Trend and Automobile Magazine name the Nissan GT-R “Car of the Year”

It was an unremarkable but pleasant day this past weekend. I have sumptuously managed to wake up at 1:29 in the afternoon, a feat exceeded only by the previous day’s record of 1:40 P.M. After developing an exceedingly unhealthy outlook on life due to screaming an inordinate amount of abuse at my ancient, mentally diseased Windows ME Edition computer, I got the mail.

Sifting through the usual crap, my spirits are lifted by a little red envelope, courtesy of Netflix. I lifted something away and am pleasantly surprised to see that my Motor Trend has arrived.

Allow me to distill the next few nanoseconds of information processing: I first notice the cool futuristic green background of the magazine, I then identify the hideous Nissan GT-R on the cover, then my eyes flick up to: “CAR OF THE YEAR”. My eyes flick back down. They flick up to the top, to reaffirm that this is indeed Motor Trend. They then repeat their first two flicks.

“NOOOOOO! STUPID MOTHER F%$@#ER!”, I scream and hurl my magazine at the far wall, the sheer velocity ripping it to shreds. What I really do is just stare. And sigh.

If my previous sentences have not yet enlightened you to the fact that I dislike the Nissan GT-R, then here it is: I dislike the Nissan GT-R.

The main reason is because it is ugly. “Nissan has built the world’s ugliest, oversized electric shaver” states a MT editor, and I concur. But that would be like saying I don’t like the Toyota Camry, or the Chrysler Sebring. “Not liking” is not synonymous with “dislike”.

The other is that for some reason, I am inherently predisposed to dislike anything that everyone else adores. Example: when people herald BMW’s 3 Series, I champion Cadillac’s CTS. I also have strong feelings about “herd animals” (the kind of person who will mindlessly park next to you in an empty parking lot). I especially hate those fanatic brand-whores, the ones that flock to whatever has their specific badge, just because it bears that badge.

That sort of thing.

Most GT-R maniacs I’ve met are those cultists who know pretty much zip about the car. They don’t know the performance, the price, or any of the statistics. In a way they remind me of the BMW worshippers— even put the badge on a Pontiac Aztek and the faithful will come.

So I sit down and try to determine exactly why the GT-R wins (it was also Automobile Magazine’s Automobile of the Year). Can it be that my admittedly stubborn disposition is contaminating the realm of rational thought? Can the biased media be unbiased in their choice? Can the common cow or sheep have been right all along about automotive excellence? Well let’s find out. To the disliker of the GT-R, you may wish to re-evaluate the intensity of your feelings due to the following facts. Or not. To the crazed GT-R devotee who dreams perverted dreams of a GT-R , the following will only serve to reaffirm your sniveling love (and may even enlighten you to the facts).

First off, I must give props to Nissan for creating one of the few Japanese cars that look like they deserve to be sold. I certainly don’t think the GT-R is pretty, but Nissan’s Hiroshi Hasegawa, the chief product designer, deserves a stupendous and standing round o’ applause for shattering the mold and producing a controversially designed car (for whenever there is controversy, it means that said design is interesting enough to merit it). In an age of public opinion when “car” + “Japanese” invariably equates to “Prius”, having a sports car that looks the part certainly is refreshing.

New Car Nissan GT-R exhaust by Willall Racing

Okay, really its hard to tell the difference between the stock pipes for the Nissan GT-R and the WR35MP Willall Racing Mid-Pipes that are being revved in the video. We probably wouldn’t even be posting this if we we’re addicted to the exhaust notes of great supercars.