When Nissan introduced the latest R35 version of its GTR Skyline models, the marketing push behind the car put a heavy emphasis on Nurburgring times and the amazing techno-wizardry that led to the new GTRs phenomenal on-track performance.

Despite setting the expectation bar high, the cars didn’t disappoint their new owners on the track – but as their comfort levels with the GTR grew, some of the GTR’s new owners started to realize something that Lotus buyers had known for years: on a racetrack, mass is the enemy.

Mass affects the way a car stops, turns, and accelerates. Less mass is good. Less mass means a driver can get more grip in the corners, more stopping power from the brakes, and – with a superior power/weight ratio – more miles per hour in the straights. More mass, however, is bad. More mass means the tires get overworked, the brakes fade early, and – with more pounds to motivate – fewer miles per hour in the straights. Even fuel economy suffers!

At a portly 3800 lbs., even the most die-hard Skyline fans admit that the R35 GTR has a lot of mass to carry around a track – which motivated one New England GTR owner to contact Ohio-based tuning firm Switzer Performance, and see what Tym Switzer and his crew could do to help Godzilla zig.

“The client had some pretty clear goals with this car.” explains Tym, “This GTR couldn’t be trackday special that would deafen you out on public roads. The client was looking for a car that he and his wife could drive out 2 or 3 hours to the track in reasonable comfort, fill it up with pump gas, set killer times lap after lap after lap, and drive to a nice dinner afterwards without issue. Basically, it’s a race car with climate and cruise controls, and that’s kind of a lot to ask!”

The Switzer crew set to work on the Super Silver 2010 GTR, starting with the company’s proven P800 kit, which replaces the car’s intercoolers, intakes, and turbochargers with Switzer components that bump the GTR-engine to 800 hp and almost 700 lb-ft of torque … but didn’t stop there. “Adding 300 more horsepower the car obviously helped its power-to-weight,” Tym adds, “but more importantly none of the components in our P800 package and our new cooling package, which this car also has, are any heavier than stock. When we built the kit originally we didn’t want to make the car any heavier than it already was, and with this car in particular we wanted to reduce the weight as much as we could, without sacrificing the ‘GT’ aspect of the GTR.”

To that end, Switzer fitted featherweight carbon rotors from AP, which cut a significant amount of unsprung weight (the enemy of handling) and rotating mass (the enemy of acceleration) from each corner of the GTR, while improving fade resistance. Application-specific pads, high-temperature brake fluid (AP), and stainless steel braided brake lines round out the brake package with improved pedal feel and increase stopping power.

Weight was also cut with the addition of a lightweight (ceramic-coated) titanium exhaust system, dry-carbon decklid, and lightweight sports seats from Bride. “We chose these seats because of their adjustability. You can be comfortable, still get to the back seat, and it’s not an extreme one-piece seat that’s not comfortable on the highway. They fit the project goal perfectly.”

Up on the scales, this weekend warrior weighed in at a much-improved 3600 lbs, which is enough to make a significant impact on handling, braking, and straight-line speed.

Further enhancing handling is a fully-adjustable JRZ suspension system, complemented by stiffer adjustable swaybars, an underbody diffuser, and an active-aero wing from Aeromotions, which supplements braking and cornering by constantly varying the wing’s angle of attack.

“This car is really an amazing collaborative effort,” offers Tym. “Everyone involved really came through on this build, and the data we got from JRZ and the brake guys at Stillen who import the AP rotors helped us tie it all together into a coherent package that is at home on the track and in town, too. All we need to do now is get it on the track with the client behind the wheel, and dial it in to his driving style – that’s what’s really important here, that we get it right for him and deliver the ‘track animal’ he ordered. Once he’s comfortable in the car, we’ve got a list of GTR ‘track records’ that we’d like to beat. I think this is the car to do it.”

Switzer’s P800 and upgraded cooling packages are available through Switzer dealers. Contact Switzer Performance for more information.

For 2011, its third year of availability in the North American market, the Nissan GT-R features a number of enhancements and a simplified model lineup. The previous GT-R base model has been eliminated, leaving the GT-R Premium as the only available 2011 model. Other changes include slightly darker wheel center caps, double clear coat on the front and rear fascias and the addition of rear cooling ducts to improve cooling performance around the rear floor area.

The suspension has been retuned and the rear bushing strengthened to enhance ride comfort while still maintaining the GT-R’s outstanding handling. In addition, auto on/off headlights and speed-sensitive windshield wipers are now standard, along with a USB iPod interface, Streaming Audio via Bluetooth and DVD playback. The navigation system now includes XM NavTraffic and NavWeather capability.

The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP)* for the 2011 Nissan GT-R equipped with standard 485-horsepower 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 engine and high-performance, 6-speed, dual-clutch transmission is:

Nissan GT-R Premium: $84,060 USD

Three options and one accessory are available for the 2011 GT-R: Cold Weather Package (no charge); special Super Silver paint ($3,000); Ultra-High Performance Tire Package (no charge); and carpeted GT-R logo floor mats ($280).

The 2011 GT-R is available only through officially certified Nissan retailers that have met a number of strict sales, service and facility commitments, including dedicating a master technician to GT-R service. A complete listing of the nearly 700 GT-R Certified Nissan dealers is available to consumers on NissanUSA.com.

Courtesy: Six Sigma Dyno Services and Haltech

The COBB Tuning Redline Time Attack team will be attending all ten events on the 2010 schedule to compete for the championship in each of the three classes it is participating in. Pro driver Brian Lock will be piloting the 2010 COBB Tuning Nissan GT-R and taking on the COBB Tuning Modified class. SCCA Regional wheel-man Cameron Benner will drive the 2006 COBB Tuning Subaru STI and battle it out in the Street Tire class. Novice driver and owner of COBB Tuning, Trey Cobb, will be driving the COBB Tuning “Mystery Machine”, to be announced at the first round of the series, in the Enthusiast class.

The COBB Tuning Time Attack team will be staffed entirely by COBB Tuning employees. Tim Bailey, Senior R&D Tuner at COBB Tuning, will be responsible for the team’s multiple engine programs. Steve Lock of COBB Tuning Motorsports will keep things running like clockwork as the team’s Crew Chief. Head technicians from the COBB Tuning Surgeline and COBB Tuning Plano facilities will fill the roles as Car Chiefs for each race car. Employees from engineering, customer support, marketing, sales, research and development and fabrication will rotate through positions in the team with the goal of developing new skills and knowledge that will ultimately improve COBB Tuning products and further strengthen COBB Tuning as a company.

“Everyone at COBB Tuning is fired up about our return to racing”, said Gary Sheehan, Director of Marketing. “Our company is made up of auto enthusiasts that love power, speed and competition! We are putting a lot of effort into Redline Time Attack this year as we think it is THE place to show off our passion as tuners, fabricators and racers. We are really looking forward to meeting up and spending time with fellow enthusiasts at these exciting events all over the country.”

The Redline Time Attack is one of the fastest growing forms of motorsports in the US. The Time Attack racing format is styled after qualifying sessions, pitting each competitor against the stopwatch, demanding maximum performance from driver and race car alike, in just three timed laps per session. Vehicles are classed according to levels of modification, and further differentiated by driveline type (AWD, RWD & FWD). Redline Time Attack is unique in that all driver experience levels are represented at the same event, from top-level famous professional racers to novice drivers just getting started in their development. It is one of the few venues where racing spectators can also be racing competitors.

The Redline Time Attack series has undergone significant changes during the off-season and is poised to be the motorsports focal point for auto enthusiasts in the US. Ten events will take the racing teams crisscrossing across the country from coast to coast. Time Attack mainstays such as Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Willow Springs International Raceway and Auto Club Speedway will be joined by premier race tracks new to the series, including Sebring International Raceway and Infineon Raceway.

New tracks mean new track records, and COBB Tuning is anxious to stake their claim and lay down the fastest lap in class at each of the new locations. Be sure to attend a Redline Time Attack in your neck of the woods and spend some time with the COBB Tuning crew as we take on the best teams and drivers that the Redline Time Attack series has to offer!

According to SP Engineering:

At 1.7 BAR, we’ve reached 816 ALL wheel hp / 770 Torque from a baseline of 395-400. As our previous setup 4-5 months back we’ve accomplished 780 All wheel hp on Q16. This proves the Greddy turbo kit produces great numbers from 3500 RPM at 360 AWHP, 4000 RPM at 520 AWHP and so on. Massive turbo response and power all the way up to 850 awhp is what you will receive from this kit. With the help of aftermarket cams, stroker kit, etc, power levels will definitelly be greater.

We wouldn’t leave you without a video of this beast, so check it out:

Here is a dyno graph of this run:

Engine Modifications:

Greddy Twin Turbo Kit
Greddy Intercooler
CP Pistons With Coating (Standard Size)
Carrillo Rods
1000cc Injectors
SP Engineering Custom Dual Fuel Pump 255 LPH + FPR
Titek titanium race mid pipe
Titek titanium race exhaust
Haltech ECU

Transmission: Stock

[Source: NAGTROC.org]

According to Boost Logic:

After 2.5 months our first stage of high horsepower development has yielded results. This car features our turbo kit, intercooler, exhaust system, and our fuel system. The turbos on this setup are Journal Bearing so there is definitely spool to be had on simply upgrading that. This car will have a stroker engine in our next stage of modifications so spool will be closer to the stock insta-boost. The sound on the video does not come close to capturing this car’s amazing tone.

Here is the dyno graph… look at that power curve!

Check out the video of the Boost Logic Nissan GT-R making an incredible 823 wheel horsepower:

Beautiful car, and great power! Way to go Boost Logic!

[Source: 2009gtr.com]

COBB Tuning has announced the 3.5inch Stainless Steel Y-Pipe for the Nissan GT-R. The stock y-pipe with factory catalytic converters is a fairly restrictive element in the GT-R’s exhaust system. The COBB 3.5inch SS Y-Pipe offers two options that reduce this restriction and allow the GT-R to make more power with less effort; one with catalytic converters and one without.

The catted version of the COBB 3.5inch SS Y-Pipe uses custom-spun high-flow metal substrate catalytic converters that improve flow while protecting the environment by reducing emissions. The off-road racing y-pipe deletes the catalytic converters entirely, further improving flow and allowing even more power.

Both the catted and catless versions of the COBB 3.5inch SS Y-Pipe are fully constructed of 304 stainless steel and TIG welded. The stainless steel flex sections are internally-lined for added lifespan and smoother exhaust flow. Dual 3inch downpipes feed into a 3.5inch main pipe. Designed as a direct factory replacement part.

The following dyno chart compares a stock untuned Nissan GT-R, a stock Nissan GT-R with an AccessPORT Stage 1 tune, and a Nissan GT-R with the catless Y-Pipe and AccessPORT tune. At peak power, 28 HP and 46 ft/lb is gained with the catless y-pipe over Stage 1. Gains of up to 50HP can be found in the midrange.

COBB 3.5inch SS Y-Pipe Features:
• Large gains in HP & TQ
• 304 stainless throughout
• TIG welded
• Direct replacement for OEM
• Custom spun metal subtrate cats or catless options
• Similar power gains between catted and catless options with stock turbos

Option: Without Cats
Part Number: 5C1211
Retail: $795

Option: With Cats
Part Number: 5C1212
Retail: $1,095

Borla has released a true dual exhaust system for the 2009+ Nissan GT-R. This true dual racing system eliminates the secondary cats and is intended for off road use. This is an aggressive high flow system designed to maximize power and sound.

Product: True Dual Race Exhaust System – eliminates secondary cats
Application: 2009+ Nissan GT-R
Part #: 12658
MSRP: $3,499.00
Our Price: $2,974.00

GOTO:Racing’s GT-R represents the very edge of development for this particular platform. There are perhaps a handful of fully race-prepared GT-Rs in the world. Of course, because this vehicle is not a factory effort, the progress on the GOTO GT-R is a direct reflection of the aftermarket industry that supports the GT-R. GOTO:Racing and the Lock family have prepared a state of the art chassis. However, at a comparatively heavy 3,400 pounds, this race car needs serious power to be competitive.

The GOTO:Racing GT-R is equipped with the COBB Tuning AccessPORT and custom mapping from a collaboration of Tim Bailey from COBB Tuning Surgeline, Portland, OR and Jon Drenas of HB Speed, Hunington Beach, CA. This form of engine management was a natural choice with the stock turbo chargers and just over 520whp, but some suggested with the recent addition of larger turbos from AMS and fuel injectors from Deatschwerks, that a standalone engine management system was needed. We are pleased to demonstrate in no uncertain terms that the COBB Tuning AccessPORT, with supporting modifications and competent tuning, is capable of coordinating extremely high horsepower.

Specifications:
Vehicle – 2010 Nissan GTR – race prepared by GOTO Racing/Brian Lock Racing
Engine – stock GT-R
Turbo – AMS stock location turbo upgrade
Injectors – Deatschwerks (800cc)
Fuel – 100 octane unleaded
Exhaust– fully catless 3”
Intake – Custom Harman Motive 3.1” ID intake with stock MAF sensors

Technical Tuning details
The key to tuning this car is the addition of the larger inner diameter intakes, kindly supplied by Harman Motive. The stock intake inner diameter is just 2.5-inches. This substantive increase in intake cross sectional area means that we can accurately measure up to 40% more airflow than is possible with the stock intake system. As you can see from the graph below, we were able to flow close to the limits of the MAF sensor without saturating their 5-Volt limit.

Because we were able to accurately meter airflow throughout the full RPM and boost range, the tuned stock ECU can easily control ignition timing and fueling. We have supplied relevant information for the rest of the tuning parameters in the additional graphs.

Additional horsepower, high ambient temperatures, high altitude and aggressive driving can all contribute to elevated oil temperature. Lower oil temperature ensures better engine protection and longer engine life. Extensive racing and testing data shows that the COBB Secondary Oil Cooler is capable of reducing oil temperatures from extreme peaks of 130C/266F (OEM redline) to acceptable operating temperatures in the 110C/230F range.

This elegantly engineered kit sits opposite the OEM oil cooler in the unused driver side bumper duct. The design is optimized to work with the OEM oil cooler duct, which is included in this kit. Oil flow return from the OEM oil cooler is diverted to the COBB Secondary Oil Cooler for an additional oil cooling stage before being redirected back to the OEM oil return.

Execution of the COBB Secondary Oil Cooler kit leaves nothing to be desired. A Mocal air-to-oil core is used for efficiency and durability. The core is mounted to the chassis using a custom CAD designed aluminum bracket that is designed to work with the included OEM oil cooler duct. The adaptor fittings are custom CAD designed and CNC machined aluminum with black anodizing. All hose ends are high quality aluminum -10 AN fittings with an attractive black and titanium anodized finish. Hoses are preassembled using smooth bore, lightweight synthetic rubber interiors with black nylon overbraid and encased in XRP Fyrefoil 2 radiant heat shielding for additional thermal resistance. The replacement gaskets are Nissan OEM parts.

The Limited Edition COBB Secondary Oil Cooler for the Nissan GT-R R35 is the most comprehensive solution for managing engine oil temperature. Install a COBB Secondary Oil Cooler on your GT-R R35 and drive at the limit without distraction.

Application: 09+ Nissan GT-R
Part Number: 5C1700
MSRP: $1395