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Nissan and Gran Turismo has announced the NISSAN CONCEPT 2020 Vision Gran Turismo.
This will be delivered by a free update of the PlayStation3 exclusive use software “Gran Turismo 6” in July 2014.
The development of NISSAN CONCEPT 2020 Vision Gran Turismo was started by the style that the young designers of Nissan Design in Europe and London freely designed a dream sports car.
Afterwards, they incorporated the technical feedback from engineers of the Nissan technical center who received the design.
The development was promoted by the repeated collaboration of the design and the technology.
They have finished the car that shows the directionality of the concept model of the next generation GT-R model.
Nissan announced that the production of the Japan domestic model of Fair lady Z Roadster (open body) will be stopped after completing the order received until September end of 2014.
There is no other option because the sales is only 800 cars in the five years after the sales start in 2009.
It was completely a loss and below the breakeven. Mitsubishi Motors will also stop the production of Lancer evolution in this autumn.
Lancer Evolution
On the other hand, For Toyota, the sales of TOYOTA86 is good, and it has announced the revival of SUPRA.
86 Rocket bunny
SUPRA
Subaru has BRZ and WRX.
BRZ STI
WRX STI
Honda has NSX and Civic type R.
NSX
CIVIC type-R
You can feel the power in these 3 companies. Then, why the Fair lady Z Roadster and Lancer evolution was withdrawn and stopped from production. The reason is simple. The brand image is very sluggish in the Japanese market.
Though all the automobile manufacturers have worked out big restructuring and reduction balance plan due to Lehman shock, and have now under revival. They came out with the vigor and energy. Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors also received the impact of Lehman shock in the year 2008, and have entered the state of shrinking. In marked contrast, their President spearheaded companies at the critical time like Toyota.
Only the Company with force and energy can produce a sports model, and the user is also responding to the enthusiasm of the automobile manufacturer. To say more this is not only limited to sports model. I wish a healthy manufacturer makes a high value added car (price, performance, and quality), and a brand with positive image. For this reason, I think that Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors did not catch up with the expansion of the market. This is the area that I would like them to work hard and put their best efforts.
“Delta wing”is the new generation racing car that has participated in the 24 Heures du Mans in 2012 etc., with the engine supplied by Nissan Motors.
Nissan has withdrawn from the project and 2 years has passed now, and the marketing plan has come up to Delta wing. This was clarified by M/s. Delta wing technology on May 28, 2014. The design rendering image was presented to the public as the sales model planned for development, by applying the technology of the delta wing of the racing car.
The design rendering of the sales model presented to the public this time also inherits the basic design. In addition, a practical packaging enabling the riding of 4 persons was also held.
The engine located on the rear side of the body is presumed to be 4-cylinder engine of small displacement. The maximum output is 85~110ps level. The target performance is 0~96 km/h acceleration in 6 seconds, and maximum speed is 210 km/h. The target fuel consumption is about 30 km/liter.
M/s. Delta wing technology is looking for OEM partner, and has floated the concept of moving the Delta wing production as the sales car by granting the license. This company has explained, “The structure of delta wing is 35% light, can be driven with 3~5% less power and 35% improvement of fuel consumption is possible” It is good to publish the image, but I wish they published the image by finishing it to a little more attractive packaging.
How many people will be attracted by seeing this red color body? Though Nissan has stylishly finished it with great pains ~~ I don’t prefer this car…
The participation of the drivers from GT academy of Gran Turismo, the PlayStation software has been decided as the driver who will participate in the Le Mans 24 hours endurance race from Nissan.
There is focus on the driving of the drivers who became the professional racing drivers from the game player.
The GT academy is the racing driver promotion program using Gran Turismo, the software for the PlayStation sponsored by Nissan Europe and SCEE (Sony computer entertainment Europe). The academy has produced 8 graduates from the year 2009 until now.
The driver camp is also in focus, and the race car of Nissan has also become the topic of discussion. ZEOD RC, racing EV developed by Nissan.
This is the machine developed with the concept of the Nissan delta wing to enter the race in Le Mans of 2012, and the participation is from the “Garage 56” frame created for the next generation technology promotion.
In the power unit, the 1.5 liter 3 cylinder turbo “DIG-T R” engine that squeezes about 400 HP with the Nissan Juku as the base, and the motor for the electric power driving are installed. Nissan calls ZEOD RC as on-demand type EV by the method of alternatively driving the engine and motor, and does not use the motor for acceleration assistance like the KERS system of F1. The electric power used by the motor is produced by the brake resurrection during running, and stored in the battery. The charging time is about ten rounds of the Circuit de la Sarthe, the stage for the 24 heures du Mans.
About one round can be made with the stored power, and if you can drive with the engine for about 10 rounds, then you can drive 1 round with the motor. It will be like making irregular driving.
The expectation has increased on the level the drivers from GT academy can rise.
Nissan has decided to returns to the 24 Heures du Mans from the year 2015.
Indeed, Nissan is returning to this race after an interval of 16 years.
In this return to the race, it has also announced the name of the machine that will participate in the race as “NISSAN GT-R LM NISMO”.
It is extraordinary that Nissan uses the name of "GT-R", as an expression of self-confidence and determination. Nissan cannot allow losing in the name of “GT-R”!
From this, we can understand the level of seriousness of this time return to 24 Heures du Mans race.
Nissan has also added a happy comment.
“We promise to make the machine that will remain on page 1 of the history. This machine will not only win the 24 Heures du Mans, but also achieve the role of linking the success in the circuit to the success in the stock car, and will be the machine that will be remembered for a many years.”
The other brands that are competing here like the Porsche, Audi, Toyota, and particularly the Porsche that returned this year is a leader of the endurance race for a very long time, and they are not the opponents who can be easily defeated.
I would like to see the level of seriousness of Nissan from next year early.
2015 Honda return to F1
2015 Nissan return to 24 Heures du Mans
The remaining ones are
Toyota return to F1
Mazda return to 24 Heures du Mans return with rotary engine
Return of Subaru and Mitsubishi WRC
Japanese manufacturers have slowly started to get energetic.
In the last year Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan showed the concept model “IDx FREEFLOW” of nostalgic appearance by the surprise without any advance notice.
The vital statistics are total length 4100mm, total width 1700mm, and total eight 1300mm, and it is FR compact sedan that was reproduced by the modern interpretation of the former 510 model bluebird.
The “NISMO” version “IDx NISMO” of the game specification was also exhibited simultaneously, and both cars were exhibited in the U.S. Detroit show in January this year.
“IDx FREEFLOW” is a concept car manufactured to commemorate the 80th anniversary of establishment of Nissan Motor Co., and the target layer is the young generation who were born after the 1990's.
The “IDx NISMO” is the combination of 1.2~1.5L gasoline engine and CVT, and is set with the 6 speed manual mode CVT in the engine with direct injection 1.6L vertical 4 cylinder turbo.
This “IDx NISMO” is the remake model of the famous Nissan car BRE Datsun 510 to the new generation, and it is very good-looking and gives the impression of a very stylish car
The BRE Datsun 510 is the vehicle that was remodeled as a racecar from the popular car Bluebird of Nissan that boasts popularity in America in the 1960’s to 1970’s, it participated in the SCCA Trans-Am race in 1970, and was adorned by winning 2 consecutive victory from 1971.
The information that it is going to actually be marketed by 2016 is
murmured, there is also a rumor that the competitor is developing the
compact sports model, and hence the development trend of “IDx FREEFLOW”
in the future is noted very much.
Super GT is the motor race series that is held in Japan, attended by 30000 to 60000 of the Japan’s best viewers, and is held at one place after another of the domestic circuit.
The race method adopts an unparalleled and unusual method that cannot be seen in other countries, in which the machine of different regulation machine namely the GT500 and GT300 are used. It is not possible to win only by using the weight handicap, or just by speed. An overall team power is needed, and the rivaled fiery hot race is produced.
From the year 2002, the race series is held in Malaysia in addition to Japan. There are lot of attracting talks from other overseas promoters due to its popularity, and this year it was decided to hold the race at the Buriram United International Circuit in Thailand
The vehicle category is Grand touring car (GT car), that is, remodeled car of the market sales car a rule. Therefore, it is difficult to maintain the diversity of the model, because the basic performance of the base vehicle makes great impact in the characteristic of the game machine. Then, the JGTC, the direct predecessor of the Super GT, split the race into GT500 and GT300 based on the specification (engine capacity etc.) of the base car, and used the method of competing in the respective rank.
The series name was changed, and these two class systems are continuing even now. The feature of each class are as follows.
GT500 The engine power of 500 class originates the fact that the maximum power is limited to about 500 PS by the suction limitation. As of 2012, the power is improved by improving the engine performance. At present, it is said if the power can be reached close to 600 PS.
GT300 The inauguration originates from the fact that the race is competed with the vehicle restricted to about 300 PS for the maximum engine power. I would have to say that this class is obviously quite different from the reality, because the performance of the present machine conforms to principle FIA GT3 machine as described later
The participation manufacturers of GT500 are three companies namely the Toyota, Honda, and Nissan.
For Toyota Supra during 2001~2005 LEXUS SC430 during 2006~2013 LEXUS RC-F from 2014~
For HONDA NSX during 2001~2009 HSV-010 during 2010~2013 NSX from 2014~
For NISSAN SKYLINE GT-R during 2001~2003 Fairlady Z during 2004~2007 GT-R during 2008~2014
TOYOTA Supra during 2001~2005
TOYOTA LEXUS SC430 during 2006~2013
TOYOTA LEXUS RC-F from 2014~
HONDA NSX during 2001~2009
HONDA HSV-010 during 2010~2013
HONDA NSX from 2014~
NISSAN SKYLINE GT-R during 2001~2003
NISSAN Fairlady Z during 2004~2007
NISSAN GT-R during 2008~2014
In Super GT, 4 tire manufacturers participate, and they are Bridgestone, Yokohama, Dunlop, and Michelin. If we look out over the races all over the world, these 4 manufacturers engage in a fierce competition in all the categories This year 2 new cars namely the LEXUS RC-F and NSX are introduced, and the aerodynamics are greatly improved.
This becomes a very exciting season just because these cars are making
continuous course record in rapid succession even in the prior test. http://supergt.net/