Claim: Porsche accuses Nissan of exaggerating GT-R lap time

[Plex]

When Nissan reported a 7:29 Nurburgring lap time for its hot new GT-R sports car, the news was met with much fanfare in the automotive press. But rather than accepting the incredible number at face value, Porsche executives and engineers were skeptical. So they decided to buy a standard GT-R and perform their own tests.

�It�s not clear how this time is possible,� August Achleitner Porsche�s 911 product chief told the Herald Sun newspaper. �This wonder car with 7:29 could not have been a regular series production car.�

Porsche engineers were able to achieve a lap time of 7:54 with the GT-R, which was brand new from a U.S. dealership. On the same day with the same expert driver, a 911 Turbo test car managed 7:38 and the GT2 achieved 7:34.

Mr. Achleitner said the 7:29 time might have been possible with semi-slick race tires, but Nissan claimed the GT-R used was completely �stock.�

�The Nissan is a good car,� conceded Achleitner. �But this car is about 20 kilos heavier than the Turbo.� Achleitner said his team couldn�t understand how the GT-R could be as fast as Nissan claimed, but they now seem confident their range-topping models are at least as fast, if not faster. �This technical puzzle now fits together,� he concluded.

Will Porsche contest the Corvette ZR1�s lap time of 7:26 next? Somehow we doubt it � with 620 horsepower, this number is definitely less shocking.

Leftlanenews

[Plex]

Rivalry brewing? Nissan says 370Z to battle Porsche Cayman, Boxster

Just yesterday, we told you how Porsche engineers have accused Nissan of reporting an unrealistic Nurburgring lap time for its GT-R sports car. Today, it�s Nissan taking a jab at Porsche, with marketing boss Tetsuo Shimada saying the forthcoming 370Z will be a full-fledged competitor to the Porsche Cayman and Boxster, for a much lower price.

�With the 370Z, we are focusing more on the driving performance, as a pure driving sports car,� Shimada told Automotive News.

But can Nissan really take on the much more expensive Boxster and Cayman with its modestly priced Z? Nissan�s GT-R has managed to go neck-and-neck with Porsche�s 911, so it�s conceivable the 370Z could do the same in its own segment.

The 370Z is expected to use the same VQ37VHR powerplant found in the Infiniti G37 � a V6 displacing 3.7-liter � delivering at least 330 horsepower. Recent rumors indicate a 4.5-liter V8 might also be offered.

Expect to see the all-new Z at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show in November. Nissan will likely introduce the coupe version first, with a convertible to follow in the coming months. The car will go on sale in Japan in December, and in North America in early 2009.

Leftlanenews

[MG Man]

thing is, they splitting hairs
a few seconds over a 7 minute run? Bottom line is no matter who is ultimately faster by 10 or 20 seconds, the GTR's performance is in fact Porsche standard

I think this makes Porsche look bad
_________________

I know it's so, for I told me so

[Plex]

[Plex]

Nissan defends GT-R Nurburgring lap time

Earlier this week we reported on accusations hurled by Porsche towards Nissan, accusing the Japanese carmaker of falsifying the blistering Nurburgring lap time of 7m 29s recorded for the GT-R back in May.

The accusations managed to reach the upper echelons of Nissan management, prompting representatives at this week�s Paris Motor Show to state emphatically that the times recorded for the GT-R around the Nurburgring were achieved "on absolutely standard tires which are available to customers in the showroom," and that any sort of slick tires were never used.

A Porsche chassis engineer took a standard GT-R bought in the United States with regular road tires, and tested it on the same day against a Porsche 911 GT2 and a Porsche 911 Turbo. According to Porsche, the GT-R posted a time of 7m 54s, with the 911 Turbo managing 7m 38s and the 911 GT2 getting down to 7m 34s.

Porsche's contention that the GT-R takes 7m 54s to lap the 'Ring adds a rather significant 25 seconds to the lap time recorded by Nissan's chief test driver Tochio Suzuki. Nissan stated that they were at a loss as to why Porsche was unable to replicate the GT-R's blistering time around the Nurburgring, putting it down to differences between the drivers.

Speaking with Drive, Nissan's European spokesman Neil Reeve stated that Nissan continues to "absolutely maintain (that) Tochio Suzuki pounded thousands of laps and got to know every inch of the Nurburgring and hence set that fabulous lap.�

Reeves went on to comment that it was "flattering that Porsche have bought themselves a GT-R and flown it to Germany" for testing, but that "the people who'd buy a GT-R or 911 Turbo are not the type of people to make a purchase like that lightly.� He also reaffirmed that the GT-R has beat the 911 Turbo during a number of independent tests for both acceleration and circuit lap times.

Motorauthority

[Sheriff!]

war time!

[Rory Phoulorie]

What's all the fuss about?

The Corvette ZR1 has trumped both of them.

No replacement for displacement (and a supercharger).

[Plex]

Nissan Responds to GT-R 'Ring Time Accusations

"Y'all can't drive"

Nissan has responded to claims by Porsche that the Japanese company cheated by using non-standard, semi-slick tyres on its record run at the �Ring earlier this year. Porsche had bought a Nissan GT-R in the US to test claims that the car had become the fastest around that world famous track, and their cars beat the GT-R�s time. The two cars used were a 911 Turbo and a GT2. Now Nissan has given some free advice to the likes of Porsche.

�We are aware that several auto makers have purchased the GT-R for their own testing and evaluation,� said a statement from Nissan. �Like all GT-R customers, we recommend that any auto maker buying a GT-R should follow the recommended run-in procedures, service schedules and maintenance to ensure the maximum performance from their car. In addition, we offer performance driving courses for prospective and current GT-R owners to help them get the best performance from their car. We would welcome the opportunity to help any auto manufacturer with understanding the full capabilities of the GT-R.�

Additionally the contested rubber used is still in Nissan�s possession and is used for promotional purposes. An offer to view it is open to any non-believers. Nissan continued to say testing the GT-R with additional equipment and/ or non-standard modifications would be pointless to them. �The GT-R was designed from the start to be a supercar that could be driven anywhere, anytime and by anyone,� says chief engineer Kazutoshi Mizuno.

In fact, goes Nissan, had it not been for the extra 50kg or so of weight it carried in order to record the record lap run, the GT-R would have been even quicker. Is this the end of this spat of the giants?

Worldcarfans

[Sheriff!]

lol