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Nissan GT-R poised to break more records

NISSAN’S forthcoming GT-R Nismo will reportedly become the fastest accelerating production car ever when it is officially unveiled at the Tokyo motor-show in November.

An insider this week told British publication Auto Express that the latest version of Nissan’s supercar will crack 100km/h in less than 2.1 seconds, thanks to a weight reduction and even more power from its 3.8 twin-turbo V6.

The GT-R Nismo will be the first production model to come from Nissan’s specialist tuner since it announced plans to join forces with British Formula One team Williams.

Road-legal racing Lamborghini Gallardo

LAMBORGHINI is also planning to unveil an even hotter version of one of its supercars, with the Gallardo LP 570-4 Squadra Corse due to launch at the Frankfurt motor show later this year.

Based on the Blancpain Super Trofeo series racing car, the Squadra Corse has the same 419kW V10 from the racer and will hit 200km/h in just over 10 seconds.

A diet of carbon-fibre and lightweight alloy has shed 70 kilograms while racing seats, carbon brakes and special aerodynamics complete the circuit-ready track-car package.

V8 Ranger goes racing

FORD’s Ranger will face the ultimate off-road endurance challenge when it hits the Dakar Rally next year, with a helping hand from South African tuner Neil Woolridge Motorsport.

From top: 2014 Dakar Rally Ford Ranger and Horizon i-H2GO hydrogen fuel-cell car.

Almost nothing has been left standard on the racing ute, with a 5.0-litre Mustang V8 replacing the standard diesel donk, a major suspension upgrade to help it cope with the challenging terrain, and composite panels keep the weight under two tonnes.

Two Rangers will enter the race which spans more than 8500km of punishing South American desert over two weeks.

Batteries not included – or required

ZERO emissions technologies are big business, and a toy car may be offering an unlikely glimpse of the future.

US based Fuel-cell specialist Horizon is offering a radio-controlled car which is powered by a hydrogen fuel-cell and exhausts nothing but water vapour.

The $200 kit includes your own i-H2GO car, refueling station and even a solar panel to generate the electricity required to produce hydrogen - just add water.

Once fuelled up the little green car is controlled by a smart phone and a special application but, how you charge your phone is up to you.