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GT-R driver walks away from terrifying dragstrip accident

With all-wheel drive, launch control and a dual-clutch transmission, the Nissan GT-R may be easier to manage than most supercars. But that doesn't mean that dragging one on a wet strip is a good idea.
Filmed at the Unlimited 500+ drag race in Moscow, Russia, this video depicts a pair of GT-Rs going head to head. But things didn't go quite as planned when the driver of one lost control of her twin-turbo supercar. We'll let the video below speak for itself, but thankfully it appears no one was hurt - an outcome that seems particularly remarkable in light of the fact that it appears that the driver was not wearing a fire suit or helmet.

Nissan reveals updated 2015 370Z Nismo among the faithful

Well before quick Honda Si models of the '80s or the performance juggernaut that the Toyota Supra and Mazda RX-7 became in the 90s, the Datsun 240Z was an early stake in the ground for Japanese sports cars. It was affordable, but the original Z-car was also a capable coupe that could show its tail to European and American rivals. Today, Nissan celebrates the car each year with fellow enthusiasts at its ZDAYZ event, and this year in North Carolina, it's surprising fans by launching the 2015 370Z Nismo there with some significant upgrades.
The biggest change is that the 370Z Nismo is available with a seven-speed automatic transmission for the first time. The six-speed manual is still standard, of course. But for those who don't want to use a clutch, Nissan is offering the new automatic with Downshift Rev Matching and a manual mode via paddle shifters. Power is still provided by the same 3.7-liter V6 as last year, producing 350 horsepower and 276 pound-feet of torque with a limited-slip differential at the back for added traction.
This hottest 370Z model also receives a brand-new GT-R-inspired bodykit that features a deeper front fascia, LED running lights and blacked-out headlight bezels. It also sports a new chin spoiler bearing the Nismo emblem and red accents that flow from the front, down the side sills and all the way to the rear bumper. At the back, there is also a smaller ducktail spoiler for a more mature look. The 2015 also wears cool 19-inch forged aluminum wheels by Rays with a new twin-spoke design and charcoal finish. Compared to last year's model, it's a much more mature-looking coupe.

Nissan working on something radical for Le Mans

With Porsche joining Audi and Toyota at the front of the LMP1 grid at Le Mans next year, Nissan is the next to be throwing its hat (and considerable R&D budget) into the proverbial ring. But only if it's allowed to do something radically different, according to the latest report in Car magazine.
Just what that means remains to be seen, but Nissan is reportedly in active discussions with the ACO (the body that governs the race) to see how far it can stretch the regulations. The ACO has taken an intriguingly different approach to equalizing performance, mandating the maximum amount of energy that can be used per lap instead of telling teams what kind of engines they can use. That's how Porsche is entering with a four-cylinder engine, Toyota with a V8 and Audi with a diesel six. But when it comes to the shape of the car itself, the rules are considerably more restrictive.
Unfortunately the rules would prohibit Nissan fielding the ZEOD RC (with its narrow front track) in the LMP1 class, relegating it instead to the Garage 56 slot for experimental racers (which the DeltaWing filled before). And the realities of endurance racing would effectively prohibit anyone from fielding an all-electric racer. Within those confines, though, Nissan is eager to find enough wiggle room to make something both visually and technically different from other LMPs. And if the ACO won't let it do so at Le Mans, it could turn to another race or series (like the Nürburgring 24) that would.