next GTR test mule spotted! (pic!) *UPDATED WITH MORE PICS AND MAG SCANS*

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skylineGTR_guy

skylineGTR_guy

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Ok So I posted this in the Nissan performace zone but I know most people visit here first so her eya go for those too lazy to click:

What would you guys do without me? :D (thanks to krnsx at FA.com)

GTRmule.jpg


After years of rumors and intense lobbying by Nissan enthusiasts in the U.S., Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn announced that his company plans to release a fully redesigned version of the legendary Skyline GT-R by 2007. The new version will take its cues from the GT-R concept car that has made the rounds at various auto shows over the past several years, and unlike its predecessor the GT-R will make its way to the U.S. With the 350Z already occupying a steady spot in Nissan's lineup, look for the GT-R to come Stateside wearing an Infiniti badge. A prototype caught testing on Germany's grueling Nurburgring test track made the rounds wearing the shell of a current G35, but obvious signs of serious modifications indicate it was no ordinary Infiniti. The car is expected to debut at the Tokyo Motor Show in the fall of 2007 and go on sale later that year.

linkage: http://www.edmunds.com/future/2007/...id=edmunds.f.mmindex.content.num1.4.infiniti*
 
Looks photoshopped. Why would Nissan be testing this car with Infiniti badges (or any badges at all) and without any masking?
 
With all due respect to Infiniti, why Infiniti? What? Is it that Nissan is selling better than their luxury counterpart? I don't really like to have a formidable Japanese sportscar "pansied" up under a luxury brand. Imagine if Toyota released the Alessandro Volta as a Lexus and added more weight and made it into a luxury supercar. But who knows? America may get the CLK-DTM machine and instead of it being an Opel/Audi pwning machine, it's a devil embodied as an angel, so to be literary.

I'd rather have it as a Nissan. Sure, it makes no difference, but I prefer Nissan for a Skyline. But of course, you can always import... anyhow, I think it's nice. It has a little 350Z in its design. And after being in one and hearing one in action, the 350Z is a pretty nice machine from the company formerly known as Datsun (I guess some still do). I think this new Skyline needs some aggressiveness to it. I'm sure anyone can just take out the grill and show that it means business.
 
The359
Looks photoshopped. Why would Nissan be testing this car with Infiniti badges (or any badges at all) and without any masking?
Click to expand...

Agreed. If you look close at the front lip, the colors dont seem to blend right.
Also, on the Infiniti badges comment...
Theres no god damn way they would test it on Nur with the "US-Spec" version before the Japanese Spec Nissian.
Infact, I doubt that they would even bother running the US Spec one on Nur to begin with.

This = Bull.
 
After zomming in closely to the front lip, I see what Mista X means, it doesnt blend properly.

aswell as the badging and the fact its out in the open (no masking like The359 says), I have to agree looks shopped.

*edit

Check out the rear above the wheel and the rear of the door, looks like they tried to give it a widebody look but messed up the colours they also dont blend. There is no line of the back of the door. Also check out the blinker in the front bar, it has been coloured in over the original.

Zooming in shows all its secrets.

The pic is small so people dont notice these things.
 
I don't believe those rims either. GTRs have big wheels, but freaking 19"s with ultra low profile rubber seem unlikely. The Slammed ride height is hard to believe, too.

Maybe it's someone's personal car and not a prototype at all?
 
if Nissan had used lots of masking on it instead of just plonking a Infiniti body on top it would have drawn more attention to it - which is not what they want at these sessions
 
TheCracker
if Nissan had used lots of masking on it instead of just plonking a Infiniti body on top it would have drawn more attention to it - which is not what they want at these sessions
Click to expand...

Well lots of masking is what most other car makers do when testing at the ring.
 
cpl_richie
Well lots of masking is what most other car makers do when testing at the ring.
Click to expand...

.....and thats why those cars are plastered all over the car mags
 
I'm just posting what I saw on edmunds, anything "new GTR" related I post regardless of weather I think its true or not. It's no different than reading car magazines and their speculation....

As for the infiniti part, I heard nissan was going to release infiniti in japan to compete with toyota releasing lexus. For John: I see you point but hey we know cars, average joe shmo is not going to shell out big GTR bucks for a nissan. Inifiniti has a better reputation for customer service, better maintenance etc. everything is more "high end" this will appeal more to the 99.99% of otheres who have no ides waht the heck a GTR even is
 
Its probably 'photoshoped' to delete test equipment from the exterior, a lot of test mules run with test gadgets strapped to the outside surface.
 
skylineGTR_guy
As for the infiniti part, I heard nissan was going to release infiniti in japan to compete with toyota releasing lexus. For John: I see you point but hey we know cars, average joe shmo is not going to shell out big GTR bucks for a nissan. Inifiniti has a better reputation for customer service, better maintenance etc. everything is more "high end" this will appeal more to the 99.99% of otheres who have no ides waht the heck a GTR even is
Click to expand...
I agree. The average sports car buyer would probably opt for a 350Z over a Nissan GT-R, based purely on styling alone. But a Skyline makes for great potential as a luxury oriented performance car. I'd rather have a 'Nissan' GT-R over an 'Infiniti' GT-R, but I suppose there will be JDM conversion kits available sometime, much like with the 240SX and the Silvia.

As for the car itself, I'm going to be very curious about it's pricing. A few years after the GT-R comes out in Canada (only logical to do so if it's going to the USA), I will probably be able to afford a used one easily barring any unforseen events in my life that could tie up my finances elsewhere. But seeing how a G-35 coupe is currently priced, I'd guess the GT-R would go for around 60-70k in Canadian Dollars as a quick guess.
 
Uhm...if theyre doing Infiniti in japan, then why would you want a JDM conversion of the same thing you have here.
 
I doubt they'ed change the Skyline's name in Japan. There's way too much history in the car.
From the 71 GT-R to the R34. Theres just no way that they'ed rename the car after 35 years.
 
THANKS TO REZZ AND SKYLINESAUSTRALIA.COM FOR THIS! (AGAIN!) THOSE GUYS ROCK!
From "Best Car" magazine:

3gtr1.jpg

Yes, it's a lefthand drive "Infinity"... LHD in Germany remember!
A German photographer snapped these pics recently, remarking on how quickly the car was travelling around that part of the 'ring. A professional driver from Japan has been flown to Germany to carry out "overall" testing with emphasis on aerodynamics appraisal.

3gtr3.jpg

The test at Nurburgring wasn't about parts testing, but overall performance and handling, suggesting that the GT-R has entered the middle phase of development where engineers concentrate on the entire package rather than just seperate parts. The front bumper seen in the pic above isn't the final design!!! It's a just a quick bumper thats been made so the car has some kind decent airflow characteristics without any attention to styling.

The rear wing on the other hand does give a big hint as to what the final one will look like. The reporter from Best Car was suprised that the rear wing is just your generic late model FD3S RX-7 type wing with beefed up end plates. The wide fenders will make the GT-R 100mm wider than the current V35 Skyline Coupe, making it the same width as the current Porsche turbo. Some effort has been put forward to make the fenders blend in as a component of the complete aerodynamics package, one that will become one of the strongest merits of the car.

3gtr22.jpg

*sorry about the wonky pic*
Best Car couldn't report on much about the engine this time around, but were quick to point out that a "number" of different engine capacities are being tested, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5 and possibly a 4.0 (a la the V36 VQ41DE) but still retaining the electric spool-up twin turbo configuration. Also note the two air opening under each headlight on the pics above, they aparently feed each turbo, with a highly efficient intercooler design making use of the third opening. Power is still being set at about 460ps.

Just a final note, the engine is the ultimate "saving grace" for this V-series GT-R, and as far as Best Car can see, Nissan WILL NOT dissapoint in this area.
 

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