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Motorsports,
Nissan,
Australia,
Racing
Seven months after announcing it was reentering the series and $1.5M AUD later ($1.56M USD), this is your new
Nissan Altima for the Australian V8 Supercar Series. Just unveiled in Melbourne by Kelly Racing, the racer is Nissan's take on the Car of the Future (COTF) regulations credited with returning other manufacturers to the series. Under the hood is a derivative of Nissan's VK56DE engine, the 5.6-liter V8 that will be slotted into the
2013 Nissan Patrol SUV. Beefed up but downsized to five liters to satisfy regulations, it will put out more than 600 horsepower.
Todd Kelly of Kelly Racing says it didn't take all that much to transform the production Altima's production bodywork to fit over the control chassis: "Aside from flaring of the rear guards, and extending of the front guards; the doors, roof, bonnet and bootlid panels are all the same length as the road car." Shapelier and more compact than the entries from
Ford,
Holden and
Mercedes-Benz, the V8 Supercars bosses will be testing this
Nissan to ensure aerodynamic parity with the other cars.
Kelly Racing namesakes Todd and Rick will take the wheel at the season's February opener in Adelaide, the Clipsal 500. As of today, the team is known as Nissan Motorsports but the livery you see is just for the launch; the competition car will wear the Jack Daniels sponsorship worn by the team's
Holden Commodore racecars now. Nissan hasn't been in the series in the two decades since
that car (the
GT-R) was kicked out, and its return throws four carmakers into battle, doubling the current tally. Now enjoy the video and press release
below while we
wait for Mercedes to show its hand.
Continue reading Nissan reveals Altima V8 Supercar [w/video]
Nissan reveals Altima V8 Supercar [w/video] originally appeared on
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Official: Nissan reveals Altima V8 Supercar [w/video]
