Wheels Australia — August 2016

better the current car’s 3.2sec, and

possibly go sub-3.0sec. The Nismo

GT-R last year set a Nurburgring

lap of 7min 08.679sec, the fastest

ever for a Japanese production car.

It’s not known how many Nismo

GT-Rs could be made available to

Australia – worldwide demand

already outstrips supply – but it

will crack the door to a planned

Nismo onslaught. Nissan’s

performance arm has formulated

a five-year plan that incorporates

countries for GT-R and Nismo sees

it as an important market for its

global expansion plans.

“We’re trying to reinforce Nismo

... to build on the products that we

have, introduce new models and

grow and expand globally,” said

Nismo road-car boss Bob Laishley.

“We’ve got to be careful not just

to have Nismo for Nismo’s sake.”

The Japan-based Brit pointed

to Europe as key to the expansion

• and development – of Nismo.

He said a small Nismo, possibly

based on the next-generation Micra

and/or Pulsar, was a high chance.

“For sure we’re looking at working

in that area. I would like to do

something in that space.”

Laishley said the strength

of the Nissan brand and

increasing worldwide demand for

performance models strengthens

the case for expanding Nismo

beyond the Japanese market.

“There’s a recognition that

Tune to win

Nismo is the hardcore
tuning arm of Nissan
and was created
when two of Nissan’s
motorsport divisions
came together in 1984.
Since then, Nismo has
been responsible for all
of Nissan’s purebred
race machines, including
the2015Bathurst12
Australia as a ke marke

Austral a s known loball as

havin a hi h mix of forman

models. It s one o the top 10

Europe can hopefull lead ou

development because we can

satisf he Eur an rolheads

then we ll have a ood product

rowin Nismo outside of Japan is

ood dea, and that s what we re

in to do

TBYHA

our-winnin GT-R GT3.

The tunin arm works

n a s m lar wa to

BMW’s M Division,

creat bee ed

rin fNi n

eh cles or the road

Green light for Zagato

The masses spoke, and Aston Martin listened.
After the huge success of the Vanquish Zagato
concept car, Aston Martin has confirmed it
will introduce a limited production run of just
99 cars. Powered by a 6.0-litre V12 producing
441kW, the Vantage-based Zagato will launch

from 0-100km/h in just 3.5sec

powered by a donkey and ride

all we care, because just look

Zagato have really outdone th

coming to Australia? Aside fro

bedroom walls of young boys,

emse ves. Is i

un i e y.