Porsche accuses Nissan of falsifying GT-R Nurburgring lap times (& Nissan responds )
09-30-08, 07:01 AM
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Porsche accuses Nissan of falsifying GT-R Nurburgring lap times (& Nissan responds )
Porsche claims Nissan used competition semi-slick tires for Nurburgring lap times
Porsche accuses Nissan of falsifying GT-R Nurburgring lap times
There’s something very puzzling about Nissan’s all-new GT-R supercar. Its official output figures read 480hp (358kW) and 588Nm (434lb-ft) of torque and its mass registers at 1,723kg, but the car can still outrun the 911 Turbo around the notorious Nurburgring by a healthy margin despite the Porsche weighing less and producing more torque (1633kg and 457lb-ft respectively).
Nissan’s official lap time for the Nurburgring is a blistering 7m 29s, set back in May. The lap times were for a stock-standard base specification GT-R fitted with the same Japanese market tires as the cars in showrooms, according to claims by Nissan.
Porsche, however, claims Nissan falsified these numbers and posted the quicker times because of semi-slick race-style tires. The German sports carmaker even purchased its own GT-R and set about testing it against both the 911 Turbo and GT2 and in both cases it claims the GT-R was the slowest. The laps were run by one of Porsche’s chassis development engineers and not its regular tester, former world rally champion and race winner Walter Rohrl.
Speaking with Australia’s CarsGuide this week, Porsche’s 911 product chief August Achleitner said the GT-R used by Nissan to post its official times could not have been a regular series production car.
He said Porsche took a standard GT-R bought in the United States and running on regular road tires, and was tested on the same day as the pair of 911s. According to Porsche, the GT-R posted a time of 7m 54s, with the 911 Turbo managing 7m 38s and the GT2 getting down to 7m 34s.
There’s something very puzzling about Nissan’s all-new GT-R supercar. Its official output figures read 480hp (358kW) and 588Nm (434lb-ft) of torque and its mass registers at 1,723kg, but the car can still outrun the 911 Turbo around the notorious Nurburgring by a healthy margin despite the Porsche weighing less and producing more torque (1633kg and 457lb-ft respectively).
Nissan’s official lap time for the Nurburgring is a blistering 7m 29s, set back in May. The lap times were for a stock-standard base specification GT-R fitted with the same Japanese market tires as the cars in showrooms, according to claims by Nissan.
Porsche, however, claims Nissan falsified these numbers and posted the quicker times because of semi-slick race-style tires. The German sports carmaker even purchased its own GT-R and set about testing it against both the 911 Turbo and GT2 and in both cases it claims the GT-R was the slowest. The laps were run by one of Porsche’s chassis development engineers and not its regular tester, former world rally champion and race winner Walter Rohrl.
Speaking with Australia’s CarsGuide this week, Porsche’s 911 product chief August Achleitner said the GT-R used by Nissan to post its official times could not have been a regular series production car.
He said Porsche took a standard GT-R bought in the United States and running on regular road tires, and was tested on the same day as the pair of 911s. According to Porsche, the GT-R posted a time of 7m 54s, with the 911 Turbo managing 7m 38s and the GT2 getting down to 7m 34s.
source
Last edited by Gojirra99; 09-30-08 at 07:18 AM.
09-30-08, 08:16 AM
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I was a witness when my buddy who used to own a BMW dealership brought rigged 5series from factory for some local handling test against E-Class and A6 few years ago. He told me it was specifically prepared for this kind of test.
If they do these things on local levels you cant imagine whats going on for publicity that should go around the globe
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09-30-08, 09:05 AM
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This smacks of desperation on Porsche's part. Instead of trying to discredit Nissan's Nurburgring time by saying they couldn't duplicate it (It's not rocket science to figure out I wonder they couldn't) why not document a faster run in a Porsche?
09-30-08, 10:20 AM
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What is interesting is that cars magazines have been getting inconsistent times with the GT-R. Some are amazingly quick so are just quick. Seems the early pre-release cars were really fast, the first released cars were a bit slower, and the current cars are fast again.
BTW, I don't doubt that manufacturers give special cars to car magazines. I'm betting the GS400/430 tested by the car mags had the L-tuned suspension....
BTW, I don't doubt that manufacturers give special cars to car magazines. I'm betting the GS400/430 tested by the car mags had the L-tuned suspension....
09-30-08, 10:29 AM
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If you know how much has 911's sales dropped this year, you wouldn't wonder why Porsche did this accusation. But the thing is, many many magzines from many different countries have done the comparisons between GT-R and 911 Turbo or even 911 GT2 and almost all the time GT-R won. There is no doubt Nissan is hiding something, but most people claim that Nissan is hiding the fact that this GT-R actually produce much higher horsepower than the claimed 480hp.
09-30-08, 12:28 PM
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LOL
"The German sports carmaker even purchased its own GT-R and set about testing it against both the 911 Turbo and GT2 and in both cases it claims the GT-R was the slowest"
Duh!!!!!!11
ROFL....I thought that most, if not all, of the comparos on various race tracks, the GT-R is already quicker than the 911 Turbo & Z06. What do they have to say to that.? That was not a classy move by Porsche.
09-30-08, 12:34 PM
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The drop in 911 sales has pretty much nothing to do with the GT-R.
I don't think Porsche is not saying the GT-R is capable, its saying "how the hell did it get a 7:29".
Doug, Motor Trend tested a GS 400 L-tuned once but that was when it wasn't official. Lexus used to send GSs with the silly 16" wheels to comparos sometimes (sigh)......
I don't think Porsche is not saying the GT-R is capable, its saying "how the hell did it get a 7:29".
Doug, Motor Trend tested a GS 400 L-tuned once but that was when it wasn't official. Lexus used to send GSs with the silly 16" wheels to comparos sometimes (sigh)......