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  • That is not a problem if you are rich. However, the majority of us are not rich, which means that a fast Juke is out of our reach. Until now with the introduction of the Nissan Juke Nismo.
    DOCUMENTED: 28.01.2013 | 08:04 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Nissan Puts More 'Go' Into The Juke

    Nismo, Nissan’s tuning arm, squeezes more style and power out of the funky Juke.

    The Nissan Juke is a love-it or hate-it car. Some people loathe the look and felt Nissan tried too hard to make it look ‘hip’ ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Nissan, Juke, Nismo
    • That is not a problem if you are rich. However, the majority of us are not rich, which means that a fast Juke is out of our reach. Until now with the introduction of the Nissan Juke Nismo.
    • Visually, the Juke Nismo sports a redesigned front fascia- a more angular front bumper with sleeker foglamps decorate the front. The car also features Juke-R inspired over-fenders to accommodate the larger wheels. The rear received a new diffuser with a Formula 1-inspired 3rd brake light(except it isn’t; it’s too low). New wheels and lowered suspension complete the car’s new look.
    • Powerwise, the car has 197bhp, 9 up from the 188bhp of the standard Juke. Coupled to the modified engine is a choice of either a front-wheel drive with a six-speed manual transmission or all-wheel drive with a continuously variable transmission. No word on the century sprint time as of yet, but we will keep you informed.
  • DOCUMENTED: 09.01.2013 | 07:59 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    2014 Nissan GT-R Engines Get Enhanced

    As if it needs more power and 'improved throttle and acceleration feel' - the Nissan GT-R still gets it anyway. That, and an aluminum nameplate with the name of the engine constructor.

    Based on the already improved engine with better intake efficiency, reduced airflow resistance and improved exhaust emissions efficiency, ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Nissan, GT-R, Turbo, GTR, New, 2014
  • From the rear, the new Tiguan immediately looks more 'manly' with the new tail-lamps. The curvy ones have made way for a simpler, but better design that feature VW's signature L-shape LEDs.
    DOCUMENTED: 03.11.2011 | 06:04 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    King Of The Hill | Volkswagen Tiguan Sport 2.0 TSI

    Back in the 90's, the Subaru Forester was an SUV that stood out from the rest. Grippy, fast and sweet to drive, it was the best sporty SUV out there. Now though, there's a new king of the hill...

    Photos: Joel Tam It's about time. Buyers looking for a mid-range sports SUV for past few years had very few convincing options. ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Volkswagen, VW, Tiguan, 2.0, TFSI, TSI, DSG, SUV, Sport
    • From the rear, the new Tiguan immediately looks more 'manly' with the new tail-lamps. The curvy ones have made way for a simpler, but better design that feature VW's signature L-shape LEDs.
    • The front bears the most changes with a set of cool LED day-time running lights. The new face has Volkswagen's latest design DNA grafted to it. This works particularly well because the car already has strong horizontal lines, to me, this is what the Tiguan should have looked like in the first place.
    • Those familiar with the previous model will feel right at home inside the new Tiguan. Aside from the shinier plastics, updated steering wheel and new DSG gear lever, the rest is pretty much the same.
  • Built on the V-platform, which is designed to deliver excellent fuel efficiency through a light and rigid body that uses fewer components and weighs around 68kg less than the previous B-platform which was used in the Latio. This new sedan is the second product based on this platform, following the Nissan March.
    DOCUMENTED: 21.10.2011 | 15:21 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    The New Nissan Almera Launched In Singapore

    The newcomer in the entry level sedan segment has a few aces up its sleeves.

    The new car was first unveiled in China, as the Sunny. Slated to be sold in 170 countries worldwide under different vehicle brand names, ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Nissan, Almera, HR15DE
    • Built on the V-platform, which is designed to deliver excellent fuel efficiency through a light and rigid body that uses fewer components and weighs around 68kg less than the previous B-platform which was used in the Latio. This new sedan is the second product based on this platform, following the Nissan March.
    • Replacing the Latio locally, the new car features a sleeker body - the front end blends smoothly into the cabin, with design elements such as the shape of the boot lid helps to achieve a low coefficient drag of just 0.31.
    • Power comes from the 1.5L aluminium HR15DE engine. It's slightly less powerful than the Latio (109 ps vs 99 ps and 148 Nm vs 134 Nm), but it boasts a fuel consumption figure of 6.9L/100km.
  • All in all, the Maximus Racing GT-R is still a car you don't want to mess with. We've been promised to be kept in the loop for future enhancements. We will in turn update you, our readers, when that time comes.
    DOCUMENTED: 31.08.2011 | 13:02 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Subtle Aggression | Maximus Racing's Nissan GT-R

    No huge wings. No ground scraping body kit. Despite an understated facade, Maximus Racing's GT-R still reeks of pure aggression. That's just the way we like it.

    Photos: Low Fai Ming This being the first GT-R to grace the pages of Burnpavement.com, there was a bit of pressure to make sure we d ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Maximus Racing, Nissan GT-R, R35, Alcon, Amuse, Mine's
    • All in all, the Maximus Racing GT-R is still a car you don't want to mess with. We've been promised to be kept in the loop for future enhancements. We will in turn update you, our readers, when that time comes.
    • Nordring Circuit aero front lower lip with front brake cooling ducts, matched with Nordring Circuit aero side spoilers with rear brake cooling ducts.
    • Nordring rear vented bumper houses an AMUSE R1 full titanium cat-back exhaust system.
  • The 79th 24 Heures du Mans, or widely known as the 24 hours of Le Mans has been one of the most drama filled races in recent memory. Audi's McNish and Rockenfeller were involved in two separate crashes that reduced their Audi R18 TDI cars to pieces. McNish went out in the first hour after coming into contact with a slower Ferrari, skidding across the gravel trap and slamming hard into the barriers, showering journalists and track crew with fragments of the car.
    DOCUMENTED: 14.06.2011 | 16:18 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Audi's 10th Win At The 24 Heures Du Mans

    Audi won the gruelling race for the 10th time on Sunday with Andre Lotterer taking the chequered flag in the German manufacturer's R18 TDI car.

    Photos: Rolex / Jad Sherif, Audi and Peugeot. Audi crossed the line with a thin lead over four Peugeots from Team Peugeot Total, Peug ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : 24, Heures, Du, Mans, Le, Mans
    • The 79th 24 Heures du Mans, or widely known as the 24 hours of Le Mans has been one of the most drama filled races in recent memory. Audi's McNish and Rockenfeller were involved in two separate crashes that reduced their Audi R18 TDI cars to pieces. McNish went out in the first hour after coming into contact with a slower Ferrari, skidding across the gravel trap and slamming hard into the barriers, showering journalists and track crew with fragments of the car.
    • Rockenfeller in the No. 1 R18 TDI hit another Ferrari at nearly full speed on the stretch leading to Indianapolis eight hours into the race. Thankfully, Allan McNish and Mike Rockenfeller were reported to be in good shape after the two incidents. With two cars out of the team, Audi had to face the barrage of Peugeots that kept piling on pressure throughout the race.
    • It also was a race filled with breakdowns. Out of the 56 cars that started, only 27 made it to the finish line, with 29 retiring from various faults. It was also a race filled with questionable racing tactics, with Gene in the Peugeot trying to stop the leading Audi from lapping him and Lotterer responding with a swift swerve into Gene's path.
  • 26,000 spectators flocked to Silverstone to watch the Round 5 action, which saw Michael Krumm and Lucas Luhr claim a trio of accolades for JRM Nissan – victory in the Championship Race, the Tourist Trophy and the lead in the current Drivers’ Standings. Round 6 of the FIA GT1 World Championship will take place at Navarra in Spain on the 1 to 3 July 2011.
    DOCUMENTED: 13.06.2011 | 06:53 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    2011 FIA GT1 Round 5 - Silverstone

    JRM Nissan takes the Tourist Trophy home in Silverstone thriller!

    Photos: SRO Media JRM Nissan claimed the Tourist Trophy with a thrilling victory in the Championship Race at Silverstone. Less than h ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : FIA GT, GT1, Silverstone
    • 26,000 spectators flocked to Silverstone to watch the Round 5 action, which saw Michael Krumm and Lucas Luhr claim a trio of accolades for JRM Nissan – victory in the Championship Race, the Tourist Trophy and the lead in the current Drivers’ Standings. Round 6 of the FIA GT1 World Championship will take place at Navarra in Spain on the 1 to 3 July 2011.
    • After a clean start, the race hinged around a crucial period at the halfway stage when a Safety Car period coincided with the opening of the pit lane. Richard Westbrook in the No. 22 JRM Nissan GT-R had been working his way through the field, but made contact with Stefan Mücke in the No. 8 Young Driver Aston Martin. As the pair recovered with damaged cars, Mücke chased Westbrook down and the pair made contact again, putting both cars into retirement.
    • Prior to the incident, which brought out the Safety Car, Luhr and Krumm was trailing in second place, behind the leading Young Driver Aston Martin of Enge and Müller, but they soon jumped into the lead during the pit stop window. Müller twice sought to find a way back through, passing Luhr on the restart and on the final lap, but on both occasions Luhr was able to reclaim the lead immediately, hanging on to take a hard-earned win.
  • Toshiki Yoshioka found the podium again after a one year hiatus and placed in third beating John Russakoff in the consolation round. The finals pitted Falken Tire teammates Daijiro Yoshihara and Darren McNamara. With consistent driving Yoshihara again found the podium this season and won his second consecutive victory at Road Atlanta. With this victory Yoshihara moves into first place overall in the Pro Championship standings and takes the lead in the chase for the Tires.com Triple Crown.
    DOCUMENTED: 18.05.2011 | 06:23 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Formula DRIFT 2011 Round 2

    Daijiro Yoshihara takes the victory and lead in the point standings.

    Photos: J.Martinez and John Pangilinan Daijiro Yoshihara in the Discount Tire/Falken Tire Nissan S13 takes the victory and leads the ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : FD, Formula Drift, Drifting
    • Toshiki Yoshioka found the podium again after a one year hiatus and placed in third beating John Russakoff in the consolation round. The finals pitted Falken Tire teammates Daijiro Yoshihara and Darren McNamara. With consistent driving Yoshihara again found the podium this season and won his second consecutive victory at Road Atlanta. With this victory Yoshihara moves into first place overall in the Pro Championship standings and takes the lead in the chase for the Tires.com Triple Crown.
    • The 2011 Pro Championship season continues for the first time in Florida for Round 3: Invasion at Palm Beach International Raceway on June 3-4.
  • DOCUMENTED: 16.05.2011 | 09:57 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Formula DRIFT 2011 Round 1

    Round 1: Streets of Long Beach provided fans with action and excitement through the weekend. The debut of new vehicles and new drivers added to the anticipation for the new season.

    Photos: J.Martinez and John Pangilinan Justin Pawlak in the Falken Tire Ford Mustang earns the victory at the first event of the 2011 ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : FD, Formula Drift, Drifting
    • Justin Pawlak finds the top of the podium for the very first time in his career. Pawlak remained consistent through the rounds advancing to the Finals against Matt Powers. His consistency paid off and Pawlak was able to secure the victory. The consolation round pitted Daijiro Yoshihara in the Discount Tire/Falken Tire Nissan S13 against 2009 Formula DRIFT champion, Chris Forsberg in the NOS Energy Drink Nissan 370Z. “I owe it all to the guys at ASD and Falken Tire for this victory. Without them this could not have been possible,” said Justin Pawlak, winner of Round 1: Streets of Long Beach. “This victory feels unreal. I have worked so hard for this and can’t believe I’m on top to start out the season.”
  • It was a wet morning as we all made our way to the rendezvous point in the eastern part of our little island. Great, now how on earth are we going to enjoy driving with the roof down in such crappy weather? Well, let’s just say the dude above wanted us to have a blast, so lo and behold, the weather stopped almost instantly by the time we arrived. Well, you should know what wet roads lead to – over steering antics, that sort. In the case of the 370Z and the Boxster S, it wasn't hard. Switch off the traction control, floor the pedal at the right time, steer with confidence and tadaa… “dorift-o”, as what Krado would say. Not so easy with the four-wheel driven TTS though – but a little pull of the handbrake with no traction control will see it go sideways, although not as spectacular as the other two.
    DOCUMENTED: 10.05.2011 | 16:17 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Roof Up? Roof Down? Decisions, Decisions...

    The mission was set. Each pundit selected their choice weapon. At the end of the day, only one will emerge the best. Melding punchy performance and drop-top eye-catching good looks.

    Photos: Joel Tam & Low Fai Ming It took some thorough deliberation behind closed doors. Our market may be small, but where roads ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Porsche, Nissan, Audi, TT, TTS, Boxster, Boxster S, Roadster, 370Z, Fairlady
    • It was a wet morning as we all made our way to the rendezvous point in the eastern part of our little island. Great, now how on earth are we going to enjoy driving with the roof down in such crappy weather? Well, let’s just say the dude above wanted us to have a blast, so lo and behold, the weather stopped almost instantly by the time we arrived. Well, you should know what wet roads lead to – over steering antics, that sort. In the case of the 370Z and the Boxster S, it wasn't hard. Switch off the traction control, floor the pedal at the right time, steer with confidence and tadaa… “dorift-o”, as what Krado would say. Not so easy with the four-wheel driven TTS though – but a little pull of the handbrake with no traction control will see it go sideways, although not as spectacular as the other two.
    • After some driving, we stopped for a photo-shoot. As expected, eyes were stuck on the three beauties. We were attracting so much attention with S$760k worth of road jewels, we decided to drive around a little bit more, to get fully acquainted with each of our chosen cars before swapping.
    • I’ll begin with my choice, the face-lifted TTS. It has the smallest engine among the trio, but it is also the priciest – try S$282,973 to be more precise. It feels the liveliest, and most complete as a package – be it punts to work, evening cruises or as a show-off car. Under its bonnet lies the prolific 2.0-litre TFSI turbocharged lump mated to a six-speed twin-clutch S-tronic transmission, has a total of 272 bhp and 350 Nm worth of torque to play around with. All that power is delivered to Audi’s famous quattro four-wheel drive system, and that came in very useful in giving it the handling edge over the other two. <br><br> The downside? It feels mechanical and predictable, you end up feeling detached and less of a driver, overall it lacks in character. But still, you will enjoy throwing it hard into every sweeping bend – especially when you engage the complicated suspension’s sport mode that hardens and sharpens everything. And when a cat crosses the road, it stops confidently thanks to those responsive anchors.
  • DOCUMENTED: 10.05.2011 | 07:27 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    2011 FIA GT1 Round 3 - Algarve

    Nissan GT-Rs sweeps clean top three in Portimao.

    Photos: SRO Media Nissan secured the first manufacturer top three lockout in a FIA GT1 World Championship race when JR Motorsports to ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : FIA GT, GT1, Algarve
    • Starting from pole, Dumbreck protected his lead through the opening corners and remained in the lead as he dived into the pit lane, although the sister No. 23 JRM Nissan of Michael Krumm and Lucas Luhr remained within two seconds of the lead. A rapid pit stop allowed Luhr to jump the No. 22 Nissan GT-R and assume the lead, but Westbrook was not to be denied. After shadowing Luhr for several laps, he dived down the inside at turn one to recapture the lead, which he held until the chequered flag came out. Luhr remained glued to Westbrook's tail, with little more than one second separating the two cars, but he was not quite able to find a way through - with Westbrook leading home a Nissan podium clean sweep.
    • While Nissan took a stranglehold on the first three places, they also suffered misfortune at the start as the No. 20 Sumo Power GT-R of Ricardo Zonta and Enrique Bernoldi was tipped into a spin in the second corner. The duo were able to recover to finish eighth. That spin was the first of a series of incidents in turns two and three on the opening lap, which ultimately saw the No. 7 Young Driver Aston Martin ruled out with suspension damage, and several other cars falling down the order due to spins.
  • Among these, Ito (No. 6) was running at the fastest pace and gradually closing what was initially a 16-second gap between him and Motoyama (No. 23). It looked as if Ito would eventually take the lead if that pace continued, but with about ten laps remaining the rain began falling harder and forming puddles on the track that made conditions treacherous. Cars began spinning out and running off the track. Seeing this, the Clerk of the course ordered the red flag out at the end of lap 60 to stop the race. Eventually it was decided to end the competition at this point, making the running order at the end of lap 59 the final finishing order. This gave the victory to the No. 23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R (Satoshi Motoyama/Benoit Treluyer). Finishing seconnd was the No. 6 ENEOS SUSTINA SC430 (Daisuke Ito/Kazuya Oshima), while third went to the No. 19 WedsSport ADVAN SC430 (Tatsuya Kataoka/Seiji Ara).
    DOCUMENTED: 03.05.2011 | 18:01 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Super GT 2011 - Round 2

    The Motul Autech Nissan GT-R wins the bad-weather season opener.

    Photos: Super GT The FUJI GT 400km RACE, Round 2 of the 2011 AUTOBACS SUPER GT series, took place at Fuji Speedway in Shizuoka Pref. ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Super GT 2011, Fuji
    • Among these, Ito (No. 6) was running at the fastest pace and gradually closing what was initially a 16-second gap between him and Motoyama (No. 23). It looked as if Ito would eventually take the lead if that pace continued, but with about ten laps remaining the rain began falling harder and forming puddles on the track that made conditions treacherous. Cars began spinning out and running off the track. Seeing this, the Clerk of the course ordered the red flag out at the end of lap 60 to stop the race. Eventually it was decided to end the competition at this point, making the running order at the end of lap 59 the final finishing order. This gave the victory to the No. 23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R (Satoshi Motoyama/Benoit Treluyer). Finishing seconnd was the No. 6 ENEOS SUSTINA SC430 (Daisuke Ito/Kazuya Oshima), while third went to the No. 19 WedsSport ADVAN SC430 (Tatsuya Kataoka/Seiji Ara).
    • The race started in pouring rain with the safety car leading for the first five laps, with the race starting effectively from the sixth lap. On the first corner of that lap the second-position starter, the No. 46 S Road MOLA GT-R (Ronnie Quintarelli), ran off the track. Meanwhile, the pole-sitting No. 39 DENSO SARD SC430 (Hiroaki Ishiura) began to lose ground steadily and fell behind the pack. In both cases, the tyres chose by these two teams for the start did not fit the track conditions, forcing them to make early tyre changes. Also, the No. 100 RAYBRIG HSV-010 (Takuya Izawa) and No. 32 EPSON HSV-010 (Ryo Michigami) returned to the pit early to change tyres. These events put the No. 24 ADVAN KONDO GT-R (Bjorn Wirdheim) in the lead initially, with the No. 12 CALSONIC IMPUL GT-R (Joao Paulo Lima de Oliveira) and the No. 23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R (Benoit Treluyer) in hot pursuit not far behind. On the twelfth lap, De Oliveira in car No. 12 and Treluyer in No. 23 passed No. 24 (Wirdheim) in quick succession. After that, Wirdheim (No. 24) was also passed by the No. 6 ENEOS SUSTINA SC430 (Kazuya Oshima).
    • The ensuing GT-R battle between No. 12 (De Oliveira) and No. 23 (Treluyer) continued at the front at an exciting pace until lap 18, when De Oliveira (No. 12) lost control while trying to pass a back-marker and collide with it. The damage to the left rear of his machine from this collision forced De Olivier to return to the pit for repairs. This left No. 23 (Treluyer), No. 6 (Oshima) and the fast-rising 11th-place starter, the No. 38 ZENT CERUMO SC430 (Yuji Tachikawa), running as the top three in that order. Behind them, the No. 19 WedsSport ADVAN SC430 (Tatsuya Kataoka) was also giving chase. This was the GT500 debut race for the new No. 19 team and their choice of tyres had fit the conditions perfectly and enabled Kataoka to move up rapidly through the pack from 14th position on the starting grid.
  • The Special Stages (SS) challenged the driving and recovery skills in the two classes of competitor teams (Modified and Special) to the maximum as they shake, rattled and rolled their machines. If the Friday Prologue SS was tough with mechanical problems and broken egos, the following two days were tougher for man and machine. On the second day, the action shifted to the banks of the Isonzo river and the hills of Farra. It was time for very technical maneuvers which required nerves of steel even from the most seasoned teams, but everyone was on full throttle with passion and played out the SS with true grit.
    DOCUMENTED: 24.04.2011 | 22:52 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Spring Passion, Ala 4x4!

    It was action all the way from the get go for 36 well prepared 4x4 off-road warriors from Slovenia, Austria, Belgium, Germany, France (Corsica) and different parts of Italy.

    Text: Luis J.A Wee Photos: Paolo Baraldi Coming in their impressively upgraded and modified Jeep, Toyota, Nissan, Suzuki and Land ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : 4x4, SUV, Rainforest Challenge, Europe
    • The Special Stages (SS) challenged the driving and recovery skills in the two classes of competitor teams (Modified and Special) to the maximum as they shake, rattled and rolled their machines. If the Friday Prologue SS was tough with mechanical problems and broken egos, the following two days were tougher for man and machine. On the second day, the action shifted to the banks of the Isonzo river and the hills of Farra. It was time for very technical maneuvers which required nerves of steel even from the most seasoned teams, but everyone was on full throttle with passion and played out the SS with true grit.
    • The host venue of Farra D’Isonzo (airport at Trieste) in North-East Italy facing the borders of Austria to the north and Slovenia in the east is a region renowned for some of Italy’s finest vineyards from the Gorizia province in the region of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia. The Isonzo river, over which the Romans built their stone bridges across, still bear testimony of the many battles fought between the Roman Legions and invaders to the empire (Goths, Ostrogoths, Lombards, Avari, Huns and Turks).
    • Fast forward to our modern era, the rugged countryside was transformed into battle zones, this time fought out by 4x4 warriors and their machines against the extreme terrain charted out by the organizer. “Apart from the undulating, soggy and muddy sections, this time we also added the hilly sections to simulate the conditions we have faced in the RFC in Malaysia,” commented Ales Plesnicar, the Event Director. “Everyone must learn how difficult it is to last 10 days in the RFC in mindset, skills and vehicle preparation, but in the end, it’s Mother Nature who rules supreme, so come well prepared,” added Patrick Slyvestri who together with Paolo Paoletti, Max, Merino (Vice President) and Titiano (President of GFI Alpe Adria Club) form the backbone of the organizing committee. The event was a good warm for the Europeans on the harsh realities of the RFC.
  • Inside both cars however, it is the Countryman that shows more personality than the Juke, with colours to choose from for the trim and seats, while the Juke's interior is only offered in one colour. Pop the boot lids and the Juke shows less swallow space than the Countryman. The Countryman's boot space space may look smaller than the Juke, but it has less suspension intrusion into the boot space itself and has extra storage space below it. As far as ergonomics go, the Juke's more “traditional” layout will bode well with simpletons, whereas the Countryman's switch layout will take some getting used to.
    DOCUMENTED: 07.04.2011 | 13:32 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Mini Cooper S Countryman Vs Nissan Juke DIG-T

    What happens when two crossovers cross each other's path? Well, we just had to find out which is the better crosser.

    Photos: Low Fai Ming On paper, both of these cars look almost identical. Both of them feature turbocharged 1.6 litre engines, blendi ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Mini, Cooper S, Countryman, Nissan, Juke, DIG-T
    • Inside both cars however, it is the Countryman that shows more personality than the Juke, with colours to choose from for the trim and seats, while the Juke's interior is only offered in one colour. Pop the boot lids and the Juke shows less swallow space than the Countryman. The Countryman's boot space space may look smaller than the Juke, but it has less suspension intrusion into the boot space itself and has extra storage space below it. As far as ergonomics go, the Juke's more “traditional” layout will bode well with simpletons, whereas the Countryman's switch layout will take some getting used to.
    • In the looks department, the Juke beats the Mini by having a much bolder design. Full of curvaceous styling, complete with steep angles, the Juke seemingly looks like the newer model when compared to the Countryman. With that said however, the more conventional-looking Countryman has an air of a classic styling around it. It also looks stouter than the Juke, with its squared-off face and non-sloping roof line.
    • Despite their differences, both cars share similar design details such as flared wheel arches, bulging bonnets, light scattering of chrome trim to liven things up and big wheels. We think that the Juke's rear end looks a lot more stylish than the Mini, with the styling seemingly giving it the “wide-body” effect. The Mini however, fights back with twin tailpipes, an extended bumper and a roof spoiler for great visual effect.
  • At the front Dumbreck was pressurising the leading Nissan of Bernoldi, while Martin was close behind the second placed JR Motorsport Nissan. For lap after lap the three cars circulated in formation, each trying to push the other into a mistake. Their battle allowed Winklehock and Piccione to close up to make it a five way battle for the lead as the pitstops approached. On lap 13 Martin finally got past Dumbreck's Nissan at T18 for second place just as the pit window opened.
    DOCUMENTED: 28.03.2011 | 13:27 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    2011 FIA GT1 Round 1 - Abu Dhabi

    Race win for Aston Martin after action packed race.

    Photos: SRO Media Clivio Piccione and Stef Dusseldorp scored a maiden victory in the Championship Race at Yas Marina after the Hexis ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : FIA GT, GT1, Abu Dhabi
    • At the front Dumbreck was pressurising the leading Nissan of Bernoldi, while Martin was close behind the second placed JR Motorsport Nissan. For lap after lap the three cars circulated in formation, each trying to push the other into a mistake. Their battle allowed Winklehock and Piccione to close up to make it a five way battle for the lead as the pitstops approached. On lap 13 Martin finally got past Dumbreck's Nissan at T18 for second place just as the pit window opened.
    • The race began with the No. 41 Marc VDS Racing Team Ford GT of Maxime Martin on pole position, with Peter Dumbreck in the JR Motorsport Nissan alongside on the front row. At the start the Sumo Power Nissan of Enrique Bernoldi shot through from the second row to take the lead at the first corner, with Dumbreck getting into T1 before Martin. Further back, Stefan Mucke in the No. 8 Young Driver AMR Aston Martin was storming through the field from 15th, ending the opening lap in eighth place.
    • Bernoldi, Martin, Piccione and Mucke all pitted together. The Sumo Power pitcrew went to work and got their car, with Ricardo Zonta now at the wheel, turned round in quick time. However the Marc VDS crew were even quicker and as the Nissan approached the Ford pit Makowiecki dived out in front but the two cars collided. They rubbed wheels for several metres before the Ford went through the tunnel ahead of the Nissan but Zonta's Nissan was damaged and had to return to the pits for a new tyre. Makowiecki was given a drive through penalty for the incident.
  • Unchanged is the 370Z's exceptional 3.7-litre V6 engine, as found in the latest units, it comes with VVEL (Variable Valve Event and Lift) technology, developing 328PS and an impressive 363Nm of torque. It is coupled to a short throw six-speed sports manual gearbox or a seven-speed automatic.
    DOCUMENTED: 12.03.2011 | 03:38 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Nissan 370Z GT Edition

    At first glance, you'd probably think that the new 370Z GT Edition is nothing but a standard 370Z with decal stripes plastered on the side... look again.

    Engineered by technicians from Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE), the Nissan 370Z GT Edition introduces a number of significant suspensi ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Nissan, 370Z, GT
    • Unchanged is the 370Z's exceptional 3.7-litre V6 engine, as found in the latest units, it comes with VVEL (Variable Valve Event and Lift) technology, developing 328PS and an impressive 363Nm of torque. It is coupled to a short throw six-speed sports manual gearbox or a seven-speed automatic.
    • When in S-Mode, the manual transmission features Nissan's Synchro Rev Control to ensures perfect rev matching when the driver is changing gear, delivering perfect 'heel and toe' changes every time. Sensors on the clutch and on the gear lever itself monitor driver actions to blip the throttle on down shifts and maintain constant engine revs when changing up. As the sensors detect clutch pedal movement, the SRC system is primed, coming into operation when the gear lever is moved. By matching this information to vehicle speed, SRC knows whether the driver is slowing for a corner or changing up through the 'box.
    • Downshift Rev Matching is a feature on the automatic gearbox, too, which also has Adaptive Shift Control which learns a driving style and adjust shift patterns accordingly.
  • With the help of this important, yet least known designer, most of the prolific cars from the 50s had input from this man. From Alfas to Ferraris this man was in the midst of it all. Yet the Spitfire was almost never built because of the collapse of the Triumph-Standard company. If not for the fact that the car was spotted by the new management under dust covers in the corner of the factory, the Spitfire would have been long forgotten.
    DOCUMENTED: 02.03.2011 | 10:28 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    A Love For Music And One Car | Triumph Spitfire

    It’s not often that you get to meet a man in love with his car. One car, with no temptations to sell it or store it away. This car in particular, a Triumph Spitfire Mark IV.

    Photos: Syed Ahmad I’ll be honest, I’m not a big fan of the British Leyland era. The management inefficiencies, the constant ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Triumph, Spitfire, British
    • With the help of this important, yet least known designer, most of the prolific cars from the 50s had input from this man. From Alfas to Ferraris this man was in the midst of it all. Yet the Spitfire was almost never built because of the collapse of the Triumph-Standard company. If not for the fact that the car was spotted by the new management under dust covers in the corner of the factory, the Spitfire would have been long forgotten.
    • The Triumph Spitfire then went from strength to strength (despite initial models having a few problems). Going from the first generation through to the fourth generation. Making a total of 314,332 cars over a period of 22 years. That is no small feat for such a specialised British B-road roadster. The Mark IV incarnation weighed just 779kg with a small efficient 1296cc engine. The big improvement? Increased low end torque, the synchromesh gearbox and a vastly more stable rear end (earlier generations were known to be skittish in fast corners).
    • Danny initially wanted to buy a Suzuki Jimny, luckily for us a friend intervened and showed him to Brian Chan of the David Works Garage, a restorer of the classic in Singapore. It was here that Brian showed him to a customer’s Spitfire which was for sale. It’s no surprise that Danny instantly fell in love with it, with it’s long swooping lines, the topless nature of the car, the thin chrome strips reminiscent of the period and the classic wood interior brought him back to simpler times.
  • Inside, it features a unique “twin bubble” shaped cockpit. The arched lines and warm curved surfaces on either side of the instrumental panel create a distinctive bubble-shaped interior space that gives a secure feeling for both driver and passengers and enhances driving pleasure. A large speedometer placed in the centre of the meter cluster provides improved visibility. It's practical, with lots of storage spaces and cup holders combined with a boot space of 241L with folding rear seats for extra space. It will be available in 10 fashionable colours, including Spring Green, Sunlight Orange and Crystal Lilac. The preview Nissan March is currently on display at the Nissan Ubi and Bukit Timah showrooms.
    DOCUMENTED: 17.02.2011 | 08:56 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    There's A New Nissan Arriving In March

    Orders are now open for Nissan's little hatch.

    The 1.2L Nissan March comes in both five-speed manual and four-speed automatic transmission and will be launched in March 2011. Both version ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Nissan, March, HR12DE, Tan Chong
    • Inside, it features a unique “twin bubble” shaped cockpit. The arched lines and warm curved surfaces on either side of the instrumental panel create a distinctive bubble-shaped interior space that gives a secure feeling for both driver and passengers and enhances driving pleasure. A large speedometer placed in the centre of the meter cluster provides improved visibility. It's practical, with lots of storage spaces and cup holders combined with a boot space of 241L with folding rear seats for extra space. It will be available in 10 fashionable colours, including Spring Green, Sunlight Orange and Crystal Lilac. The preview Nissan March is currently on display at the Nissan Ubi and Bukit Timah showrooms.
  • The power delivery in sport mode can be a little sudden. It accelerates normally, followed by a surge when the turbo kicks in. We do love the explosive acceleration but in heavy traffic, it's a bit hard to drive smoothly unless you leave it in Normal, or Eco mode which has the least throttle responsiveness, but delivers the smoothest drive.
    DOCUMENTED: 14.01.2011 | 04:46 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Can You Dig It? | Nissan Juke DIG-T

    Striking, bold and curvaceous, Nissan has been brave with the Juke. But is it naughty enough? We drive it to find out.

    Photos: Low Fai Ming If you haven't heard of the Nissan Juke, it's an unique-looking Sports+SUV crossover that has captured attention of ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Nissan, Juke, DIG-T, Turbo, Crossover
    • The power delivery in sport mode can be a little sudden. It accelerates normally, followed by a surge when the turbo kicks in. We do love the explosive acceleration but in heavy traffic, it's a bit hard to drive smoothly unless you leave it in Normal, or Eco mode which has the least throttle responsiveness, but delivers the smoothest drive.
    • Power and torque figures for the 1.6L are 114hp and 158Nm, but the turbo version we tested is blessed with 187hp and 240Nm. It doesn't feel blazing fast, but it's brisk enough to perform overtaking manoeuvres on the highway.
    • The Xtronic CVT that's mated to the engine is a smooth shifter. Controlled from the Integrated Control Display (I-CON), it offers three driving modes: Eco, Normal and Sports. If you like a spirited drive like we do, leave it in Sport (and manual override for the gearbox) for the open roads and leave Eco or Normal for your daily shuttle. Why, you may ask?
  • Ricardo Zonta had a great start as the lights went green for the Championship Race but it was Jamie Campbell-Walter who broke through the ranks to clinch second. Behind them, things went horribly wrong for a lot of cars and after the mayhem had subsided, the SRT Nissans and Triple H Maserati were the main victims of the carnage.
    DOCUMENTED: 01.11.2010 | 06:50 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    2010 FIA GT1 Round 8 - Navarra

    A double top for Reiter Lamborghini in Spain!

    Photos: SRO Media Lamborghini completed a double at Navarra with victory in the Championship Race to add to their earlier Qualifying ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : FIA GT, GT1, Navarra
    • Ricardo Zonta had a great start as the lights went green for the Championship Race but it was Jamie Campbell-Walter who broke through the ranks to clinch second. Behind them, things went horribly wrong for a lot of cars and after the mayhem had subsided, the SRT Nissans and Triple H Maserati were the main victims of the carnage.
    • Longin, Kox, Huisman, Hirschi and Wendlinger did not even complete one lap, while Ara came in after one lap. Pier Guidi and Westbrook got together not much later, with Bouchut ending up spinning due to a defensive maneuver to avoid the Maserati and the Ford, with the three cars dropping to the back of the 15 cars strong field. To make matters worse, it soon began to rain but fortunately it was just a drizzle and no immediate action was required from the teams. Campbell-Walter however was unable to retain second position and was overtaken by Makowiecki and Martin soon after, the Aston Martin driver setting his sights on the Lamborghini that was now leading by just over a second.
    • When the pit window was opened after 25 minutes, only 13 cars were left in the reckoning, but these 13 cars that were still out on the track fought some good battles. Just half a second separated Campbell-Walter and Martin for third and the gap between sixth and eighth was just a mere second. For Ricard Zonta, he was comfortably leading the pack as he pitted in early. Just behind Zonta were Campbell-Walter and Bartels who also came in early for their pit stops. One lap after, the No.25 Reiter Lamborghini driven by Frederic Makowiecki made his stop, Yann Clairay rejoined the race just in front of the Lamborghini, but Kechele on warmer tyres blasted through into the lead as both cars entered turn 1.