Nissan has unveiled a new car that will compete in this year's Le Mans 24 Hours race. The GT-R LM Nismo is a racing version of Nissan's flagship car, the GT-R. Like the production GT-R, the LM Nismo has set tongues wagging, although more for its configuration than anything else.
Going against convention, Nissan has opted for a front engine, front-wheel-drive configuration with the LM Nismo. The car is powered by a 3-liter V6 twin turbo petrol engine that sits in front of the driver. An energy recovery system is also employed to boost power.
In addition to the unusual configuration, the GT-R LM Nismo has larger wheels at the front than at the back. Although both are 16 inches in diameter, the front wheels have a width of 13 inches, whereas the rear wheels are just 9 inches. The wheels are fitted with Michelin tires.
Elsewhere, the car has a 5-speed sequential gearbox with a pneumatic paddle shift system, carbon-composite body panels, Penske suspension dampers, and 6-piston front brake calipers and 4-piston rear calipers. The car is 4,645 mm (15.2 ft) long, has a minimum weight of 880 kg (1,940 lb) and a fuel tank capacity of 68 liters (15 gal).
The GT-R LM Nismo will compete in the the LM P1 class of the FIA World Endurance Championship, making its debut at Silverstone, UK, Apr. 12. Testing of the car is ongoing and Nissan says its drivers will be announced soon.
The video below shows the TV ad in which the GT-R LM Nismo was unveiled.
Source: Nissan
