The 1996 Nissan R390 GT1

 

Japan's Most Powerful Car Ever Made

 

 

 

     In 1996 Nissan turned to the British company Tom Walkingshaw Racing (TWR) for help creating a GT1 car for Le Mans. TWR planned to make the car while NISMO (Nissan Motorsports International) would provide the engine. The end result was the most powerful joint British/Japanese car ever built. It was called the Nissan R390 GT1.

     The R390 GT1 is mid-engine rear-wheel drive supercar equipped with a turbocharged DOHC 32-valve V8 that is longitudinally mounted and delivers 550 bhp @ 6,800 rpm and 470 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm. The engine is coupled to a Xtrac 6-speed sequential manual transmission.

     The suspension used in the front and rear of the R390 GT1 are upper and lower A-arms, coil springs, tube shocks, and anti-roll bars. The steering is rack and pinion. The chassis uses a carbon fiber monocoque. The tires used are not very grippy Bridgestones.    

     Unfortunately for people looking to buy one of these cars you wont be able to anymore. Only two road-going versions were produced. The price for one of these road-going versions was $1,000,000. However since the car is so nose-happy on the racetrack and because the tires don't grip very well I think it's a waste of money. However as far as stick shifts go the lag between gear changes is almost non-existent which is enough to make the Ferrari 458 Italia jealous.