2008 Nissan GT-R - Godzilla Awakes On Steroids

I find it extremely interesting to compare the sizes and designs between the 5th generation (1999–2002) R34 Skyline GT-R and the new R35 GT-R thanks to these photos from Jalopnik. It’s crazy how much larger the 2008 GT-R is when sized up behind (insert joke) the retired R34 Skyline.

When the Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R was released in 1989, it was rated by many motoring magazines, as providing performance and handling similar to that of European icons like the Porsche 911 and the Ferrari Testarossa, but at a considerably lower price.

The Porsche 959 was Nissan’s target when designing the Skyline R32 GT-R. The chief engineer, Naganori Itoh, intended to use the car for Group A racing, so the design specification was drawn up in conjunction with a copy of the Group A rules.

The R32 GT-R was introduced in the Australian Bathurst 1000 touring-car race to compete against GM Holden and Ford V8 saloons, winning in 1991 & 1992. This success led to the Australian motoring press naming the car Godzilla due to it being a “monster from Japan” and as Australia was the first export market for the car the name quickly spread.

To put Australian motoring press tag of “Godzilla - Monster from Japan” in perspective keep in mind that the R32 GT-R won against GM Holden and Ford V8 saloons with its RB26DETT 2.6 litre inline 6 Twin Turbo Engine… THATS PRETTY FUCKING RIDICULOUS and just goes to further exemplify how advanced this car and all its systems were at the time.

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Ferrari 430 Spider Bio Fuel Concept Revealed in Detroit

Ferrari are hardly a brand you would associate with producing environmental energy saving automobiles, but it seems by this concept one could see a new direction for the Italian super car manufacturer. The Ferrari 430 Spider Bio Fuel Concept made what most would call a quiet debut at the Detroit Motor Show with no special press conference called which leads us to assume it isn’t something they are heading into too seriously.

According to Automotive News preliminary data points in the positive direction with power output increased by 10hp to 500 hp with torque up 4% and fuel consumption down by 5%. But there is no need to get your cheque books out just yet, the production is said to be “not close”,whch is backed up by the fact E85 fuel is only widely in areas where Ferrari sales are negligible such as U.S. Midwest states, Brazil and Sweden. However a ferrari official has said that if E85 became widely available in California (where 10% of Ferrari’s worldwide sales are) then this Bio Fuel model would become a viable option.

Ferrari Press Release After The Jump

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Molly Saleen Is Smoking Hot

Tall, Blond, Busty & Curvy; Molly Saleen is absolutely gorgeous!

What does this have to do with anything automotive you ask?

Well, aside from being Steve Saleen’s daughter (Saleen Inc.) Molly, has just recently entered the lineup for The Great American Run. Sweet!

“I have been involved with the family business my whole life” says Molly. “I’ve also attended a number of racing schools along the west coast and driven everything from karts to high performance street cars.”

Formerly a modest stock S281-SC, Molly’s Mustang aka Molly-Pop has undergone more image changes than Madonna. It now wields 500bhp, 475 lbs-ft of torque and shines with star quality thanks to Saleen engineered Watts Link style suspension and Saleen designed aerodynamics.

“The Molly-Pop is like a sour candy,” says Molly. “It looks sweet and inviting on the outside, but once you get mixed up with it, you’re sorry you ever did.”

She’s rumored to have driven practice runs to the penultimate stop, Las Vegas, NV from her home in Orange County, CA.

Could you imagine if she was your girlfriend? You would probably have to fight over who’s driving every time you were going out together in the same car.

Yes, I could imagine

[Source: GTspirit.com,TuningNews.net, ]

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2008 BMW 6 Series Gets Minor Restyling….simpler iDrive

Styling changes are subtle—so subtle that only those intimately familiar with the current model likely will notice differences in the car when it goes on sale in North America later this year. However, new driveline technology, including a brake energy regeneration system now in the 5 Series, improves the 6 Series’ already impressive performance.

Exterior changes:

Front bumper with a larger central cooling duct

Redesigned headlamps with LED indicators

Sharply chiseled side sills

Trunk lid that incorporates the high-mounted third brake light on coupe and convertible models

Jewel-like lenses for the tail lamps

Deeper rear bumper

Interior Changes:

New trim options

Simplified iDrive system with six preselect buttons, (recently introduced on other BMW models)

The 650i still retains the same 4.8-liter V8 engine with 360 hp and 360 lb-ft of torque mated to a six-speed manual gearbox or an optional six-speed Sports Automatic (at no extra charge).

In Europe, the 6 Series line includes a 630i 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder and a new 635d running a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder diesel.

[Source: www.AutoWeek.com]

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