There’s a new tuning company opening up shop in Japan and it’s looking to grab some immediate headlines with it’s version of the Nissan GT-R, sporting some of the most radical styling we have seen yet on the Japanese supercar. The company, which goes by the name Bensopra, is set to debut the new race car inspired machine at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January.

The renderings of the GT-R are what Bensopra hopes to achieve as the final product, packed with race-inspired graphics and potentially hitting the track to prove that it’s function over form. Rumor has it that this extreme GT-R will be packing upwards of 1000-hp to complement its unique widebody.

GALLERY: Bensopra Nissan R35 GT-R

[Source: Speedhunters]

It wouldn’t be the Tokyo Auto Salon without an appearance by a few specific tuners and that list includes Top Secret. Best known for building unmistakably gold high-powered machines – like the Toyota Supra – the Top Secret display in Tokyo this year includes a stunning Nissan GT-R.

Sporting a special aero kit (including a carbon fiber front splitter and large rear spoiler) the GT-R gets the gold treatment and is accompanied by two Honda CR-Zs as well as a Suzuki Colt. None of the cars are close to stock and the dark gray CR-Z even has an HKS turbo kit.

Check out all the cars (and a few extras) in the gallery below. And see our complete 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon coverage here.

GALLERY: Top Secret Nissan GT-R, Honda CR-Z

Nissan GT-R

Despite its huge throngs of worshipers, the Nissan GT-R is a rarity at this year’s SEMA Show. The few we did cross paths with were, however, seriously impressive machines, representing some of the biggest GT-R tuners in the world.

Among them we count AMS and Switzer as two of the biggest. The AMS Alpha 9 GT-R was prominently displayed at the Exedy clutch booth, looking like a car capable of easy 9 second 1/4 mile runs on pump gas. The detail work on the car is impressive with an ultra-thick weave carbon fiber hood and trunk. Also of note are the full carbon racing seats inside. As for the Switzer car (actually an Automotive Connoisseur Group tuned by Switzer), it features a P800 tuning kit that brings power to over 700-hp, while the car also gets some stunning aerodynamics and a functional rear spoiler.

Other notable GT-Rs include a stunning R34 model (a SEMA regular) and one of the Brass Monkey Racing GT-R race cars from the World Challenge series.

GALLERY: Modified Nissan GT-Rs of the 2010 SEMA Show

While most of the aftermarket likes to overwhelm consumers with excessive amounts of horsepower, some companies like to refine the finer details, making the driving experience a more fulfilling one. Take Umbrella Auto Design for example; they began their business by focusing on Acura’s flagship supercar, the NSX. They built a wickedly clean demo car, refining it from bumper to bumper on the outside while starting their F1 line o interior series. Now they’ve taken the same magic to the Nissan GT-R.

Their focus with the GT-R, so far, is just the interior. We already know how potent the GT-R is, and we all know there’s more than enough companies out there trying to push 1,000′s of horsepower out of its powerplant. So it’s really refreshing to see Umbrella Auto Design releasing an interior package for the GT-R that brings its cockpit in line with its performance.

The majority of the interior is redone in black ultrasuede with silver stitching: front seats, steering wheel, e-brake, boot, shift knob, dashboard, door panels, center console, rear lower side panels, rear upper side panels, rear seats, headliner, visors, rear package tray, subwoofer cover and rear armrest. Several interior pieces are also repainted satin black instead of the factory light gray.

Umbrella Auto Design’s interior really gives the GT-R the sense of luxury it needs to back up the performance and driving experience the vehicle already offered. No pricing is announced unfortunately.

[Source: GTR Blog]

GALLERY: Umbrella Auto Design Nissan GT-R F1 Interior

The reality of a fully streetable 8-second Nissan GT-R just got a whole lot closer. AMS took their Alpha 10 GT-R demo car back to the quarter mile after their 9.33 pass to lay down an amazing 9.192 @ 163.12 mph track time. Now obviously going from 9.33 to 9.192 is easier than going from 9.192 to 8.99, but the fact that they are gaining that much more top-end speed in between weeks of testing is impressive.

And wanting to just show off to the rest of the world what their Alpha 9 package can do to a GT-R on pump gas, AMG was able to pilot the Alpha 9 GT-R to its first 9 second pass at 9.95 @ 141.01 mph. And yes, on pump gas. To show off just how dependable and reliable the Alpha 9 GT-R is, AMS embarked on a road trip going from Chicago to Colorado and Nevada and ending in Southern California; 2,000 or so miles and not a single issue on the car.

They even released a video – unfortunately it’s not of the drag racing:

[Source: GTR Blog]

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Switzer Performance announced their Nissan GT-R R1K kit earlier last month, claiming 1,005-awhp through their custom package sporting a pair of Garrett watercooled turbochargers and C16 fuel. And it seems with AMS and SP Engineering all scooping around the 1,000-awhp range, we knew the competition would heat up once these cars hit the actual track proving what they’re really worth.

And the battle for the first 8-second Nissan GT-R is well underway. Switzer took their R1K GT-R out to the drag strip and clocked in a best e.t. of 9.38 and a best mph of 156.44mph, making it currently the fastest R35 GT-R, though not the quickest. AMS still holds the record with a 9.33, but clearly Switzer is close.

Switzer will clearly do more thorough testing in resolving some of their traction issues. Knowing that they have a good 3-mph more than AMS’s GT-R, it’s clear that once Switzer finds some traction their GT-R has a few more tenths to knock off that quarter mile time. How long until we see an 8-second pass?

Check out the two videos after the break.

[Source: GTR Blog]

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Oh how much we love Top Secret’s signature gold finish on their cars. We were actually disappointed in how long it has taken Top Secret to show off a Nissan GT-R doused in their gold, but boy was the wait worth it. But as you may be able to tell from the above photo, Top Secret has also finalized and released their new front bumper replacement.

We’re digging that Top Secret kept the styling on their front bumper quite subtle, incorporating a carbon fiber front diffuser while making it just slightly more aggressive than the OEM bumper. Best of all, it’s very functional, providing additional cooling for the oil cooler and the front grill giving direct additional cooling for the intercooler. The bumper is also slightly longer to give the car better aerodynamics.

It all comes at a hefty price though, with the front bumper and diffuser being offered at $4,350. But for those looking for something that not only enhances the performance of the vehicle but also changes the look, without being too drastic, it’s a great option. While you’re at it, you might as well toss yourself another $4,000 into the budget and get the car repainted Top Secret Gold. Yum.

GALLERY: Top Secret Nissan GT-R

[Source: The Real JDM]

When it comes to finding gobs and gobs of horsepower, AMS Performance knows how to do it. Regardless of the application, whether it’s a Mitsubishi EVO or a Nissan GT-R, AMS has set records time and time again on and off the track. And now they’ve made it easy for all their customers to achieve the same type of success.

Dubbed their Alpha line, AMS Performance is offering premium Nissan GT-R Performance Packages. Their website is currently a complete tease with a coming soon page, but it looks like they’ll have four packages available soon: Alpha 6, Alpha 9, Alpha 10 and Alpha 12. We went ahead and did some digging through their current website and found some more information on their Alpha 6 and Alpha 9 packages.

The Alpha 6 package is offered at $6,499 and takes your GT-R to a respectable 600-hp and easy 10 second time slips at the quarter mile of your choice. The fastest time they’ve achieved on this package is a 10.6 @ 130 mph on 93 octane pump gas. The kit is is actually pretty mild with a majority of exhaust parts: 90mm catless downpipes, 90mm resonated midpipes and 90mm exhaust system. On the intake side is a set of HKS Super Hybrid air filters. And of course AMS will retune the car along with a Cobb AccessPORT to dial it all in. For those worried about emissions, catalytic converters are available on their downpipes as an option. And for those that are the complete opposite, non-resonated midpipes are available as a race version.

The Alpha 6 package can also be upgraded to an Alpha 9 package, but for those with the ability to dish out the cash up front, the Alpha 9 is available for $21,999.95. And as you can guess, Alpha 9 means 900-hp on race gas and 800-hp on pump gas. That equates to possible 9 second time slips on race gas. Along with everything in the Alpha 6 package, Alpha 9 also comes with upgraded turbochargers, turbo inlet pipes, front mount intercooler, intake piping and additional fuel upgrades to handle all the extra boost.

Check out the videos after the break of an Alpha 9 GT-R running 10.1 with pump gas, and their 9 second GT-R in case you missed it earlier.

[Source: GTR Blog]

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According to a short product teaser released by Nissan tuning resource GT-RR, renowned engine builder Cosworth is currently developing a Nissan GT-R crate motor. The teaser clearly draws the connection without naming names, stating that the crate motor will come from the same company known for building F1 engines, Nissan GT-R race engines and for working with Aston Martin on its One-77 supercar. And the single connection between those three things is Cosworth.

The engine is question is rumored to be a new version of the 3.8-liter twin-turbo motor currently offered in the GT-R, but with new turbos and significantly more output.

We’ll be sure to stay on top of this and Cosworth isn’t likely to disappoint.

[Source: GTRBlog via InsideLine]

Check out the teaser after the jump

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Austrian-based tuner, Königseder has built a demo Nissan GT-R to show off their new front lip, diffuser and side skirts. Saturated in a bright orange finish, Königseder’s GT-R claims to push out 572-hp, close to 100 more than the stock 485-hp offering.

Aiding in those horsepower gains are an ECU upgrade, air filter and titanium exhaust system from Akrapovic. To accent their front lip/splitter and side skirts offering, Königseder opted to lower their car on a set of KW coilovers and bolted on a 21×9.5-inch and 21×11-inch set of beautiful HRE 595R wheels finished in a glossy black. They wrapped the classy wheels with Yokohama’s Advan Sport tires.

Truth be told, we’re not huge fans of Königseder’s front lip/splitter combo, but we couldn’t pass-up the opportunity to post a bright orange GT-R with a stunning set of HREs.

GALLERY: Königseder Nissan GT-R

Official press release from Königseder with a breakdown of all the parts after the break.

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