Welcome to the Hooniverse News! As always, this is a weekly recap of some of the biggest stories in the automotive industry without the fluff or bull. There’s also just a little opinion of mine because I can. This week:
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Nissan unveils 2018 GT-R Nismo GT3 for customer racing teams
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Acura confirms all-new RDX keeps the same price as before
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The Viper is rumored to return by 2021 sans V10
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Matt LeBlanc is leaving Top Gear after this season
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Recaro offers gorgeous new limited edition houndstooth seat
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What’s your automotive news?
2018 Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3
I’ve got good news for the Hooniverse readers who also happen to own a sports car racing team in Japan, Europe, America, China, or Australia. You can finally trade in the ancient 2015-spec Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 to the new and improved 2018-spec GT3 car! It’s fully compliant with FIA GT3 regulations and is made fresh to order (and never frozen) starting January 2019.
The GT3 car is meant to reflect the many changes the road car has seen the last few years and was further developed using race data they’ve accumulated since the 2015 model hit the track. They claim to have made a GT-R GT3 that can fully exploit all of the platform’s strengths on any circuit and with any brand of tire.
Here are the key areas that have seen improvement (which they’re willing to talk about):
- Lowered center of gravity and optimized weight distribution by mounting the engine 150mm further back and down
- Improved dynamics through newly designed front and rear independent double wishbone suspension
- Optimized balance between stable downforce characteristics and drag
- Front and rear rigidity (flexural, torsional) improvements and enhanced linearity by utilizing advanced analysis technology
- Dry sump system implementation for lowered center of gravity and lubrication reliability
- Extended maintenance cycle through a newly designed transmission
- Strengthened brakes with increased durability and reliability
- An exclusively designed air conditioning system to reduce driver stress and ensure comfort during endurance races, etc. available as an option.
Per GT3 regulations, the road car’s 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 is beefed up as much as is allowed and can produce up to 542 horsepower (before BOP). That power is sent through a six-speed sequential and channeled to the back wheels only.
The car has been in development since April of last year and the car has already competed with official partner teams. It has logged over 18,000 competition miles. They say it offers significant reliability and is easier to handle for both professionals and gentleman drivers.
Pricing for 2018-spec GT-R GT3 starts at $550,000. Privateers wishing to race the latest and greatest GT-R have to wait until next season.
[Source: Nissan]
2019 Acura RDX Priced at $37,300
Acura’s all-new RDX goes on sale at dealerships today at a starting price which undercuts its main European competitors. $37,300 plus destination gets you an RDX that has gone through the “most extensive Acura product redesign in a decade”. Basically, it sports a redesign that will set the trend going forward for the rest of their lineup, gains some interior space, comes with more available and standard features, a new infotainment system, and a new A-Spec sport appearance package.
The new RDX is powered by a direct injected and turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with VTEC (yo) producing 272 horsepower and 280 lb.-ft. of torque. That’s mated with the segment’s only ten-speed automatic transmission which sends power to the front wheels by default or through the new-to-the-RDX Super Handling All Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) as a $2,000 option. EPA fuel economy ratings vary by options and how many wheels are driven, but at its most efficient it gets 22 mpg city and 28 mpg highway.
Fun fact: the RDX has been built in Ohio for a while now, but this is the first RDX to be designed and engineered in America as well. Go us.
[Source: Acura]
Dodge Viper Rumored to Return by 2021
Hey guys remember the Dodge SRT Dodge Viper? According to Car and Driver it’s coming back by 2021 but with a V8 instead of the thunderous V10 we’re used to. They couldn’t list sources, but they said “trust us: a new Viper is happening” and I can’t argue with that.
[Source: Car and Driver]
Matt LeBlanc to leave Top Gear
In not purely automotive but still relevant to the industry news, Yesterday the BBC announced that Matt LeBlanc (the one from Friends) is leaving his role as lead presenter for Top Gear after this upcoming season is finished. There’s no juicy drama or infighting to speak of, but it’s more of a retirement than anything it seems.
LeBlanc said that despite Top Gear being “great fun”, the “time commitment and extensive travel… takes me away from my family and friends more than I’m comfortable with. It’s unfortunate, but for these reasons I will not be continuing my involvement with the show. I will forever be a Top Gear fan and I wish the team continued success. Thanks for a great drive.”
Presumably, co-presenters Chris Harris and Rory Reid will stick with the program. The show has become exceptional with these three and it will certainly lose something great when he leaves. Of course the question on everyone’s mind is who – if anyone – will replace him as lead presenter. I nominate our very own Kamil just because it’d be really funny.
[Source: BBC]
Recaro offering limited Expert Houndstooth seat
Recaro has announced a limited-edition sports bucket seat that is just begging to be put in something old and German. It sports retro houndstooth upholstery and classic looks but is a fully modernized seat which provides proper ergonomics and comfort. It features an adjustable headrest, adjustable side bolsters at the backrest, and dual manual backrest releases for optimal body support plus a flat seat cushion for easy access. Only 100 of these are being made and they’re only sold in pairs. So if you see one of these at the next Porsche meet, make friends with the guy.
[Source: Recaro]
What’s your automotive news?
That’s all I’ve got for you this week, so now it’s your turn. If you saw anything, fixed something, broke everything, or otherwise did anything even remotely car related that you want to share with your fellow hoon, sound off in the comments.
Have a good weekend.
[Image © 2018 Hooniverse/Greg Kachadurian]
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