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GTI is Canuck Car of Year

journauto — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:30:24 +0000

2010 VW Golf GTI

The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) has announced the results of its annual Canadian Car of the Year competition yesterday at the CIAS in Toronto. Just as I had suspected, the 2010 VW Golf GTI gets the nod.

John White, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group Canada Inc. commented, “We are very proud to win this very prestigious award… GTI is the heart and soul of Volkswagen. To have the Golf GTI named Canadian Car of the Year today by Canada’s automotive media is a very proud moment for us.”

I was doing live updates for Autonet.ca, which you can check out here along with some of my colleagues work. For exclusive photos and more info…

I didn’t get a ton of shots unfortunately. Nor did I see much of the show this year. I was using my trusty Nikon CoolPix 4500 for convenience and although I’ve only got one battery for it, it takes some half-decent pics still. Here are some random pics I took on the 2010 Canadian International Auto Show floor during the media preview day yesterday. Enjoy!

VW UpLite compact concept car

Top Tuner 4 - ProStreet Chevrolet Camaro

Carroll Shelby Exhibit

Stillen Nissan GT-R

Ferrari 599XX

Posing with the Chevy Cruze

Models Poses with Chevy Cruze

Targa Newfoundland Here We Come

journauto — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:39:20 +0000

Not long before Christmas, a friend, colleague and fellow AJAC member, Kevin Corrigan, asked me if I would co-drive/navigate for him in the 2010 Targa Newfoundland tarmac rally. Seeing as he’d just purchased a shiny orange fully-built RWD rally car from the UK and I’ve been wanting to do this for sometime now, it was impossible to say no.

Now, it’s not going to be easy and we’ll up against the toughest cars in Targa including the Sprongls Audi Quattro, ACP’s Evo 10 and Millens GT-R! We’re both rookies at this and need to get the proper licenses and first aid training, etc., but, we’re hoping this particular car lives up to its pedigree’s billing as the World’s Greatest Rally car. I should mention it’s a 1971 Ford Escort Mk1 with a Honda S2000 engine and drivetrain.

This is quite the (rare) combination and Kevin and I are eager to get some seat time when springtime arrives–isn’t it here already?–and drier roads prevail. I’m told Toronto Motorsports Park has said we’re welcome to train there, and we’re going to enter a few navigational courses and road rallies for practice. Even still, our goal is to just finish the rally.

You can find the nuts, bolts and other interesting tidbits on this car over at Kev’s CarKeys.ca site where he’s written a fairly extensive feature on this car already. Check it out here.

Our sponsorship kit should be ready by the time March rolls around and if you or someone you know would like to become involved, please send me a message. Kevin can be reached via his website and I through mine.

We’ll have an official team announcement some time in the near future. In the meantime, I felt like sharing the Unofficial Announcement from Facebook. The responses are from several other auto journalists and AJAC members, so the thread is pretty funny! IMO.

For infortainment purposes only.

Coming soon: 2010 Canadian Car of the Year!

journauto — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:26:19 +0000

Today, the team lists were released for the upcoming annual AJAC Test Fest event in Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario on October 26-30th, 2009.

Heading into its 22nd edition, this is where the eventual Canadian cars and trucks are put through rigorous back-to-back-to-back testing–on and off road–by members of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada.

This will be my seventh Test Fest, and I’m really excited to be getting down and dirty with a bevy of new cars in and around the Ste. Catharines airport, which will be hosting us the third straight year, in NOTL.

Who wouldn’t be excited? I mean, I’ll be responsible for test driving the new SPORTS PERFORMANCE models (under $50k), LUXURY CARS (over $50k) and the CONVERTIBLES. Maybe one of them will become the 2010 Canadian Car of the Year (CCOTY).

For the first time in many years, Porsche will enter some cars into the competition. Personally, I can’t wait to drive the new Panamera S, which I got to check out briefly at a Cayenne diesel and hybrid prototype preview event in Detroit not long ago.

Also on the to-do list are the Audi R8 5.2, with its V8 FSI engine and quattro drive, and the new 370Z Roadster. I drove the hardtop version earlier this year at the Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch in Pahrump, Nevada and boy was that fun!!! Got some great snaps too! I really hope Nissan brings along a Nismo model just for play because, well, I love tuned Zeds! That’s Zees for you Americans. ;P

2010 CCOTY CATEGORIES:

SPORTS PERFORMANCE (under $50k): Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Taurus SHO, Hyundai Genesis Coupe, Mazdaspeed3, Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart, Volkswagen Golf GTI

SPORTS PERFORMANCE (over $50k): Audi S4, Jaguar XFR, Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe

CONVERTIBLES: Audi A5 Cabriolet, BMW Z4 Roadster, Nissan 370Z Roadster, Lexus IS Convertible

LUXURY CAR (over $50k): BMW 335d Sedan, Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan, Lexus HS250h

PRESTIGE (over $75k): Audi R8 5.2, BMW 7 Series Sedan, Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid, Porsche Panamera

SMALL CAR (under $21k): Hyundai Elantra Touring, Kia Forte Koup, Mazda3

SMALL CAR (over $21k): Honda Insight, Kia Forte, Kia Soul, Mazda3 Sport, Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback, Nissan Cube, Volkswagen Golf

FAMILY CAR (under $30k): Ford Fusion, Subaru Legacy Sedan, Toyota Prius, Volkswagen Golf Wagon

FAMILY CAR (over $30k): Buick Allure, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Ford Taurus

SUV / CUV (under $35k): Chevrolet Equinox, Subaru Outback, Toyota Venza

SUV / CUV ($35k-$60k): Acura ZDX, Audi Q5, GMC Terrain, Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4MATIC, Lexus RX350, Volkswagen Touareg TDI Clean Diesel, Volvo XC60

SUV / CUV (over $60k): Acura MDX, Audi Q7, Lincoln MKT, Cadillac SRX, Lexus RX450h

More info on the Canadian Car of the Year competition can be found on AJAC’s website. And, if you’re thinking about buying a new vehicle, there’s a wealth of free new car buying info and actual testing results from past, present and future vehicles there too. Go visit.

GT-R SpecV announced

journauto — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:44:47 +0000

This image of a 2009 GT-R SpecV landed in my inbox earlier in the day courtesy of Nissan Canada. Further inspection reveals some racy tweaks that build on the original’s “better everyday supercar” appeal.

2009 Nissan GT-R SpecV

Targeted specifically at (Japanese) enthusiast drivers who desire race car-like performance in a street-legal vehicle, the Nissan GT-R SpecV model has a carbon fiber rear spoiler, grille and brake ducts.

Inside this limited-edition two-seater version is a pair of Recaro sport buckets and more lightweight carbon fiber parts and trim to reduce weight.

A new high gear boost controller and titanium-coated exhaust system will provide modest performance gains. The GT-R SpecV gets lightweight Nismo forged alloys, an exclusive tuned suspension, carbon-ceramic brakes and grippier tires.

Painted in an exclusive Ultimate Black Opal body colour, the SpecV goes on sale February 2, 2009 at seven dealerships across Japan starting at 15,750,000 yen. That translates to $171,343 in U.S. dollars, which is a bit pricey but still sensible given the competition.

Gosh, I hope we get something like this over here!

Also worth checking out, is the Nissan Motorsports (a.k.a. NISMO) website. Perhaps the coolest navigation method I’ve seen on a website!

Canadian Car of the Year

journauto — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:10:59 +0000

Audi 4.2L FSI V8

Canada’s 2008 Car of the Year is… drum roll please… the Audi R8 Supercar.

And, if you’re thinking about purchasing a new or used vehicle, good, honest information can be hard to find. Over the years, Automobile Journalists Association of Canada members have scrutinized hundreds of vehicles in search of one to call the year’s best. Now, prospective buyers can browse real-world results by category or by manufacturer for the past several years in AJAC’s CCOTY competition.

The Design Showcase: Audi R8 (Feb 2008, RPM Motoring Monthly)

—

TORONTO (Ontario) Wednesday, February 13, 2008 — In an early morning press conference at the opening of the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, the Audi R8 was declared the 2008 Canadian Car of the Year by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC).

The Audi R8 beat eight other “best new” category winners, announced December 4, 2007, to win the top prize.

2008 CCOTY co-chair, Paul Williams, commented: “With manufacturers introducing an increasing number of new vehicles each year, consumers may find it harder to keep track of what’s available in the marketplace, and how one vehicle differs from another. The AJAC Canadian Car of the Year program identifies and categorizes all the new vehicles each year, then subjects them to detailed testing in real-world situations. It’s not a popularity contest; it’s a thorough, objective and trustworthy process to help consumers make informed purchase decisions.”

“We are absolutely delighted to have been accorded this prestigious honour and would like to thank the membership for their support,” said Diego Ramos, Executive Vice President of Audi Canada, “especially when you consider the other fine automobiles with which we were competing.” He added, “To win these awards today is a defining moment for the Audi brand in Canada. In the past, the question has been asked, when will people realize just how good Audis are? I believe that time is now thanks to everyone at AJAC.”

At the same press conference, the new Chevrolet Silverado was declared the 2008 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). The Chevrolet Silverado was chosen the overall winner from amongst 26 eligible vehicles in the Sport Utility and Pick-up Truck categories.

“We truly appreciate this vote of confidence from such a large body of Canada’s automotive experts,” said Marc Comeau, GM of Canada’s Vice President, Sales Service and Marketing. “Our goal is to provide customers with cars and trucks that offer leading designs and fuel-efficient technologies, with eye-catching style and an overall level of perceived quality typical of more expensive vehicles. This award tells us we’re delivering on that goal.”

AJAC’s annual Canadian Car of the Year awards program was created in 1985 with the purpose of providing consumers with sound, comparative information on vehicles that are new to the market.

For that reason, the vote results that determined today’s winners are available to consumers as a resource buying guide on the AJAC web site. Also available are the comparative test data derived from the journalists’ extensive four day evaluation of over 170 new vehicles in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario in October. This annual event is known in the industry as “TestFest.” Shell Canada is the official fuel supplier of the event.

The rigorous TestFest evaluation program includes real world driving on public roads–exactly where consumers drive so that the test and vote results posted to the AJAC web site are directly relevant to potential car and truck buyers.

Still looking to buy a 2007, 2006, or even a 2005 vehicle? AJAC archives the comparative test data from previous years on its web site.

For more information on the 2008 Canadian Car of the Year Awards, either visit our AJAC web site at www.ajac.ca, call the AJAC office at 1 (800) 361-1516, or send an e-mail to beth[at]ajac.ca.

Welcome to Canada EVO X (10)

journauto — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 02:30:14 +0000

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10, courtesy of Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada Inc.

After a very long wait, the world renowned Lancer Evolution has finally arrived in Canada. Koji Soga, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada Inc. takes delivery in Vancouver of the first boatload of the all new 2008 10th-gen Lancer Evolution.

These “GSR” sports sedans are the first Lancer Evolution models ever to be offered for sale in Canada. The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, is one of the world’s best known high-performance vehicles and these customer cars will be making their way into Mitsubishi dealer showrooms early in February.

Perhaps even more exciting is the fact that I will be amongst the first wave of journalists to drive the new car at its official press launch next Tuesday at Willow Springs just north of L.A. A review with photos will soon follow in Sun Media somewhere in Canada. Will let you know when I know.

In the meantime, in next Sunday’s Toronto Sun, some of my photos will be running alongside Drive section editor Annette McLeod’s review of the wicked awesome 2008 Audi R8 supercar. I wrote my own design-focused piece for the February issue of RPM Motoring Monthly. Go get your free copy.

AJAC declares Canada’s “Best New” 2008 vehicles

journauto — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 02:41:28 +0000

2008 Audi R8 next to Mini Cooper S

TORONTO, (Ontario) – The 2008 “Best New” winners in 12 different “Canadian Car of the Year” categories were announced today by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) at a press conference held at the Toronto Congress Centre, in Mississauga, Ontario. The purpose of the Canadian Car of the Year (CCOTY) awards program, created by journalist members of AJAC, is to provide consumers with sound, comparative information on vehicles that are new to the market.

For that reason, the vote results that determined today’s winners are available on the AJAC web site www.ajac.ca, for use by consumers as a resource buying guide when researching the purchase of a new car, truck, SUV, or CUV for 2008. Also available to consumers are the comparative test data derived from the journalists’ extensive three to four day evaluation of 177 new 2008 vehicles in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario from October 29 – November 2, 2007. This annual event is known in the industry as “Test Fest.”

The rigorous Test Fest evaluation program includes real world driving on public roads – exactly where consumers drive so that the test and vote results are directly relevant to potential car and truck buyers.

In order to vote, the more than 70 journalists had to be on-site and drive the vehicles back-to-back on the same roads, on the same day, in the same weather conditions so as to ensure valid comparisons. Each vehicle is carefully scrutinized using 17 evaluation parameters that include driver position and ergonomics, engine smoothness, steering, handling, visibility as well as exterior and interior styling. Objective ratings for acceleration, braking, cargo capacity, safety features, fuel consumption and exhaust emissions are then added to the journalists ballots by the international accounting firm KPMG prior to their vote tabulation. The scores are then weighted by the type of vehicle as well as a price factor in order to ensure a level playing field for all 59 entries.

2008 CCOTY co-chairman Paul Williams commented, “The AJAC Canadian Car of the Year awards are founded on the most objective, informed and thorough evaluation process you’ll find. The evaluations are based on back-to-back testing in real-world situations. They’re a uniquely Canadian resource for people looking to buy a new vehicle.”

The BEST NEW 2008 category winners are:

CONVERTIBLE: BMW 335i Cabriolet
SMALL CAR: Saturn Astra
FAMILY CAR: Honda Accord EX Sedan
LUXURY CAR: Mercedes-Benz C Class
PRESTIGE CAR (over $75,000): Audi R8
SPORTS/PERFORMANCE CAR under $50,000: MINI Cooper S
SPORTS/PERFORMANCE CAR over $50,000: Audi S5
MINIVAN: Hyundai Entourage
PICKUP TRUCK: Chevrolet Silverado
SUV/CUV under $35,000: Nissan Rogue
SUV/CUV $35,000 – $60,000: Saturn Vue
SUV/CUV over $60,000: Buick Enclave

In addition to the 12 category winners, AJAC handed out the “Most Coveted Vehicle” award. Inaugurated in 2005, the award was created to acknowledge what is truly a dream car; a car that stirs the hearts and minds of automobile enthusiasts. In other words, if you won the lottery today, which of the fifty-nine AJAC Car of the Year entries would be your dream car, truck or SUV? In order to win this award, the majority of the seventy-four voting journalists had to cast a ballot and the winning vehicle had to receive two-thirds of those votes. The winner of the 2008 Most Coveted Vehicle award is the Audi R8.

The overall Canadian Car of the Year as well as the Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year will be announced on February 13th, 2008, at the 2008 Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, Ontario. The 2008 Best New Design and Best New Technology winners will also be declared at that time.

And there’s more. our AJAC journalists who evaluated the brand-new models at TestFest are available across Canada for interviews to talk about the vote results and comparative data. Media are invited to visit the AJAC web site and log-in under “Ask The Experts”, then choose the “Car of the Year” link for interviews once they’ve been validated.

Photos from the Test Fest evaluation program, and from today’s press conference, are also available for print and broadcast media on the AJAC website.

Still looking to buy a 2007 new car? AJAC archives the comparative test data and vote results from previous years on its web site.

AJAC’s three consumer surveys show that winning an AJAC Canadian Car of the Year (CCOTY) award is increasingly important for potential buyers of new cars. For example, a survey of 2004 Canadian Car of the Year buyers confirmed an influence of 58.4%. In 2002 that influence was 47.5%; in 1999 the influence was 44.5%.

For further information: on the 2008 Canadian Car of the Year Awards, either visit the AJAC web site (www.ajac.ca), call the AJAC office at (705) 924-3444, or send an email to beth[a]ajac.ca

Nissan GT-R debuts in Tokyo

journauto — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 13:21:56 +0000

2009 Nissan GT-R

On the 19th day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a new ’09 GT-R! Yeah right, but who doesn’t wish for that? Official launch details on the release on the almighty Nissan Skyline GT-R’s successor have finally emerged from the 2008 Tokyo Motor Show floor. Nissan has confirmed the 2009 Nissan GT-R will go on sale in Japan on December 6th. The North American launch will likely follow four to six months later. Rest assured the waiting list will fill up fast.

The all-wheel drive two-door super sedan known as the Nissan GT-R will boast an all-new twin-turbo 3.8-litre V-6 engine with plasma-sprayed bores and unique twin-turbo exhaust manifold. The new engine, codenamed VR38DETT, has us really excited for a test drive; and, with its rated 473 hp at 6,400 rpm and 433 lb-ft of torque coming on from 3,200 to 5,200 rpm, the potent combination ought to yield some serious gut-wrenching g-forces. A new GR6-type dual clutch transmission with paddle shifting and a Borg Warner six-plate dual clutch will put down the power while a secondary air management system enables the newly-designed powerplant to sustain about 290 lb-ft of torque for ordinary low-rev daily driving behaviour. The resulting air-fuel ratio is optimal for around-town efficiency and therefore helps the Nissan GT-R meet ultra-low emission vehicle (U-LEV) standards in Japan.

For a vehicle with a rich racing history like this one, it’s fitting that the new Nissan GT-R will run in the GT500 class in the 2008 SUPER GT Championship series in Japan with Nismo. The successful GT-R moniker last competed four years ago, winning the Japan GT Championship in 2003. Testing is slated to be getting underway very soon, however, details on the vehicle’s specifications and team are being withheld until February 2008.

Plus, I found this video of me riding shotgun in a HKS-tuned Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 at the 2005 SEMA Show while partaking in a Pioneer press event. Check it out!

Download the Guitar Hero 3 demo for Xbox 360

journauto — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 03:20:15 +0000

Move over Joel Zumaya, my wife and I are already getting our guitair-wailing fingers going on the heals of my beloved’s “Guitar Hero” Rock Out 30th Birthday Party. We had about 20 people over and most of them partook in a jam session or two (more in some cases). At least two of her girlfriend’s said they were going to have to go shopping for an Xbox 360 and some Red Octane GH2 fire. One of them, already a confirmed wailer, was like, “Um, you can just come over to my place and play.” Her and her fiance are both confirmed addicts, just like my baby and I now are.

We’re both eager for the game to go on sale October 28th. Big brother Gates updated my system with the wireless guitar driver files over Xbox Live months ago. You’d think the demo would have popped up in the Xbox Live Marketplace seeing as the launch is awfully close, but that’s not the case. Anyway, you won’t have to wait for it after all as it is available for download [the file is no longer available].

Free Xbox 360 demos can be found on certain sites on the www. The only catches are that you’ll have to burn the ISO file to a compatible CD or DVD before it can be played on a console. After that all you do is access the Game Demos section in the 360 Dashboard with the game inserted and start shredding.

From the Guitar Hero 3 Wiki… “Activision announced in August 2007 that a demo of Guitar Hero III will appear in the upcoming Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground for the Xbox 360, set for release on October 16, 2007. The demo will also be downloadable over Xbox Live shortly after Proving Ground is released. The demo features five songs (“Lay Down”, “Rock You Like A Hurricane”, “Even Flow”, “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”, and “The Metal”) played at the Desert Rock venue. The Guitar Hero 3 Demo was also shipped with the December 2007 issue of Official Xbox Magazine. It has also been reported that you may download the Guitar Hero 3 Demo (legally) via Bittorrent as the disc provided with Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground can be copied to a CD or DVD.”

My Nero 6 software was a bit confused by the ISO, so I did a quick search and went to fetch DVD Decrypter from here. It took less than 10 minutes to download the demo ISO and I was rocking out within a mean 15. Seriously! Cheers and enjoy the road to becoming a Legend of Rock!!!

2007 Canadian Car of the Year finalists

journauto — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 04:19:28 +0000

2007 BMW Z3 M Package

About a month ago, Shaun, as is his annual tradition, joined his AJAC colleagues for four days of car reviewing frenzy at “TestFest.” He evaluated the Sports Performance over $50K, SUV over $65K and convertibles. Well, after weeks of anticipation, the votes have finally been tabulated, and this year’s Car of the Year category winners are…

TORONTO, (Ontario) – The 2007 “Best New” winners in 13 different “Canadian Car of the Year” categories were announced today, November 21, 2006, by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) at a press conference held at the Holiday Inn Select, in Toronto, Ontario.

The purpose of the Canadian Car of the Year (CCOTY) awards program, created by journalist members of AJAC, is to provide consumers with sound, comparative information on vehicles that are new to the market.

For that reason, the vote results that determined today’s winners are available on the AJAC web site www.ajac.ca, for use by consumers as a resource buying guide when researching the purchase of a new car, truck, SUV, or CUV for 2007. Also available to consumers are the comparative test data derived from the journalists’ extensive 3-day evaluation of 195 new 2007 vehicles in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario from October 25-27, 2007. This annual event is known in the industry as “TestFest.”

The 2007 category winners are:
BEST NEW SMALL CAR under $18,000: Honda FIT LX
BEST NEW SMALL CAR over $18,000: Volkswagen Rabbit 2.5
BEST NEW FAMILY CAR $22,000-$30,000: Toyota Camry LE
BEST NEW FAMILY CAR over $30,000: Toyota Camry Hybrid
BEST NEW LUXURY CAR under $50,000: Lexus ES 350
BEST NEW PRESTIGE CAR: Audi S8
BEST NEW SPORTS / PERFORMANCE CAR under $50,000: Mazdaspeed3
BEST NEW SPORTS / PERFORMANCE CAR over $50,000: BMW 3-Series Coupe
BEST NEW CONVERTIBLE: Volkswagen EOS 2.0T
BEST NEW PICKUP TRUCK: Chevrolet Avalanche
BEST NEW SUV / CUV under $35,000: Toyota RAV4 – V6 Sport
BEST NEW SUV / CUV $35,000-$60,000: Acura RDX Technology Package
BEST NEW SUV / CUV over $60,000: Mercedes-Benz GL Class

The overall Canadian Car of the Year, Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year, as well as the Canadian Truck of the Year will all be announced on February 14th, 2007, at the 2007 Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, Ontario. The 2007 Best New Design and Best New Technology winners will also be declared at that time.

And there’s more. our AJAC journalists who evaluated the brand-new models at TestFest are available across Canada for interviews to talk about the vote results and comparative data. Media are invited to visit the AJAC web site and log-in under “Ask The Experts,” then choose the “Car of the Year” link for interviews once they’ve been validated.

Still looking to buy a 2006 car? AJAC archives the comparative test data and vote results from previous years on its web site.

For more information on the Canadian Car of the Year Awards, either visit our AJAC web site (www.ajac.ca), call the AJAC office at 1-905-342-2220, or email beth[a]ajac.ca

Nissan GT-R back under wraps

journauto — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 15:58:50 +0000

Officially, the launch of the new Nissan GT-R is slated for mid-to-late 2007 and the MY2008 year production version should look very close to this. “Eighty to 90 percent close to production,” said Nissan Design Director Shiro Nakamura. What the model’s full official name will be is uncertain along with the price. First shown as the GT-R Concept at the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show, and again in 2003 and, most recently, in last year’s 39th Tokyo automotive galas in near-production “GT-R PROTO” form, the dirt on this car is being guarded closely these days. In fact, Nissan seems to have a zip-your-lips policy in effect for the GT-R.

It’s not the first time Nissan has tiptoed around the Skyline GT-R legend though. Up until the release of its 1989 Nissan Skyline GT-R, the concept was referred to as the GT-X by Shurei Ito, then manager of the Skyline Development Team. Having succeeded his mentor Shinichiro Sakurai, Skyline GT’s first chief engineer, after he fell ill, Ito realized the GT-R badge had developed a deeply loyal following within Nissan itself. Like the successful, original ’69 GT-Rs that won 49 straight races and surpassed 50 wins in the first three years. Ito’s goal was to make his new Skyline the ultimate touring car capable of dominating any Group A entry, not distract the workers and invite speculation.

It turned out to be a great strategy and the ’89 GT-R–codenamed the R32–returned with a vengeance sporting four-wheel drive ATTESA ET-S* and Nissan’s twin turbo 2.6-liter in-line six with 24 valves and DOHC that produces an intercooled 276 hp @ 6,800 rpm and 260 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm. The powerful RB26DETT engine’s potential was immediately realized with 1-2 finishes in the GT-R’s return to touring car racing in the All Japan Touring Car Championship. Race-prepped versions of these eighth-gen GT-Rs went on to achieve victory in 29 straight races from 1990 to 1993 resulting in four consecutive championships. The following ninth-gen (’95-’98) R33 and 10th generation (’99-’02) R34 models were even more competitive.

The final Japan-only 2002 Skyline GT-R M Spec Nur and V Spec II models was Nissan’s salute to its followers with a limited run of 1,000 cars boasting substantial N1-class engine upgrades that sold out faster than Rolling Stones concert tickets. In 2005, Nismo offered the Nissan Nismo Skyline GT-R Z-Tune, a highly exclusive series of 20 pre-owned GT-Rs that have been stripped down and rebuilt from the ground up with the legendary RB26 modified to Nismo’s intense Z2 specifications. Numerous racy upgrades earned the Nissan Nismo Skyline GT-R Z-tune a stiff $170,000 price tag.

Driving home the GT-R’s supercar status is its persistent ability to overachieve. Much like the Lambo-Ferrari rivalry, the GT-R’s driving force is that it must always be one, two or three steps ahead of the competition. The 1989 GT-R was Nissan’s answer to several race defeats to what they considered inferior opponents in the Ford Sierra RS, Corolla, Civic and Volvo 240 Turbo models. Direct competition for the subsequent R33 and 34 Skylines include the BMW M3, Mazda RX-7, Toyota Supra TT, Porsche 911, WRX STi and Evo 8. Not to mention, they’re well capable of taking down a Gallardo or Corvette.

The GT-R PROTO pictured remains true to all the GT-R legends preceding it, but there are two major differences with this 11th generation GT-R that previous versions. Except for the fact Infiniti has been selling the G35 coupe and sedan in Japan and calling them Skylines for years, the long-awaited GT-R supercar will for the first time in its history have its own unique body style, one not derived from a sedan. Even more striking is the fact the new GT-R will be a left-hand driver sold globally.

For power, sources are saying a 3.5 or 3.8-liter twin turbo V6 is the most likely candidate(s) with output expectations well over 450 hp. While twin snails will be great, the lack of a V8 as standard or optional may cause some suitors to lose interest. On the other hand, it may begin a new chapter in Nissan V8 swaps. All previous Skyline GT-Rs were capable of producing over 550 hp (Nismo Z-tune is in this ball park) with no modifications to the original RB26 engine block or head and some ECU tuning. In the hands of accomplished tuners there have been many examples of 900-plus hp GT-Rs.

Besides finding an alternative to carbon fiber, the large R34-like front bumper scoop is unlikely to change much, holding the emotional connection; but, different head and tail light combinations will be necessary to meet differing regional regulations. Emissions-related equipment will also be under scrutiny, but a 19- or 20-inch wheel and tire package won’t be out of the question. Although some of the car’s sharp lines could be easily de-emphasized, it’s unreasonable to suggest the GT-R will look any less athletic than it does now with wide flared fenders and telltale Skyline rear. The rear carbon diffuser likely won’t remain, however, this and parts like it could be custom ordered separately or appear in accessory upgrade packages.

If it were my call, I’d make that twin turbo V8 a reality with at least 600 hp on tap from a six- or seven-speed manual. I could see it coming in at $60-65K USD; but, with the V8 powered Toyota Supra revival and possible Lexus IS 500 coming, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X and Subaru STI, all priced around $50K, the production GT-R could be in for a bumpy return. BMW’s class-leading M3 is priced similarly; and, were the Mazda Kabura and rotary engine hybrid concepts to come together and (finally) create a right and proper successor for the RX-7, the GT-R will have to face one of its toughest challenges to date. Will the GT-R have what it takes to rise up against several Japanese auto makers engaging in their own, developing modern muscle war?

[ATTESSA ET-S: Electronically-controlled active-split four-wheel drive system (based on FR) that continuously varies the torque allocation between the front and rear wheels in the range of 0.100-50:50]

Enzo crash casts shadow on grey market autos

journauto — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 19:00:47 +0000

Mysterious circumstances surrounding an early-morning crash of a Ferrari Enzo last week in Malibu, California has rekindled the debate about grey market cars. The Enzo, owned by Stefan Eriksson, was reduced to a pile of carbon and metal bits after striking a hydro pole at high speed on the Pacific Coast Highway. Eriksson emerged from the wreck with his life and a cut lip, but he’s been under fire from local authorities ever since.

For one, he claimed the Enzo was being driven by a mysterious German guest yet to be located. Witnesses of the crash told authorities they saw a drag race between the red Ferrari and a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. It’s also believed the Italian supercar, one of two Enzos belonging to Eriksson, was brought into the U.S. through grey market channels, perhaps illegally. The fact the Bank of Scotland is looking to repossess the Enzo due to suspected fraudulent financing points to the latter.

“His story has inconsistencies that need to be cleared up,” said Sheriff’s Sergeant Phillip Brooks in a L.A. Times story last week. As for how the car came into the country and into the hands of Eriksson is also being investigated. “We have quite a few new leads on that,” said Brooks without elaborating.

Eriksson has some tough answers to give for his own sake, but the fact remains that the grey market for autos is a multi-billion dollar industry, with hundreds–if not thousands–of vehicles coming and going from the States daily. Although the grey market has existed for many decades and isn’t considered illegal in many cases, it’s still an area that’s shrouded in much mystique.

So, what is a grey market? Well, first off, it’s not limited to cars. Electronics, clothing, perfume and even wine can be found on the grey market. Whereas the black market is characterized by the trade of illegal or banned goods in any given country, the grey market is the unauthorized distribution and sale of goods to markets for which the manufacturer never intended their product(s) to be sold in.

The Better Business Bureau points out that grey market goods aren’t usually illegal, however, consumers purchasing from this market ought to be aware of several trade-offs, including invalid warranties, no customer support or foreign language instructions. BBB warns consumers to be wary of purchases made via mail order, through specialty and discount stores as well as some larger retailers.

Grey market autos pose an even bigger concern for all consumers because many foreign cars (including those which share the same base architecture) don’t comply with the federal laws and standards of the country they’re being resold in. Not only that, the vehicles could be victims of theft, VIN cloning, salvaging, odometer tampering, floods or other damages as well foreign liens that could lead to immediate seizure.

Almost always, grey market autos require modification(s) in order to comply with set emissions and safety standards. But, upgrading bumpers, exhausts, catalytic converters, lighting, speedo conversions and changing important labels on door jams and in the engine bay doesn’t guarantee it can be legally titled and licensed for use in that country. Proper importation procedures must be followed first.

Grey market autos must be imported through a registered importer (or through one who has a contract with such an importer) before any of the above can take place. Once in the country, the new owner has 120 days to bring the vehicle up to U.S. specifications (varies from country to country) so that organizations like the Environmental Protection Agency (CARB too), the U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Customs can approve and register one for sale and/or regular use. Quite often, this essential paperwork is lost, forged or overlooked to the end customer’s dismay, who might one day find themselves face-to-face with the police or repo man seizing the car without any prior notice.

Another unfortunate reality is that many of these vehicles are purchased through grey market channels by dealers (franchised, independent and private) for substantially less than a U.S. market equivalent. These cars from Europe, Asia and Canada are even spotted on eBay where they’re being offered at substantially lower prices than if they were to be purchased through authorized channels–sometimes as much as $30-40K less.

There have been numerous cases where grey market autos have been resold to unsuspecting customers thorough official channels in order to make huge profits. Even though many of these vehicles are brought up to standard before being resold, many more are improperly imported thus making them illegal to own and operate in the States. The fines for this practice, which is discouraged by the auto manufacturers, can be quite heavy.

Guidelines pertaining to gray market autos differ from place to place. Canadians are free to import grey market cars older than 15 years old without having to comply with any kind of conformity standards. Americans may be able to import grey market vehicles under an exemption granted by the EPA.

If your research is thorough and you go about it all properly and responsibly, it is possible to own a grey market auto “legally.” You might even get one for a fraction of the cost of your home market’s equivalent. This is what the auto makers don’t want you to know. That’s the beauty of a free market economy.

Some useful links if you’re interested in learning more about grey market vehicles:
U.S. Environmental Agency
U.S. Department of Commerce
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
U.S. Custom & Border Protection

Finally, Canadians ought to check out this page on the Transport Canada website.