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The majority of convertibles, especially the hard-top variants, are show-stoppers in one or more ways and you'll often see people stopped dead in their tracks admiring the engineering behind these vehicles.

Despite sporting a rather awkwardly styled rear quarter, the three-piece aluminum roof on the new Lexus IS 250C is still expected to attract plenty of attention when in action, especially when the luxury car maker has laid claim to the mantle of the world's fastest folding hard-top roof. In just a mere 20 seconds, the coupe is transformed into a convertible to deliver exhilarating open-air driving with the safety and comfort of a hard-top roof when required.

Australian sales have yet to be confirmed but when it is, don't expect to see the IS 250C before the third-quarter of 2009. Fortunately, you won't have to wait that long to see the folding mechanism of the IS 250C in action with the release of this new promotional video clip.

The latest Lexus model will take on BMW's 3 Series convertible range which also happens to feature a folding hard top of its very own. Now the question that begs to be asked is will Mercedes-Benz introduce a new hard-top roof for the new generation CLK-class?

Read more about the Lexus IS 250C here.

[Video Source: PaulTan.org]

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Posted By: charles - Category: Japanese cars, Videos, Wallpapers, Lexus, Convertibles, Coupes

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Australian prices and specs: Nissan GT-R due in April 2009

October 3rd 2008 04:45

There's just six months to go...! Till what? Just six months to go until the venerable Nissan GT-R aka 'Godzilla' officially arrives on Australian shores!

Nissan Australia has announced that they will begin pre-selling the GT-R at the upcoming Australian International Motor Show which begins on October 9 with first local deliveries of the "everyday supercar" beginning in April 2009.

Prices start from $148,800 for the GT-R and up to $152,800 for the GT-R Premium grade model. Buyers of the premium grade model will get smoke/grey forged 20-inch aluminium wheels, Nitrogen-filled Bridgestone Potenza run-flat tyres, (over the standard model’s Dunlop SP Sport), a BOSE audio with 11 speakers and a 30 GB hard drive; and front black leather sports seats with red Alcantara inserts.

Just 11 dealers around Australia, dubbed Nissan High Performance Centres, have been certified to work on the GT-R and the only places where they will be exclusively available. This involves dedicated GT-R sales and service staff plus installing specific technical service monitors to communicate with the GT-R “black-box” data recorder and stocking nitrogen to maintain tyres. These dealers have been spread strategically around the country to maximise service delivery and they are located at:

NSW: Campbelltown, Brookvale
VIC: Ferntree Gully, Werribee
SA: Nailsworth
WA: Melville, Wangara
QLD: Moorooka, Southport, Mackay
TAS: Hobart

Nissan Australia Managing Director, Dan Thompson said: “We are proud and excited to see the GT-R back in Australian showrooms. It is a powerful tonic for the Nissan brand and underlines our outstanding record as an authentic sports car and performance car manufacturer.”

The Official Nissan Press Release:

RETURN OF A LEGEND: ALL CONQUERING NISSAN GT-R ON SALE NEXT APRIL

Australia’s longest automotive wait is almost over.

The legendary Nissan that conquered Bathurst and the Nurburgring and the car so many Nissan fans have been anticipating, returns next April and will be available at a select group of 11 accredited “Nissan High Performance Centre” dealers.
The new Nissan GT-R supercar will be on show in Sydney for the first time when it takes centre stage at the 2008 Australian International Motor Show. Nissan will begin a pre-sell program and take orders from the first day of the show, October 9.

The GT-R will be available here in two grades – GT-R and GT-R Premium. The GT-R is priced at $148,800 and the Premium grade model at $152,800. There will be a choice of six colours, Super Silver, Vibrant Red, Gun Metallic, Black Obsidian, Titanium, and Ivory Pearl.

The supercar will feature true luxury performance equipment including a driver configurable Multi-Function Meter which can display lateral G-forces plus acceleration and braking performance among 11 data screens available.

Premium grade adds smoke/grey forged 20-inch aluminium wheels, Nitrogen-filled Bridgestone Potenza run-flat tyres, (over the standard model’s Dunlop SP Sport), a BOSE audio with 11 speakers and a 30 gigabyte hard drive; and front black leather sports seats with red Alcantara inserts.

The Nissan High Performance Centres, where the GT-R will be exclusively available, are spread strategically around the country to maximize service delivery.
They are located at:

NSW Campbelltown, Brookvale
VIC Ferntree Gully, Werribee
SA Nailsworth
WA Melville, Wangara
QLD Moorooka, Southport, Mackay
TAS Hobart

Each of the 11 dealers had to meet exacting standards including the allocation of dedicated GT-R sales and service staff: installing specific technical service monitors to communicate with the GT-R “black-box” data recorder and stocking nitrogen to maintain tyres.

World’s First Independent AWD System
The GT-R is powered by a hand-built twin-turbo VR38DETT 3.8-litre V6 engine delivering a mighty 353kW and 588Nm across a wide mid-range expanse from 3,200rpm to 5,200rpm. It also introduces the world’s first independent rear transaxle all-wheel drive system. The GR6 sequential six-speed has paddle shift control for the dual clutch rear transaxle, while drive to the wheels is via the electronically-controlled ATTESA E-TS all-wheel-drive system.

Brembo Sports brakes are fitted all round, with six pistons in the front callipers and four at the rear. There are full-floating drilled rotors clamped by low steel high stiffness brake pads.

A Bilstein DampTronic suspension control system gives three selectable settings: Circuit, Normal and Comfort. The 20-inch front wheels are shod with 255/40ZF 20 tyres while the rears are fitted with 285/35ZF 20s, with all tyre pressures monitored electronically. An advanced hybrid body construction melds steel, die-cast aluminium and carbon fibre for strength, lightness and durability. The GT-R has a super low coefficient of drag of 0.27, while achieving high front and rear downforce.

The production Nissan GT-R has already won its spurs on the track with GT-R chief test driver Tochio Suzuki cracking the seven minutes 30 seconds barrier at the famed Nurburgring track earlier this year.
The car he drove was a standard specification model, fitted with standard Japanese
market tyres. Suzuki’s lap time beat his previous fastest time for the GT-R by an amazing nine seconds, recorded in damp conditions.

By achieving a sub seven minutes 30 second lap time, the GT-R has proved it is
arguably the fastest mass-production car in the world. Nissan set out to build a multiperformance supercar accessible to anyone, anytime and anywhere – and the GT-R delivered that promise.

Comprehensive Equipment
Specification is comprehensive, as is to be expected from a vehicle of this standing. All models have a rear wing and carbon fibre rear diffuser, and a dark grey front grille. The standard equipment list features leather-wrapped sports steering wheel, adjustable steering column, high-back driver’s sports seats, with six-way power adjustment for the driver and four-way power adjustment for passenger. Front seats are heated and there are aluminium interior trim accents.
An intelligent key system allows access to the car and integrates with the push-button for engine start and stop.

The Premium model adds black forged 20-inch aluminium wheels, Nitrogen-filled
Bridgestone Potenza Run-Flat tyres, BOSE audio system and front black leather sports seats with red leather inserts.
Safety equipment includes ABS with EBD, dual front, side and curtain airbags, while the sports-oriented dynamic stability system, VDC-R, is adjustable through Circuit, Normal and Off settings, selectable by the driver to suit prevailing conditions.

Nissan Australia expects local sales of the GT-R to reach around 200 units in its first year.

Nissan Australia Managing Director, Dan Thompson said, “We are proud and excited to see the GT-R back in Australian showrooms. It is a powerful tonic for the Nissan brand and underlines our outstanding record as an authentic sports car and performance car manufacturer.”

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Posted By: charles - Category: Japanese cars, Pictures, Nissan, Coupes, High Performance cars, Australian International Motor Show AIMS

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WALD International dresses up the Nissan GT-R

September 2nd 2008 00:15

WALD International, a premier Japanese tuning company and bodykit developers in VIP-style, has temporarily directed their attention away from blinging out luxury European marques to try their hand at dressing up a homegrown supercar - the Nissan GT-R

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Posted By: charles - Category: Japanese cars, Pictures, Nissan, Coupes, High Performance cars

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Nismo's Club Sports Package for Nissan GT-R

September 1st 2008 05:45

While Nismo have appeared to be taking a back seat when all the major aftermarket tuning workshops have been working overtime to deliver performance boosting products for the new R35 GT-R, the release of a new 'Club Sports Package' by Nissan's in-house tuner proves they haven't been as slack as we first thought

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Posted By: charles - Category: Accessories, Japanese cars, Nissan, Coupes, High Performance cars

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The Stig takes the Nissan GT-R around Top Gear test track

July 22nd 2008 22:25

Sure, the Nissan GT-R's Nurburgring lap-time is impressive, but funnily enough, the lap time that everyone's been waiting for is how fast the Godzilla can lap around the Top Gear test track with 'tame racing driver', the Stig, behind the wheel

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Posted By: charles - Category: Japanese cars, Videos, Nissan, Coupes, High Performance cars

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Top Gear: GT-R vs Shinkansen Bullet Train video

July 15th 2008 11:15

In the latest episode of Top Gear - arguably the world's most popular motoring show - Jeremy Clarkson hops into the venerable Nissan GT-R for the first time and he does so on Japanese soil

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Posted By: charles - Category: Japanese cars, Videos, Nissan, Coupes, High Performance cars

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Nissan 'Race Academy' for GT-R customers

June 20th 2008 11:15

In what could be a sign of things to come for local buyers of the Nissan GT-R, Japanese car maker Nissan has launched what they call a ‘Race Academy’ for customers who have pre-ordered the Godzilla. In the UK for instance, customers will be offered the opportunity to participate in Race Academy events at either the Silverstone F1 circuit or at the Nürburgring race track in Germany

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Posted By: charles - Category: Japanese cars, Pictures, Nissan, Coupes, High Performance cars

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Video: Nissan GT-R does Nurburgring in 7:29

June 2nd 2008 11:15

When it was first reported that a stock Nissan GT-R had done a revised time of just 7 min 29 seconds at the famous Nurburgring, some people were left privately thinking if it was possible at all

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Posted By: charles - Category: Japanese cars, Videos, Nissan, Coupes, High Performance cars

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Honda Civic Type R Wins Design Excellence Award

May 5th 2008 23:59

The Honda Civic Type R 'hot-hatch' has won the prestigious Automotive Design Award and best interior category from Wheels' magazine, one of Australia's premier motoring publications

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Posted By: charles - Category: Japanese cars, Wallpapers, Honda, Coupes, Sports cars

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VIdeo: Nissan GT-R hits 311km/h

May 2nd 2008 23:59

In this latest video of the Nissan GT-R, Kazunori Yamauchi of Gran Turismo fame pilots the most talked about high-performance car around a damp Nurburgring and hitting a top speed of 311 km/h in the process

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Posted By: charles - Category: Japanese cars, Videos, Wallpapers, Nissan, Coupes, High Performance cars

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Nissan GT-R cracks 7min 30sec barrier at Nurburgring

May 2nd 2008 11:15

The all-new Nissan GT-R - affectionately known here as the 'Godzilla' - has cracked the 7min 30sec mark at the famous Nurburgring circuit in Germany with a blistering time of 7min and 29seconds

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Posted By: charles - Category: General motoring news for the Enthusiast, Japanese cars, Wallpapers, Nissan, Coupes, High Performance cars

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Nissan 370Z teaser image

May 1st 2008 11:15

Japanese car maker Nissan has released a batch of teaser images to show off what could potentially be the replacement for the popular 350Z coupe and roadster

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Posted By: charles - Category: Japanese cars, Pictures, Nissan, Coupes, Sports cars

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Jay Leno's garage - Nissan GT-R

April 30th 2008 23:59

There are ordinary car nuts/enthusiasts/aficionados and there are also car nuts out there that are rich enough to indulge in this expensive hobby...and then there's Jay Leno

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Posted By: charles - Category: Japanese cars, Pictures, Videos, Nissan, Coupes, High Performance cars

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