ImportJap.com is no longer available at http://www.importjap.com/blog, instead we’ve moved to just http://www.importjap.com, and removed the old forum. Please update your bookmarks, and don’t worry, old links will still work fine.

We’ve also got a brand new design coming shortly and a few long awaited suprises!

Popularity: 5% [?]

We’ve been continuously hacked, and in a turn of bad luck completely removed from Google for having spam inserted yesterday before any of us could remove it and fix it. 8 hours grace since insertion, and with no warning of removal is a harsh call, Google, very harsh. How a major search engine can punish us without warning, due to the actions of malicious web users is unbelievable, hardly fair and not warranted, but these are the breaks.

In light of this, we are moving from Wordpress to Drupal, throwing up a new theme and getting a good makeover. The update will take a few weeks to do, but we’ll be back. If there’s anything your particularly want to see on the site, feel free to send us a suggestion!

In the meantime we’ll continue to post if we’re able.

To all loyal and new visitors, thankyou for your continued patronage!

Popularity: 32% [?]

According to Prestige Motorsport, the new R35 GT-R can now be imported legally under SEVS!

However, compliance is as far as 12 months away (2009), and prices are expected to exceed AU$100,000 for the new Nissan supercar. Regardless, this is a big fist in the eye of Nissan Australia, as enthusiasts will now be able to grab the new car directly from the JDM without Nissan Australia’s interference!

[Source: Prestige Motorsport]

Popularity: 62% [?]

A crawl of the blogosphere brings this awesome video of the Nissan GT-R doing the Nurburgring in just 7:38, 2 seconds ahead of it’s 380KW German rival, the Porsche 911 Turbo. What a week it’s been for the new GT-R!

What’s also cool about this, is theres an inside view! Check it out below.

And while you’re doing so, compare that lap time to these:

• 7:38 - Nissan GT-R, 480PS/1720kg, 26,600 Meter Timging September 2007
• 7:40 - Porsche 997 Turbo 480PS/1565 kg Walter R�hrl
• 7:40 - Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, 626PS/1768 kg Klaus Ludwig (AutoBild 07/04)
• 7:40 - Bugatti Veyron 16/4, 1001PS/1888 kg (Wheels magazine Australia, 12/05)
• 7:41 - Manthey Porsche GT3 M410, 413 PS/1320 kg (160.868 km/h), Lucas Luhr (Autobild 07/04)
• 7:42 - Porsche 997 GT3, 415 PS/1440 kg, Walter R�hrl (Automobil 05/06)
• 7.42 - Corvette Z06 (Jan Magnussen)[2]
• 7:42 - Ford GT, 550 PS/1521 kg (as indicated by Octane magazine, 11/05) (news release, pictures)
• 7:43 - Lamborghini Murcielago (Autocar magazine 02)
• 7:44 - Pagani Zonda S 550 PS/1280 kg (sport auto 02/05) 7:46 - Porsche 996 GT2, 462 PS/1450 kg (sport auto 06/01)
• 7:46 - Jaguar XJ220, 3.5-litre V6, John Neilsen.
• 7:47 - Porsche 996 GT3 RS (sport tyres) [citation needed]
• 7:47 - Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano,620PS/1690 kg (sport auto)
• 7:47 - Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 E-gear (sport tyres) (sport auto 01/07)
• 7:48 - Porsche 997 GT3, 415 PS/1440 kg (sport auto 07/06)
• 7:49 - Helmut D�hne, Honda VFR750R

[More times here]

[Source: Youtube via Autoblog]

Popularity: 59% [?]

Yes, for the first time, the Nissan GT-R will be sold directly into Australia!

As confirmed on CarAdvice, Nissan Australia�s boss Shinya Hannya has said that all strings will be pulled to get the GT-R downunder before 2009 (We certainly hope so, but we’re looking for more like 2008, Mr Hannya!). No other information on localised specifications (if any are in the works) are currently available.

Popularity: 52% [?]