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In This Issue:
Nissan's GT-R: Get there--rapidly (very)
EXCLUSIVE STIMULUS OPPORTUNITY
MileOne Makes an Impact in its Community
Losing lottery tickets used to create HUMMER H3
Trivia
Car Doctor
Plus Much Much More!
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For the customers of Herb Gordon Nissan
Nissan's GT-R: Get there--rapidly (very)
By Paul Duchene
By now, you've probably heard about Nissan's new GT-R supercar, a coupe that looks like a 350Z on steroids.
You likely have questions. The answer to all of them is "yes."
The long-awaited Nissan GT-R is the automotive equivalent of the Samurai sword, which also viscerally combined form and function.
To be specific, the GT-R is the fastest, best-handling and least expensive production supercar you can buy. It will do zero- to 60-m.p.h. in 3.3 seconds, turn a quarter mile in 11.6 seconds at 120.9 m.p.h. and top out at 193 m.p.h. (a strangled 155 m.p.h. in the U.S.). Those figures are right off the showroom floor, with base price just under $70,000.
Power comes from a 473-horspower, twin-turbo V-6 driving all four wheels through a six-speed, dual-clutch manual/automatic transaxle at the rear.
GT-R is renowned worldwide, though never sold in the U.S. because previous models couldn't be built with left-hand drive. It is the performance version of the anonymous Nissan Skyline sedan, which originated in 1966. But the breakthrough came with 1989's all-wheel-drive GT-R, made until 2000.
The heart of the earlier GT-R 32, 33 and 34 models was the 2.6-liter, dual-overhead cam 6-cylinder engine, with twin Garrett turbochargers. The company claimed 280 horsepower, but insiders say 320 h.p. was more like it.
The twin turbos required the engine be tilted to the left, where the steering on a U.S. car would go. Elsewhere, however, the cars were holy terrors, gray-market exports that menaced racetracks in Australia and Europe, being banned from some race series.
But as good as these previous 150-m.p.h.-plus GT-Rs were, their statistics pale next to the new one, which is 50 percent more powerful at the start. Insiders say 480-h.p. is clocked at the rear wheels, suggesting the engine is producing 550 h.p. or so.
Determined to find out, Josh Jacquot, senior road test editor for Edmunds.com, flew to Japan to thrash a GT-R at an airstrip outside Tokyo.
By activating the GT-R's launch control, he could top Nissan's advertised performance figures. By holding his left foot on the brake and flooring the engine, the computer would hold at 4,500 r.p.m. until he lifted his left foot. Then he was off, beating Porsche 911 Turbo stats from zero-60 and to the quarter mile.
The 15-inch, 6-piston Brembo disc brakes are up to the task, pulling the GT-R up from 60 m.p.h. in 104 feet. That's 1 foot more than the Porsche with its $8,800 ceramic brake option, the same as the Dodge Viper and 2 feet less than the Corvette Z06.
At 72.9 m.p.h., GT-R was quicker in the slalom than the Corvette Z06 and the 911 Turbo, though the Viper's big tires kept it ahead at 74.2 m.p.h.
Jaquot says the main difference is that the GT-R is very easy to drive to its limits and much more forgiving than the Porsche. Considering it is 300 pounds heavier than the 911 Turbo, a lighter, faster V-Spec performance GT-R model would likely be superior, he adds.
"You could get GT-Rs through the gray market in the 1990s," said Peter Bedrosian, U.S. product manager for Nissan.
"But this car stems from Carlos Ghosn's desire to go global. This is a samurai sword, and it got the best engineers. Mr. Mizuno did the original platform and had lots of experience racing at Le Mans in the 1990s and Daytona in 1992," Bedrosian added, in reference to Kazutoshi Mizuno, chief vehicle engineer for GT-R.
Bedrosian says racing experience improved the new GT-R's capability to record telemetry, speed, engine revs, oil temperature, etc.
"There are now 11 screens in the console you can scroll through, and four are user-adjustable - boost, temperatures, pedal positions, steering angle, for example. The car also measures G-forces, braking, accelerator positions and track times, and you can record all the information to a compact flash card.
"It can make you a better driver."
Of course. All this telemetry suggests racing, and Bedrosian confirms that Nissan plans to race the GT-R wherever it can. He says the company had to change how it designed cars to meet challenges posed by this new platform as it raises the bar on tires and aerodynamics, for example.
"It's what we call a premium midship platform, a front-midship engine and rear transaxle," Bedrosian says, taking Nissan into Ferrari territory.
"Aerodynamics played a big role. The smooth belly pan gives a .27 coefficient of drag. Bridgestone and Dunlop have come up with two new tires for summer, and we have all-season Bridgestone Blizzaks," he said. Those would be run-flats, of course.
Bruce Robinson is the GT-R's senior project engineer in the U.S. and a veteran of Detroit in the 1960s, when he worked on the Buick GSX, and General Motors' race teams in the '70s.
He says the best technical achievement is the transaxle gearbox, which is laid on its side to keep the car's center of gravity as low as possible.
He also praises the car's composure at speed.
"Driving a Porsche 911 fast is a badge of courage; this car gives you confidence, and it's easy to be quick," he says.
Robinson says the U.S. can expect 2,500 GT-Rs for 2009 model year with about 1,500 annually after that.
Edmunds tester Jaquot pegs the annual U.S. total at 3,000-5,000, if demand supports it.
"Nissan won't stake the company on this car, but they'll certainly stake their reputation on it, and they can do that. It's going to change everything."
Click here to find a Nissan for you.
OPEN DURING RENOVATIONS!!!
We have begun the renovation of our Nissan sales and service facilities!
During the construction that is expected to take about 6 months, our NISSAN NEW & USED VEHICLE SALES DEPARTMENT will be located at 3151 Automobile Blvd.
This is right next to the Nissan building that you are accustomed to finding us at. During the early part of the renovation, NISSAN SERVICE AND PARTS will be located just behind the Nissan building at 3131 Automobile Blvd.
The service and parts renovation is expected to be completed in three months. The construction will not interrupt the same quality service that we have always been committed to providing. We apologize for any inconvenience during construction. When it is completed, our new state of the art facility will enable us to serve you better!
EXCLUSIVE STIMULUS OPPORTUNITY
The MileOne Automotive organization would like to offer you an exclusive opportunity to take your refund and double it on the purchase of your next Certified Pre-Owned vehicle. MileOne, The Mid Atlantic’s Largest Auto Group, will double your Stimulus refund up to $500…that’s $1,000 off the purchase of your next Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle. SHOP OVER 2,000 VEHICLES. If you are in the market for a Pre-Owned vehicle, there has never been a better time to buy.
We have taken in a record number of quality trade-ins including single owner vehicles still under manufacturer warranty. Save with warranty’s up to 100,000 miles, financing as low as 2.9% APR, rental benefits, 3-day money back guarantee and the areas largest selection of quality pre-owned vehicles.
This exclusive opportunity is for a limited time only and will not be available to everyone. Come early to ensure a great selection of vehicles. Due to the exclusive nature of this program, please ask for a sales manager from any one of our 29 locations.
*Offer valid only towards the purchase of a pre-owned vehicle from MileOne Automotive. Match is up to $500 for a total of $1,000 with customers $500 down payment. See dealer for details. Offer expires 5/31/08.
MileOne Makes an Impact in its Community
MileOne Automotive has 63 automobile dealerships and businesses located throughout Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. focusing on customer service and repeated business, the company sells close to 50,000 vehicles per year and sees another 500,000 people in its stores for service. “Each dealership supports a wide range of community organizations through a variety of ways,” explained David Metter, Chief Marketing Officer for MileOne. “By combining our efforts under one company, we could do more for a few organizations.”
“Throughout MileOne’s 3,500 employees, breast cancer has impacted many of their lives,” he added. “Therefore, choosing the American Cancer Society seemed to be a perfect fit. Not only does this opportunity provide MileOne with a way to truly give back to the communities with which we do business, it is a charity that everyone, including the customer, relates to.” MileOne chose to support the American Cancer Society based on the Society’s commitment to research, advocacy, and patient services. So the company began its involvement by participating in community-based events such as Baltimore’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer® and Relay For Life® throughout Maryland.
MileOne is a large corporation. Yet coordinating all 63 dealerships for a special cause is a positive experience. In 2006, MileOne had over 300 walkers and raised nearly $15,000 at the Baltimore Making Strides event, making them the largest corporate team in the event’s five-year history. MileOne also donates a vehicle for a raffle to benefit local Relay For Life® events. This incentive is what allows MileOne to go above and beyond in its efforts to help fight cancer.
“Employees and customers are both loyal toward these events,” says Jerry Fader, President and Chief Operating Officer. “People have told us that they purchase their vehicles from MileOne because we support a cause that is important to them. Our employees feel good about working for this company because of our efforts toward the American Cancer Society.” MileOne is committed to giving credit to its employee’s dedication and often features employees who strive to do more within their community by participating in a variety of events in the MileOne employee newsletter. During the last three years, MileOne’s fundraising achievements have grown from $148,000 to more than $250,000 for the American Cancer Society. Through the Relay For Life car raffle and participation in Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, MileOne has raised nearly $2 million dollars to benefit cancer-fighting efforts.
Losing lottery tickets used to create HUMMER H3
by Chris Shunk
With the rise in fuel prices in recent years, the HUMMER brand has been the poster child for gas-guzzling. For some, however, the rugged vehicles represent a dream come true. The husband-wife art duo of Lauren Was and Adam Eckstrom wanted to make their own H3, and they used $35,000 in worthless lottery tickets to get the job done. The couple's work of art is called "Ghost of a Dream," and the idea behind the name is that people often dream of buying a new car when they're scratching off their tickets.
The final H3 Lottery Edition looks incredibly true to life, and it includes windshield wipers, tires, tow hooks, and all its body panels made entirely out of lottery tickets. The rims are plastic molds lined with coins that represent the principal tool people use to scratch off the tickets. Even if the final work of art doesn't end up in a major gallery any time soon, at least someone has finally found a use for all those worthless lottery losers.
Ask the Car Doctor
Top Fuel Saving Tips:
We’re accustomed to our freedom, and part of that used to mean traveling with little concern about fuel prices. But with regular gas approaching $4 per gallon, those days of fossil fuel-burning gluttony are headed for the history books. As was the case three decades ago, drivers are forced to focus on methods to improve fuel efficiency, thereby saving money at the pump.
How we drive and care for our vehicles plays a big role in upping MPG. Call it conservation on wheels – or just smart motoring – but the payoff for adhering to the following simple tenets can be substantial.
This article is designed to give drivers a handful of ideas about reducing fuel costs, including maintaining proper tire pressure and keeping speeds down. They’re basic tips appropriate for anyone who drives, though there are numerous additional ways to avoid pricey trips to your local filling station. Besides adopting the recommendations listed on the following pages, consider carpooling, driving at off-peak times to avoid heavy traffic congestion, and planning errands to maximize fuel and time efficiency.
Use the Correct
Octane
Check your owner’s manual to find what octane level is required for your car’s engine. This information may also be displayed inside the fuel door or next to the fuel gauge on the dash. If there’s no call for the premium stuff, stick with good ol’ regular.
Octane relates to gasoline’s volatility factor in the combustion chamber, and has nothing to do with performance, so pouring premium into your base Corolla is money wasted. High-performance engines, on the other hand, need higher-octane fuel because the combustion chamber environment is much hotter than normal. Using premium fuel reduces pre-ignition, which can damage valves and pistons if allowed to go for long periods of time.
Properly Inflate
Tires
Keep your tires inflated to the proper levels. Under-inflated tires may deliver a softer ride, but they also make it harder for your car to move down the road, meaning your engine works harder and uses more fuel to maintain speed. In fact, a single tire under inflated by two pounds per-square-inch (PSI) increases fuel consumption by one percent. Furthermore, under-inflated tires are subject to premature wear and tread separation, while over-inflated tires can compromise handling, among other downsides. Make sure to check your owner’s manual or the decal in your car’s door jamb for correct inflation levels, and develop a habit of checking tire pressure every time you fill up the gas tank.
Maintain Your Ride
Clogged air and fuel filters, dirty oil, and low fluid levels can affect engine performance and fuel efficiency, as can worn out spark plugs in older or high-mileage cars. Change your vehicle’s engine oil and oil filter regularly and perform routine maintenance according to the schedule outlined in your owner’s manual, but beware of dealer service packages that are unnecessary and costly. For example, it may be beneficial to request that only services outlined in the owner’s manual be performed for your 15,000-mile or 30,000-mile service. By keeping your car in top mechanical shape, it will run better, last longer, and return better fuel economy.
Make sure that your automobile is up to date on its service schedule.
Click Here to schedule a service appointment at your nearest Mile One Service Center.
The Maryland Jockey Club.
The Maryland Jockey Club was the beginning of the state's passion for horse racing. Maryland used to host the Belmont Stakes before it was moved to New York, and still proudly hosts Preakness as part of the Triple Crown.
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