Ok I made a mistake, the time was actually set by the R33 GTR, with a time of 7:59 sec. Not sure how accurate the lap time was or how modified was the car, but it is generally known as the 1st production car to break into the 7 min barrier.

There is a lot of controversy about the state of tune that car was in when it broke the 8 min barrier. I think some European magazine (believe it was the predecessor to EVO - Performance car?) tried to replicate it with a stock R33 GTR and couldn't and I don't think R34 GTR managed to either. Of course that is not to take anything away from those stunning cars - some of my all time favorites, thanks to Gran Turismo .

The GTR is going to be one of the hottest performance car of the year.

Just realised I have said the same thing twice... anyway

The R34 GTR is a bit to heavy to break the 8min barrier, but the Nismo Z-Tuned version might. Does anyone know if it has been driven around the Ring?

I think it is safe to say that no standard GTR has yet broken the 8 min barrier. Nissan still has to prove themselves in that department but then again this time they do not seem to have any restrictions when it comes to horsepower so they will do just fine, no real need to tune their cars for the tests this time.

The R33 and the R34 weights about the same.

If the Z-Tune is to be regarded as a standard car it will of course make it as the Z-tune has about 600 bhp!

Do we have any idea about the horsepower of the new GT-R? If it is able to do 7.38 then it must have serious power!

Agreed as those mentioned above are legends, and anyone who ever thought this new skyline wasnt going to be any good has had their heads in the clouds.

btw will the R35 GTR be around the range of the E92 M3 price wise?

I have heard figures ranging from £50 to £70 grand in the media.

Judging by speculations from journalists the price should be something like €100-120,000... so somewhere between the Audi R8 and the 997 Turbo.

Then again, journalists are seldom right.