Born from a long line of Skyline GT-Rs 1969, this latest version — “R36″ equipped with turbocharged power, more all-wheel-drive technology and more sheer speed than any Japanese car ever to come to America.
For six years the 2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R has been the subject of intense rumors and frenzied speculation. It has appeared in more spy photos than Area 51; and Skyline prototypes are as familiar a sight on the Nürburgring as pine trees and pavement.
Why? Because the Skyline GT-R R36 is expected to be the ne plus ultra of Japanese performance machinery; and after 30 years of waiting, it’s finally America’s turn to officially take part in all the fun.
The original Nissan Skyline GT-R might have hit the street in 1969, but it wasn’t until 1990 that the GT-R legend would be solidified. That was the year the Skyline GT-R was introduced to an utterly stunned Japanese market. It was the first of three twin-turbocharged, all-wheel-drive and all-wheel-steering Skylines (R32, R33 and R34) and it’s the generation upon which the Skyline GT-R legend rests.
Though the R34 left production after the 2003 model year, it was so beloved that Nissan’s Nismo division actually bought 20 used Skyline GT-R R34 V-Spec models during 2005 and completely rebuilt them into what is currently considered the greatest GT-R of them all — the $170,000, 500-horsepower Skyline GT-R Z-Tune.
Although Nissan never imported the Skyline GT-R to the United States, the supercar still found its way into America’s automotive consciousness. In fact, buying one in the U.S. became relatively easy. By the dawn of the 21st century, several hundred had been imported.
So prominent had the Nissan Skyline GT-R become that in 2003’s 2 Fast 2 Furious, the film’s hero drove and raced one through the streets of Miami. And the actor Paul Walker, who played the role, bought his own and modified it.
At the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan showed the GT-R Concept as the prospective successor to the R34. By early 2005, modified G35 coupes with Infiniti badges, oversize wheels and tires, big rear wings, hood scoops and bodywork protrusions big enough to hide exotic exhaust systems in back or intercoolers up front were spied at the Nürburgring.
These weren’t just tuner cars, but full-fledged prototypes of the next GT-R.
Then in the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show, another GT-R showcar appeared called the GT-R Proto; and the new, innovative shape of the next GT-R was apparent. Obviously based on Nissan’s FM-code front midengine chassis, this GT-R would apparently use a turbocharged version of the VQ V6 with a seven-speed transmission and all-wheel drive.
And at the 2006 New York Auto Show, Nissan’s CEO Carlos Ghosn announced that, yes finally, the new Skyline GT-R R36 would be sold in the United States and it would be sold worldwide exclusively through Nissan, and not Infiniti. And apparently without the Skyline name.
That’s right, it’ll officially be called the Nissan GT-R. Yeah, right, just like the 2007 Mazda Miata is the MX-5.

Show up at any track with a car less than ordinary and you’re bound to get smirks of both disgust and pity. Some people don’t let it affect them, some pack up and go home in search of mummy, others give chase and some blow the competition away. That’s exactly what happen when the took his 1407hp Pontiac Trans-Am to the Papenburg track where the AMG boys from Mercedes were testing their new models.

With a brisk 8.9L V8 producing a whopping 1407 HP, The top speeds of 300km/h in his warming laps. After driving a couple of rounds around the track, to see what his road machine would do! And after pressing the pedal to the metal the when the technician came over with his laptop computer with a big grin. Here we have the official numbers: 407.134 km/h.

You may say well the 9FF team drove 409km/h in an extremely rebuilt Porsche 911 at the same track; this speed was recorded with their own equipment and therefore can be fixed and therefore is not recorded as an official speed record. Bugatti Veyron 407km/h is also recorded with their own equipment.

As the Papenburg track is to small for the Pontiac to reach its potential top speed of 435km/h and Volkswagen’s test track costs 25.000 Euro an hour to rent.

A smart project of Toyota and Subaru to working together on a rear-wheel-drive sportscar with “wonderful styling” have been replaced by rumours that the car has been put on hold.
The future and superb drift machine, regarded by many as the potential successor to the now legendary AE86, is believe to be based on the current Subaru Legacy platform and powered by a boxer engine putting out around 200hp through a six speed manual transmission.
The original plan is due in 2011,but, according to Nikkei, the car has been delayed to at least 2012 or more. But with things set to get even worse around the globe, 2012 may just come and go without any trace of a Toyobaru RWD sports car.

Things got just a bit brighter for the incoming Detroit Auto show. Mercedes-Benz will officially showing what will surely be one of the most attention supercars in exhibition hall, the new 2009 McLaren SLR Stirling Moss,a supercar for year 2009. The boldly styled Merc will be the last vehicle built under the partnership with McLaren, at a cost around €750,000 Mercedes should have no trouble finding buyers for the 75-car allotment. The feature of this super car will full carbon fiber bodywork wrapped over the standard version, a 650-hp supercharged 5.5-liter V8 and the five-speed automatic transplanted from the SLR 722. Despite lacking any sort of roof or proper windscreen, the Stirling Moss can still achieve a top speed of 217 mph and can reach 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds. Other unique features include swing-wing doors, a retractable air brake that can be operated manually and a two-piece tonneau cover that can cover the entire cockpit or just the passenger seat.

Aston Martin unveiled the production version of its most potent and focused car at Geneva. This new car combines the V-8 Vantage's compact 2-seat dimensions with the power of the company's 5.9-liter V-12—to the tune of 510 bhp and 420 lb.-ft. of torque. Aston is predicting a 190 mph top speed, along with 0–62 mph (100 km/h) dispatched in a scant 4.2 seconds.
Although the V-12 engine weighs 220 lb. more than the standard car's V-8, carbon-ceramic brakes, lighter forged aluminium wheels, lightweight inner rear quarter panels and optional lightweight seats have resulted in the overall curb weight that's only 110 lb. heavier than its V-8 sibling's. And the weight distribution is near perfect, at 51/49 front/rear.

"More" has to be taken with a pinch of salt, as Aston only expects to build 300–500 examples a year at its Gaydon factory. Deliveries will begin this fall.

In A meanwhile,Aston Martin will return to the Nurburgring for the fourth year in a row to compete in the 24-hour endurance race. This year the new V12 Vantage will be joining the yellow V8 Vantage - nicknamed 'Rose' - on the grid.

The ADAC Nurburgring 24-hour race attracts a variety of entrants from factory backed teams (including Aston Martin, VW and Audi) to private entries in anything from Porsche 911 GT3s and BMW M3 GTS to more modest machinery. The strangest entry in last year's race was probably the Opel Astra Caravan, which finished ahead of a Lamborghini Gallardo!

This year Aston Martin will enter a V12 Vantage, driven by Chief Executive Dr Ulrich Bez along with members of Aston's engineering team. The car is described as being 'near standard specification', which means about 510bhp from a 6.0-litre V12. Changes include reduced weight, which necessitates re-tuned suspension and Pirelli has provided slick tyres for the race.