A wrong Pennzoil Skyline GT-R JGTC machine and an outdated Aston Martin Vantage GTE popped up on Forza Motorsport's Update 11 as prize cars for completing the time-limited featured tours. Having won these cars, let's get to know about these two outdated racing machines.
First up is the #23 Pennzoil NISMO Skyline GT-R that I won from Update 11's Open Class Tour until the September 11, 2024 deadline.
The #23 Pennzoil NISMO Skyline GT-R was based on the R33 Skyline GT-R and competed in the 1998 All Japan GT Championship (JGTC). This was the last year of racing for the R33 before it was replaced by its R34-based successor.
The R33-based JGTC racer was driven by Erik Comas and Masami Kageyama, and featured an increased engine displacement from 2658cc to 2708cc, resulting in a regulated power output of 500PS. In the 1998 season, Comas took home the Driver's trophy.
Next up is the #97 AMR Vantage GTE that I won from the Road to Race Tour until the September 25, 2024 deadline.
Aston Martin unveiled its racing version of the new Vantage, the Vantage AMR, after launching the second-generation Vantage.
The Aston Martin Racing squad run by Prodrive sealed a 1-2 in the GTE Pro championship with four wins between the two factory cars entered in the 2019-20 season.
Aston Martin continued to support its privateer teams even though its factory effort was scaled back. In 2022, Aston Martin returned to the top spot in GTE racing.
In 2023, the final season for the Vantage AMR, no team managed to win a race with the turbocharged machine. However, ORT by TF secured second place at Le Mans and third in Spa, while the season closer in Bahrain saw a rostrum round-up, with D'Station finishing second and Northwest AMR third in Bahrain.
Let's give these two outdated racing machines, the #23 Pennzoil NISMO Skyline GT-R and the #97 AMR Vantage GTE, a chance to redeem themselves around Road Atlanta, which was recently added to this update. Roll the tapes and enjoy the show!
These two outdated racing machines, the #23 Pennzoil NISMO Skyline GT-R and the #97 AMR Vantage GTE, sure know how to perform in their natural habitat.
Let's face it. The world's gone mad these days and so has the motoring world, where three superpowers clash for supremacy. America, Europe, and Asia are all locked in for a motoring world war.
Like I said in the past, the Chevrolet Corvette, the Porsche 911, and the Nissan GT-R are the most dominant names in the world of sports cars because of their heritage, performance, and racing pedigree that made them the global superpowers feared and respected the world over.
Here in Forza Horizon 5, I am already familiar with the motoring superpowers in their current state; the C8 Corvette Z06, the GT-R NISMO, and the 992 911 GT3.
The 911 GT3, in its 992 spec, is known for its race-inspired aerodynamics, performance, and the naturally-aspirated 4.0L flat-six engine that begs to be revved. The C8 Corvette Z06, meanwhile, is the Republican's answer to the 911 GT3 because of its naturally aspirated V8 engine, C8.R-inspired dynamics, and sleek aerodynamics. Lastly, the GT-R NISMO is no doubt the king of GT-Rs. Enough said.
To unleash their true worth in performance and dynamics, the three motoring superpowers have been gathered for a summit, a Summit Assault to the top of the caldera. Let's find out which of them is the real superpower here. Roll the tape.
And now the results...
C8 Z06 - 3m.04.101s
GT-R NISMO - 3m06.386s
992 GT3 - 3m03.333s
So, the Germans have won the battle, but the war continues because the motoring superpowers will keep improving and fighting until the endgame. The more you know.
EPILOGUE
Having satisfied with the motoring superpower trio, it's time to reward themselves for all the hard work they've done.
Our 992 911 GT3 had its tensions MAXED with Little Miss Dorothy West plastered over it. I still had the old 911 992 GT3 with Sala in it but for my Dorothy-fied 911 GT3, I've tinkered it to be mated with a 6-speed gearbox. Did you know that the 992 911 GT3 is offered with the choice of either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed PDK?
For the C8 Z06, well, you can't go wrong with it with a dash of Red Flash and Sophy Hojo in it. Fast and sexy, just like the car itself.
The Nissan GT-R NISMO is no doubt one of the most formidable 4WD supercars in ages but for now, it's got Sion Todo's name all over in the spirit of Let's ¡Go! Get it? Let's i-Go! That's Sion's line.
With their respective makeovers done, the legendary trio is setting off to EventLab re-enactments of fictional racetracks from famous racing games in history. Let's roll the tapes.
What a WonderPri World, they said.
Global superpowers are forever known for changing world history with influence, be it for better or worse, and it's the same thing for the world's best sportscars. The Corvette, the 911, and the GT-R fought themselves for true world domination but in the end, it was a stalemate because other global superpowers were trying to prove their worth just like them.
Yes, the United Nations of speed and power ain't really united just like the United Nations itself, and as long as the sources of power remain, the clash for world domination will continue.
The Chevrolet Corvette, the Porsche 911, and the Nissan GT-R are the most dominant names in the world of sports cars because of their heritage, performance, and racing pedigree that made them the global superpowers feared and respected the world over.
Here in Forza Motorsport, let's get to know the three kings of the sports car realm starting with America's finest, the Corvette C8 Z06.
By using most of its know-how from the C8.R racing machine, the Corvette C8 Z06 is a track weapon capable of slithering through the road and track with its race-inspired dynamics, available Brembo carbon ceramic brakes, and the Z07 Performance Package.
Powering the C8 Z06 is a smaller but more powerful 5.5L V8 naturally aspirated engine that produces 670HP of power and while mated to a standard 8-speed AT, it does 0-60mph in 2.6 seconds.
With its naturally aspirated V8 engine, C8.R-inspired dynamics, and sleek aerodynamics, the C8 Z06 has evolved from a typical Corvette into a proper purist's sports car.
Now, let's get to know the Nissan GT-R NISMO, the ultimate version of the soon-to-be-legendary Japanese sports car that was known to be the best Heisei-era JDM sports car.
The result of Nissan's trial and error struggle to create a supercar that can compete against the world's best supercars, the GT-R NISMO, first launched in 2014, features track-honed aerodynamics akin to its GT3 racer and an improved 3.8L V6 Twin Turbo engine producing 600PS of power output, capable of lapping the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 7:08.679.
This is the 2020 Model Year GT-R and for this update, the GT-R NISMO features front fenders from the GT3 racecar, a new carbon-fiber roof, and improved dynamics.
It is said that the improved GT-R NISMO lapped Tsukuba in less than a minute.
Lastly, the Porsche 911 GT3 (992), which is the better version of the 992-spec Porsche 911.
The 992 911 GT3 is a real, no-nonsense sports car with real, no-nonsense performance drivers who can get hooked for more. Race-inspired aerodynamics aside, the 911 GT3 is powered by a 4.0L flat-6 engine that produces 510PS of power and 470Nm of torque while mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed PDK, which lets the GT3 accelerate from 0-100kph in 3.4 seconds, which is slightly quicker than the previous model.
It's got a double-wishbone front axle for the first time in a 911, a five-link rear axle, larger brakes, and extensive use of lightweight materials, among many others.
With such improvements, the new model lapped the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 6:59.927 minutes, which is an improvement from the previous GT3.
Now that we get to know about the three sports car kings, it's time to take them to the ideal playground to flex their muscles; the Yas Marina Circuit. It's been recently added to Forza Motorsport and I got the chance to bring them there, which is good timing for me because this weekend, the F1 23 season finale will be held there.
Yas Marina's changed since I let their predecessors loose in FM7 a couple of years ago. Although some of the familiar bits got changed, it's still the Yas Marina the world knows and enjoys. It's still the ideal playground for speedo boys to let their sports cars rip through the most technical corners in style.
Anyway, with the C8 Z06, GT-R NISMO, and the 992 911 GT3 gathered at what's known to be the final venue of the F1 season, it's time to settle which side of the globe is the best.
America, Europe, and Asia. Which one is the best? Let's find out with a one-lap time attack around the recently-added Yas Marina track in Forza Motorsport. Let battle commence.
And now the results...
C8 Corvette Z06 - 2m14.234s
GT-R (R35) NISMO - 2m19.394s
911 (992) GT3 - 2m20.282s
It looks like the Americans were the superior ones this time as the C8 Z06 trumps the GT-R NISMO and the 911 GT3 by a long shot in the revised Yas Marina track.
I guess the engineers behind the C8 Corvette were wise about transitioning to a mid-engine layout at the beginning and with the Z06, it's capable of tackling down the world's best, even though this isn't really its final form, if you catch my drift.
This Vette's got guts and it managed to show the world it's capable of taking all comers in the same way its C8.R equivalent crushed the final LMGTE AM Class title in style. GT3, here we go.
Let's get to know about the legendary cars that are hard to get in Gran Turismo 7's Legend Cars not only because of their extreme rarity that appears once in a blue moon but also their outrageous price tag that takes almost forever to save one. Today, let's get to know about the NISMO 400R, an R33 Skyline GT-R with extreme performance, an outrageous price tag, and a legendary rarity to sum it up.
Based on the Nissan Skyline GT-R R33 model, the NISMO 400R is the extreme R33 built at the time Japanese carmakers limited their production sports cars to the 280PS power output limit. Built by NISMO in the hopes of producing the most extreme version of the Skyline GT-R, the 400R is powered by a 2.8L RBX-GT2 turbocharged engine, a more potent version of the legendary RB26DETT engine, producing a titular 400PS of power output. It even comes with a twin-plate clutch, carbon fiber propeller shaft, Bilstein dampers, front and rear stabilizers, and reinforced bushings for improved dynamics compared to the normal R33 Skyline GT-R. With only 44 of these made, each costing an ultra-expensive 12 million Yen, it is no doubt the most expensive Japanese car of its time.
Let's drive the NISMO 400R around the Goodwood track to see if this extreme R33 is the stuff of legends.
It did it in 1m27.738s.
For an R33 Skyline GT-R with extreme performance, an outrageous price tag, and a legendary rarity to sum it up, the 400R is no doubt the legendary Japanese sports car worth hunting for.
What other hard-to-get legendary cars should I drive next? Stay tuned for more.
The movie adaptation of Gran Turismo is hitting theaters this month and the producers had a special gift for all Gran Turismo 7 players; a 2018 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 donned in the same livery as the one Jann Mardenborough used in the movie, which is based on real events.
Based on a true story, the Gran Turismo movie stars Archie Madekwe as Jann Mardenborough, a gamer whose life changed when he gained the biggest break in his life; becoming a racing driver. It also stars David Harbour and Orlando Bloom, among many others, and it's directed by Neill Blomkamp.
The #23 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 is the one Jann drove in the upcoming movie. In the real world, this is the 2018MY Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3, a racing spec version of the GT-R R35 made in compliance with FIA GT3 regulations. While it carries over the racing mechanicals as the GT-R GT3 predecessors, the 2018 model year features a dry sump oil system that allows the powerplant to sit lower by 5.9 inches for a better center of gravity. It has improved weight distribution, repositioned cooling systems, improved body stability, stiffer front body rigidity, and an improved racing suspension system.
Players who booted up the GT7 game following the recent patch can obtain Jann Mardenborough's #23 GT-R NISMO GT3 by selecting the Gran Turismo movie banner. After watching the movie trailer, you'll receive the car free of charge.
There's also an online time trial as well where you can drive the said hero car at the Red Bull Ring, one of the racetracks you'll see in the movie. A total of 3,250,000 credits can be won if you hit the ultra-difficult Gold target time. The collaboration ends on 9/27/2023 at 2359 UTC.
Having obtained the hero car from the Gran Turismo movie, the question is, what should I do with it now that I'm expressing so much hype for this movie. With that, let's drive Jann's GT-R NISMO GT3 on the racetrack that he said in the movie that he raced this track a thousand times in the game.
Let's take the GT-R NISMO GT3, donned in GT movie livery, at the Le Mans 24-hour track, just to get the thrilling experience of what's like to be in Jann Mardenborough's racing shoes. Send in the tape.
I managed to set a 4m11.118s lap time around the Le Mans 24-hour track in the GT-R NISMO GT3 that was driven by the movie's main character. Although not as quick as what he'll do in the movie, I strongly believe that the hype is real and I'm willing to watch the Gran Turismo movie at my heart's desire.
The Gran Turismo movie hits theaters this August 25th. If you're preparing for the movie, this would be your chance to add the GT-R NISMO GT3, donned in GT movie livery, to your car collection at no expense for a limited time. If you've enjoyed the game most of the time, I hope you'll enjoy the Gran Turismo movie as well. If Jann can make it to the top, anyone can.
The Nissan GT-R continues to age in its half-decade tenure but there's no sign of slowing things down even in the midst of the new normal as the 2024 model year showcased the peak of Japan's motoring superpower.
2024 Nissan GT-R
2024 Nissan GT-R interior
Priced at 13,750,000 Japanese Yen plus additional costs, the Nissan GT-R R35 has gained another minor change for the 2024 model year, and this latest minor change showcased the prime of its legendary tenure since its 2007 launch.
Beginning with the exterior design, the front view ditched the previous facelift's V-motion grille in favor of a much smaller front grille as well as a boxy air intake to give the latest facelift a sharper presence in its fit of peak. It also sports new foglamps that are shaped like the Arena logo, similar to the ones found on the current Toyota Noah and the Kia K8. At the back, it gained a revised rear bumper as well.
The interior is pretty much the same as the previous facelift so there's not much of a surprise behind the wheel.
2024 Nissan GT-R NISMO
The engine specs remained the same. In the normal GT-R, the VR38DETT 3.8L Twin Turbo V6 engine produces 570PS of power and 637Nm of torque while mated to a 6-speed double-clutch gearbox. Fuel economy is still 7.8km/L.
In what was known to be the "King of GT-Rs", the GT-R NISMO, meanwhile, the same engine, upgraded by NISMO, produces 600PS of power.
The dynamics have been slightly improved for the recent facelift with the normal GT-R features improved downforce, cooling, and drag reduction while the NISMO version benefits from its racy dynamics from its motorsport knowhow while gaining a new front LSD to improve its handling ability, not to mention the extensive use of carbon-fiber materials.
The NISMO version gets even better with the Special Edition packed with a carbon fiber bonnet and 20-inch RAYS wheels to slightly enhance its dynamics. Either way, they're still standard-issue to drive on the road and track.
The Nissan GT-R has reached the peak of its tenure and with this latest minor change, it's a clear sign that says "It ain't over until it's really over". That's it and that's all.
This is the big score and whether you're on the subtle GT-R or the obvious GT-R NISMO, this could be your last chance to wield Japan's motoring superpower in the midst of the new normal.
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