RED GTRFINALch.qxd:JP
S
9/25/14
4:27 PM
Page 20
ay the word ‘supercar’ to a group of car enthusiasts and most will immediately think of Italy. Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Pagani... all these cars are designed with passion and flair. Their designers are surrounded by beauty all day, every day. They are inspired by fashion, art and beautiful women. More to the point, these car makers only sell a handful of models, all of them expensive and fast. By comparison, Japanese car makers sell a full range of cars. Even the most extreme cars from Japan are created by manufacturers who sell at least one shopping car in their line-up. So which car could you describe as being Japan’s supercar? Well, it certainly used to be the Honda NSX. It had all the right credentials – a mid-engined, low-slung two-seater famously designed with guidance from Formula One legend Ayrton Senna. However, it was more of a strippedout track car than a supercar. Then we had the ultra-rare Lexus LFA. That was certainly expensive enough to be a supercar, and it performed like one too. However, it was almost too clinical. Where the Europeans focus on curves and hand-stitched leather interiors, the Japanese are inspired by technology. So the LFA was built from exotic materials and quite frankly went like stink. However, it just seemed a bit cold
20
somehow, in comparison to its European rivals, who place more emphasis on soul and passion than sheer outright performance. Then a few years ago, along came the Nissan GT-R. Big, bold and relatively heavy, the R35 GT-R isn't necessarily what you'd expect from a supercar. That's because, strictly-speaking, it isn't. Take a look at the price tag of the GT-R and compare it to pretty much any Lamborghini or Aston Martin, and you realise it isn’t so much a case of how much more expensive they are, but how many GT-Rs you could buy for the same price. It's the same for the interior, too. Where something Italian would be marketed on the special type of leather used for the seats, the GT-R's focus is on that multifunctional display, designed with the help of Kazunori Yamauchi – the man behind Gran Turismo. We're not passing judgement that one is better than the other, just pointing out their different aims. Thing is, even in standard form, the GT-R can put up a fight in performance terms with almost any supercar from around the world. With the right tuning parts it can positively blow them off the road! It just needs a bit of sprucing up in the looks department. Some carefully considered aero and colour to round those
broad shoulders and add a bit of flair. Which is exactly what Rob Smithers has achieved with the help of Telford-based GT-R specialist Severn Valley Motorsport. Bought in 2011 in Titanium metallic, this GT-R has been to the plastic surgeons and come back a relative supermodel. The GT-R is a big car, so it's never going to look like a sleek, delicate little two-seater. This was a conscious decision by the Nissan engineers too, who explained they deliberately made the GT-R heavier than it could have been, as a way of increasing traction. Still, there was plenty of room for improvement in Rob's eyes, starting with the colour. Gone is the relative dullness of the original Titanium paint, replaced by a deep Ferrari Scuderia red. Well, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Without any other modifications this would have brightened up the big Nissan, but it hasn't just been thrown on. For a start the finish is flawless. Then there's the way it's broken up with bits of carbon and gloss black. Every small detail has been thought about to tie in with the overall theme. Rob bought the car brand new in April 2010. Initially he enjoyed the power and speed of the car, but felt it was a little too quiet. After just one week the tuning began, with SVM fitting a Y-pipe to free up the exhaust and add a bit of volume. After three
www.japaneseperformancemagazine.co.uk