Now that images of the Nissan GT-R are almost becoming commonplace, Nissan has upped the ante a bit with a series of pictures of the GT-R prepped for the GT500 class in Japan’s Super GT series. The shakedown test took place yesterday and today at the famed Suzuka track under the watchful eyes of the NISMO team. At the wheel were NISMO regulars Satoshi Motoyama, Michael Krumm and Tsugio Matsuda. Apparently the test went off without a hitch, which is as expected given the experience of the team.
Heard around the IMPA test days paddock: The GT500 is too fast, it shouldn’t be here.
That thing is a beast, somebody’s going to hurt themselves in it.
What a handful.
I must admit that it was a little bit strange that the car was there by itself, without a handler. You see, there were 3 cars with true supercar performance in attendance at Pocono Raceway that day. The Viper GTS and the 911 Turbo Cab both had driving instructors firmly planted in the right seat, keeping auto hacks from balling them up. The 500 horsepower Shelby was just handed over to us journo types without a word. You’ve gotta remember that being able to write about cars doesn’t mean that you’ve had any training in how to drive them fast, and 500 hp can make an awful lot of fast.
With those words in mind, I did up my seatbelt, tucked my hat in my backpack and trundled up pit lane, with more than a few butterflies. When the horse and I were waved out onto the track, I peddled slowly and carefully out to the first turn, not wanting to mess up the very pretty steed. Who am I kidding? I hammered that puppy like an old mule! Oh yeah! Man, is this thing fast! Continue reading →
This summer, Ford and Harley Davidson are kicking things up a notch with their new truck. The new 2007 F-150 Harley Davidson can be optioned with a twin screw Saleen supercharger, the same as the GT500 uses. A dual stage water to air intercooler keeps things cool and a free flowing exhaust adds the prerequisite growl. All this adds up to a whopping 450 hp and 500 pounds-feet of torque from the 5.4 liter V8.
Of course the styling includes 22 inch wheels, special striping and lots of chrome to create the Harley image. This is the ninth version of the Harley-Ford truck since the first one in 1999 and may well become the most sought after.
There have been a few grumblings that the GT500 isn’t powerful enough or that the Red Strip package is just that, stripes. Well, they couldn’t just build a beast right out of the gate now could they? They have to allow a bit of suspense.
Late yesterday, a press release was sent out of Shelby’s base in Vegas about a new project. The limited edition, street legal, 600 HP GT500 Super Snake. All that power even comes with a warranty! If you really want to go nuts, they will sell you a car with over 725 HP. Just don’t go to your local Ford store looking for warranty repairs! The engine is not the only component that has been tweaked, as the rest of the car has been brought up to snuff too.
This is one car that will do well at auction in years to come.
Carroll Shelby is one of the most recognized names in racing history, and for good reason. The cars he built in the Sixties took on the best the world had to offer and beat them. As a result of that, Mustangs of that era are immediately linked to the Shelby name due to their resemblance to the famed GT350. Even the regular run of the mill six cylinder cars carry a bit of that glory. The cars that actually bear the Shelby nameplate are inevitably worth a fortune thanks to the history of the brand that is Shelby.
The styling of the current body Mustang owes a lot to that heritage and has almost become an instant classic shape. Recent business problems aside, the marketing guys at Ford are no dummies. They know that the success of their brand depends on interpreting that history properly and that means exploiting the Shelby brand. How about a modern interpretation of the mythical GT500KR? A good idea? We think so, and so do the guys at Ford.
Just like the original KR was the pinnacle of Mustang horsepower back in ‘68, the 2008 GT500KR is the most powerful Mustang ever built, with an estimated 540 Clydesdales under a fancy composite hood. With only 1000 units being built versus 1053 of the original car, the new car could become ever more sought after in years to come.
Get the full details on from the Ford press release after the break Continue reading →
Yesterday, Ford hit the ground running prior to the New York Auto Show, with the release of 3 special new models. The most powerful Mustang and Pick Up ever, along with the Funkiest Expedition ever.
Firstly, there is the 2008 Mustang Shelby GT500 KR, with a whopping 540 ponies under the hood. Joining the KR is the Chip Foose influenced 2008 Ford F-150 Foose Edition with 450 horsepower. Coming along for the ride might just be the ultimate bling-mobile. That’s right, Ford has teamed up with FunkMaster Flex to create the 2008 Ford Expedition Funkmaster Flex Edition, featuring a tonne of in your face cosmetics and a killer sound system.
Nissan seems to have made quite the impact at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last weekend, with 2 of the top 3 fastest times up the hill being set by Nissan’s. Fastest up the hill was Richard Lyons in the NISMO GT500 that won the Japanese Touring Car Championship with a time of 49.5 seconds.It was only one of 2 cars to break the 50 second barrier. Third place was captured by last year’s winner, a 1999 Nissan Primera BTCC car.
Singer Duncan James drove the 350Z GTC concept up the hill, stopping along the way to put on a smoke show for spectators.
Thanks to Worldcarfans for the above image of the GTC
