Nissan GT-R Takes on the Bugatti Veyron and the Porsche 911 Turbo S

Not to leave Motor Trend's recent speed challenge unanswered, rivaling car magazineRoad and Track brought the 2012 Nissan GT-R on the race track to see if it qualifies to enter the so-called "Two Second Club" which refers to vehicles that are able to break the 0-60mph (96km/h) sprint in under 3 seconds.

As pointed out by the magazine, few standard production cars can manage this feat - even the Corvette ZR1 fails to do so with a sprint time of 3.5 seconds, while the exotic Ferrari 458 Italia comes close, but does not make the cut at 3.0 seconds flat.

The 530-horsepower 2012 Nissan GT-R with a dirt cheap price tag (for this type of sports car) of $89,950, was put up against the Porsche 911 Turbo S, also with 530HP but with an MSRP of $160,700, and one of the most exclusive and powerful production cars in the world, the $2.8 million Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport with a mind-boggling 1,183-horses.

Scroll down to enjoy the speed test and have your say in the comments section below.

VIDEO

Read more In Cars

Study Shows that New Porsche 911 is the Most Web Buzz from the Frankfurt Motor Show

Now that the 2011 International Auto Show in Frankfurt has passed into history, analysts are crunching the numbers to see which carmakers and models sparked the crowd's interest the most.

UK-based Kantar Media Precis released the results of a study that looks into the number of online stories from websites, Tweets, blogs and other social media starting from two weeks before the first press day of the Frankfurt Motor Show on Aug. 30, 2011, until the end of the second press day on Sept. 14, 2011.

The study reveals that the most talked about model on the internet was the new Porsche 911 sports coupe, while next up was the Mercedes-Benz B Class small MPV, followed by the BMW i3 Concept hatch, the Audi Urban Concept studies and the Ford Evos Concept.

According to the findings of the study, Audi and Ford were the most popular brands among bloggers and YouTube users, with the Audi A2 Concept taking first place followed by the Ford Evos Concept.

The statistics show that from August 30 to September, a total of 19,549 online news stories and 5,666 social media posts talked about the 2011 IAA in one way or another, with 59 percent of those discussions taking place before the first press day on September 13.

For what it's worth, the most viewed 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show story on Carscoop in the same time period was the Ford Evos Concept followed closely by the new Porsche 911 and the Jaguar C-X16.

Most Viewed Frankfurt Motor Show Posts [August 30 to September 14]
1) Ford Evos Concept
2) 2012 Porsche 911
3) Jaguar C-X16
4) 2012 Honda Civic Hatch
5) New Mazda CX-5
6) Land Rover DC100 Concept
7) New Hyundai i30 Hatch
8) 2012 Toyota Avensis Facelift
9) Citroen Tubik Concept
10 Maserati Kubang Concept

Read more In Cars

2012 Porsche 911 By Speedart

Suffice to say, it won't be long before we're flooded with bespoke creations and a sea of performance programs for the all-new 2012 Porsche 911, which just made its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show earlier this month.
One of the first tuning houses to tease its work is renowned Porsche specialist Speedart. The German firm's upcoming model is the SP91-R based on the 911 Carrera S, which in factory tune is powered by a 3.8-liter flat-six delivering 400 ponies.
While Speedart is keeping its cards close to its chest for now, we know that aside from the new aero kit and larger alloy wheel designs, the company is also developing a performance kit for the engine.
More to come soon, so stay tuned…


















Read more In Cars

Video: Nissan GT-R Pwns Competition in Mega Drag Race with 11 Sports Cars

The latest Nissan GT-R has put another victory under its belt, this time in a drag race against ten of some of the world's most wanted sports cars at an empty airstrip.

The quarter-mile duel was organized by Motor Trend magazine. The eleven cars assembled were worth more than $1.5 million, and featured a combined 82 cylinders delivering over 5,000 horsepower and 4,000 lb-ft of torque.

The $89,950 and 530HP Nissan GT-R passed through the finish line first with a time of 11.2 seconds and an exit speed of 121.8mph (196km/h). It was followed by the $225,325 and 557HP Ferrari 458 Italia (11.3 seconds and 125.6mph or 202km/h) and the $198,600 and 560HP Audi R8 GT (11.5 seconds and 125.1mph or 201km/h).

The other cars that participated in the race were the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Lexus LFA, Corvette Z06, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca, Porsche Cayman R, BMW 1-Series M Coupe and the Lotus Evora S (click on the image on your right to see the results).

Nissan, of course, was quick to issue a somewhatpompous press statement on the GT-R's win:

“We applaud Motor Trend’s editors for pulling off the automotive equivalent of the running of the bulls,” said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, Nissan North America.

“Win or lose, it’s great fun and a great video – especially since we won. In all fairness, if we were running for pink slips, we would have had to bring at least two GT-Rs to match the cost of the competitors. We’ll settle for the title of baddest of the bad," he added.

VIDEO

Read more In Cars

New Porsche 911 Videos Focus on 7-Speed Manual Gearbox

The most evolved sports car in history, the Porsche 911 series, has welcomed a new member in the family codenamed 991. The new model's world premiere is scheduled to take place at next week's Frankfurt auto show, but the Germans are already building up anticipation with the constant flow of fresh information and media material.

Following the release of the official photos, details and TV spots, Porsche has now dropped three new videos that highlight some of the new 911's technological advancements.

These include the world's first-ever 7-speed manual gearbox (the last gear is over-drive) in a production car, a start and stop system that is available on both the manual and PDK double clutch automatic transmissions, and a new fuel-saving "coasting" function offered on model's equipped with the PDK. You can watch the clips for yourself right after the break.

VIDEOS









Read more In Cars

2012 Porsche 911 Specifications

It won't be long before Porsche unleashes the new 911, but for those of you who just can't wait, we have some preliminary specifications on hand, so read on...

The next iteration of the 911 series, which carries the internal codename 991, has grown is size featuring a 100mm longer (3.94-inches) wheelbase for improved stability on the road and of course, increased passenger space, while sporting shorter front and rear overhangs.

The German firm's engineers made liberal use of lightweight materials on the body and the new platform and as a result, weight had been reduced by up to 45 kg or 99.2 pounds, depending on the model.

We can also confirm the engine specs for the standard Carrera that is powered by a new 3.4-liter flat-six producing 350-horses and the Carrera S that gets a revised 3.8-liter unit developing 400-horses.

The two launch models can be equipped with world's first seven-speed manual gearbox or Porsche's familiar PDK double-clutch automatic transmission.

The 911 Carrera with the PDK transmission completes the 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint in 4.6 seconds (4.4 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono Pack), while the Carrera S with PDK, in 4.3 seconds (4.1 seconds with the Sport Chrono Pack).

The new models are not only slightly faster than their predecessors but also more fuel efficient with the 911 Carrera PDK returning a combined fuel economy of 8.2lt/100km (28.6mpg US or 34.4mpg UK) on the European driving cycle, and the Carrera S PDK, 8.7lt/100km (27.0mpg US or 32.4mpg UK).

More to come so stay tuned. 

PHOTO GALLERY

Read more In Cars

All-New Porsche 911 Working out in the Arctic Circle

It may be a little late for showing the new 2012 Porsche 911 all-dressed up in black camouflage since the first photos of the sports car have already been spilled online, but we're not going to complain.

In this latest official video, Porsche takes us for a quick ride across the Arctic Circle where the German firm's engineers oversaw cold weather testing of the seventh-generation of the 911 in sub-zero temperatures. Take a deep breath, then follow the jump to watch the clip.

VIDEO

Read more In Cars

2012 Porsche 911 First Official Photos

It was bound to happen; the very first official press photos of the new 2012 Porsche 911 were leaked onto the internet today well ahead of the sports coupe's world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show in mid-September.
If you're having a hard time spotting the styling changes we won't blame you as the 991 was closely modeled after the outgoing 997.
And while there may be more differences than we care to mention, the most eye-catching alterations concern the concave front LED daytime running lamps, the door-mounted exterior mirrors and the much thinner and more futuristic looking LED tail lamps that adorn the more heavily sculpted rear end.
As anticipated, the new 911's interior blends the two styling worlds of the 997 and the Panamera into one. A key highlight is the pronounced lower part of the center console that hosts a number of buttons.
Move away from the styling and you'll find a larger platform with a 4.0-inch longer wheelbase as well as a new pair of engines, with the basic Carrera sporting a 3.4-liter boxer delivering 350HP, and the Carrera S, a 3.8-liter flat-six producing around 400-horsepower.
In both models, power is channeled to the driving wheels through a new 7-speed manual gearbox or an optional PDK transmission.
Stay tuned on Carscoop for more news on the new Porsche 911, as it won't be long before the German automaker comes out with a full release. 

 

 

PHOTO GALLERY

 

 

Read more In Cars

Video: Man Sinks Porsche Boxster into a Lake

Now here is something you don't hear about every day. A local businessman's new Porsche Boxster was discovered paritally submerged in a lake at the Parque Ecológico (Ecological Park) in São Paulo, Brazil on Friday, July 29.
Brazilian news site TV Sol found the owner of the car who told reporters under the condition of anonymity that he was driving through the park when lost control of the Porsche ending up into the lake.
And here's where the story gets slightly twisted as TV Sol also reported that eye witnesses placed the owner of the Boxster at a local restaurant the same night calling a cousin on the phone and telling him to "Throw the Porsche into the lake of the park".
Scroll down for the video news report.

VIDEO

Read more In Cars

New 2012 Porsche 911 Filmed on the Road

Undisguised prototypes of the upcoming 2012 Porsche 911 are quickly becoming a more common sight than Bratwurst sausages in Germany.
In our latest encounter, a barely disguised 991 test car equipped with a sunroof was caught filling up at a gas station in Stuttgart before firing up its six-cylinder boxer engine and driving away.
Turn up the volume of your speakers and follow the jump to enjoy the video.

VIDEO

Read more In Cars