Pimp your G - Impul releases its V36 body kit
Do you think your new G37 coupe could do with a bit of sprucing up? Then check out Impul's latest body kit offering.
The front and rear half-bumpers look sporty yet still retain a touch of class, while the rear trunk lip spoiler gets rid of the G37's weird chrome lip. The whole package (including a set of matching side skirts) costs JPY 280,000, and that's before you factor in freight from Japan. It's not cheap, but it certainly looks good.
If you're looking for more go for your G, Impul's got you covered there as well. Their remapped ECU for the G37's VQ37VHR engine is available but there's no guarantee it'll work on our U.S.-spec engines. Impul also has a cat-back exhaust system available for the G37, but you really don't want to know the price of that one. Their mammoth 370mm, six-piston front and 332mm, four-piston rear brake kit is also extortionately expensive (JPY 798,000), but at least you know it'll stop you in time.
HKS Kansai releases Evo X upgrades
HKS Kansai has been busy working on the CZ4A Evolution X since its release late last year and they've finally announced the release of the all-new upgrades for the X.
The majority of the parts are cosmetic, with an attractive front and rear bumper forming the basis for the exterior mods. Inside there are lowered seat rails to bring you closer to the road, and there's also a set of HKS-branded floor mats available, if you're into that sort of thing.
In the engine compartment HKS has developed a carbon-fiber intake duct, solid intake pipe, and a free-flowing turbo-back exhaust system. When used in conjunction with an HKS EVC boost controller and a Kansai-spec F-CON iS piggyback fuel and ignition controller, the whole package is capable of extracting 376 hp from the Evo's 4B11 motor.
Check out www.hkskansai.co.jp for pricing and other information.
The R35 GT-R dominates at the GT500 season opener
The R35 GT-R dominates at the GT500 season opener. Nissan's Super GT R35 GT-R made its racing debut at Suzuka in March, and if first impressions last then the GT500 GT-R will have scored many more wins by the time you read this.
At its inaugural outing, the R35 snared both First and Second Place with the Xanavi Nismo GT-R, driven by Satoshi Motoyama and Benot Trluyer, coming in First ahead of the Motul Autech GT-R, driven by Michael Krumm and Masataka Yanagida. The Toms Lexus SC430 came in Third Place, a distant 25.5 seconds after the Motul R35.
GT-R purists will no doubt point out that the GT500 R35s aren't really "proper" GT-Rs: Super GT rules prohibit the use of all-wheel drive so the GT500 cars are all rear-wheel drive. Nissan also elected to keep the tried-and-true VK45-based, naturally aspirated V-8 in service in the Super GT GT-Rs so there's even more to differentiate the racers from the road-going cars. Still, the effectiveness of the entire package is without question, and at the end of the day it's race wins that help sell cars-not that we think Nissan will need any help selling the GT-R.
Track-day terror: NISMO announcespricing for the 380RS-Competition
Is a regular 350Z not enough for you? Is the NISMO version still a bit limp-wristed for what you've got in mind? Well, perhaps you might like to consider the Japan-only NISMO 380RS-Competition.
Boasting 400 metric hp from its bored and stroked VQ35VHR, and a close-ratio, six-speed transmission, the lightweight (1,260 kg) 380RS-C is designed to be nothing other than a track-only proposition. A peek inside reinforces this point: There's only one Recaro bucket for the driver because the rest of the interior is occupied by a comprehensive rollcage, fire extinguisher, and racing harness.
Everything is race spec, and so it should be-the 380RS-C is designed to comply with the rules and regulations of Japan's Super Taikyu series, so you know it will last the distance. Unfortunately, all of this race-bred engineering comes with a hefty price tag, and at JPY 28,350,000 it's a ton of money to pay for something that doesn't even come with wheels-NISMO expects you to provide your own.