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Tag: Samuel L. Jackson

  • New Nissan GTR Spec-V specs leaked?

    Over the weekend, the Spec-V’s modification list was leaked to GTR-world. According to the leaked information, engine output for the Twin turbo 6 cylinder will increase from 478 to 520 forced induction ponies. The transmission select mode has been removed, leaving only the “Race” setting.

    National Speed - Spec V. Front

    One of the biggest downfalls of the Nissan powerhouse has been it’s weight. Weighing in at 3,814lbs, the GTR hasn’t exactly been a lightweight car. This problem has been somewhat addressed by the replacement of the backseat by a carbon fiber shelf, carbon fiber front seats, interior accents and aerodynamic aids. While it may drop weight a little bit, I don’t think that it will shed all that it needs to be considered a lightweight vehicle. Hopefully the new power and new overboost function will help out with that.

    National Speed - Spec V. Rear

    Ditched as well are the stocker brakes, being replaced by a carbon ceramic set hidden behind Rays 20 inch wheels wrapped in super sticky Dunlop tires (the same ones that set the supposed 7:29 Nurburgring lap time). The already very good stock suspension has been retuned by Bilstein and is claimed to be superior to the NISMO Clubsport package offered.

    One thing that will be hard to cushion unfortunately is the price. Coming in at an estimated $165,000 before tax, that’s a whopping $95,000 more than the current GTR. Is it $95,000 better than the current GTR? Only time will tell until a truly official spec list comes out.

  • New Military Humvee Tire: The Honeycomb

    Forget you guys with your lifted trucks. You aren’t ballin’ hard enough if you aren’t riding on some Honeycomb wheels.

    National Speed - Bulletproof Tire

    The University of Wisconsin-Madison and Resilient Technologies have come up with a wheel that doesn’t need any type of Air pressure. Instead of rolling on air, you’re just rolling on a honeycomb structure. Oh, and did I forget to mention this puppy is Bullet-proof and Bomb-proof? Tired of being late to work trying to drive through the battleground that is rush hour traffic? Thwart the old ladies tossing grenades out of their windows and get some of these 37″ “tires”.

    Created for the Military, these prototype tires are guaranteed to save many lives. Conventional tires are useless when they lose air pressure or get blown out in combat. What’s the use of Armor if your tires are blown out? A few advantages to this new honeycomb design is that it costs about the same as a conventional tire and rides the same.

    National Speed - Honeycomb tire.

    Hopefully soon they will be moving to consumer vehicles. Same price, same ride, ballin’ pattern, bomb-proof and bullet-proof? Sign me up. I’ll throw some on the 240. Me Want Honeycomb!


    Be safe out there, Happy Turkey Day!

  • National Speed Quickie: Snakes on a Dash

    It’s been awhile since our last quickie, so I thought it’d be best to set the mood with a little wine and romance. Just kidding. I’m not one for long winded speeches or intros, so whaddaya say we get down to business and report on all the automotive news that’s fit to print…and probably some that isn’t.

    “Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?” An 80 year old goat breeder by the name of Noel Padgham recently took her car to the shop after it began making a clunking noise. Seems like a rather mundane way to start off a news blog right? Don’t worry, it gets better.

    Upon opening the dash, mechanic Kit Carson (no relation to the frontiersman) was greeted by the pants filling sight of a three foot long python wrapped around the ventilation fan. To make matters worse, the snake was still alive!

    After changing his shorts, Carson took the snake to the local vet where it now awaits its next exciting trip perhaps on a plane, or possibly train. No word on if Samuel L. Jackson will be involved.

    Special thanks to Jalopnik for originally breaking the story and to whatever poor bastard wrote Snakes on a Plane…even two years after that steaming pile’s release we’re still getting mileage out of the title.