Latest news with #GT500
The Drive
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
Surviving Nissan R390 Racer Wrapped in Pennzoil Colors Is a Certified Gran Turismo Classic
Until recently, there was just one street-legal Nissan R390 GT1 in the world. Nissan built it as a prototype for its 24 Hours of Le Mans challengers that contested the race in 1997 and 1998. The car wasn't particularly successful in its first attempt, and one of the four chassis entered into the '98 running notched a respectable third-place finish, but that's pretty much all history wrote on the R390. This is an endurance racer that's been mostly lost to time, but thankfully, we get to talk about it today, because another road-registered car has emerged wearing an unexpected livery. The R390 seen here did compete in Le Mans in '98, as car No. 31. And not only did it participate, but its owner today is none other than Érik Comas, one of the three men who steered it to fifth overall in that event. Many years later, this very R390 was converted to road duty. Today, it's said to retain about 95% of the same parts it had during competition, as well as a glass windshield and cooling system, among other 'luxuries,' to achieve street legality. Comas trotted it out this week in the colors of another Nissan race car he made history in. Nissan never ran the R390 with a Pennzoil livery, but if you know your late-'90s Japanese race cars, you probably already understand what's going on here. The yellow-and-black getup recalls the NISMO GT-R GT500 that Comas also drove in the 1999 Japanese Grand Touring Car Championship; he and Satoshi Motoyama were the class winners that season. Before any preservationists get up in arms, let it be known that this is only a wrap, and this R390 is stark white underneath. (Which, incidentally, is a fine look for this or any other '90s Le Mans machine.) Artist Benoit Fraylon, BillionaireWrap, and Pitstop Monte Carlo all collaborated to bring the design to life, and it was unveiled at Box98 Monaco on May 8, which, as far as I can tell, is like a Dave & Busters except with indoor karting instead of giant Angry Birds arcade machines. The result looks fantastic, like one of those 'What If' renders we're inundated with online all the time nowadays, but have stopped paying attention to because they never amount to anything. It's one thing to race against somebody who's put this livery on their R390 in Forza ; it's quite another to know that one of the only surviving examples of the real deal is sporting these colors right now. Maddox Kay If you're curious as to the whereabouts of some other R390s, Nissan maintains the one true road car, seen above, in its Zama museum in Japan. The automaker also keeps some racing chassis too; the No. 23 short-tail from 1997 can be seen peeking into the frame up there, and, naturally, the podium-sitting No. 32 car from '98 is likely never to leave the company's stable. Meanwhile, No. 30 was a part of Xavier Micheron's Ascott Collection as recently as five years ago. All this is to say that when an R390 appears in public, we ought to take notice. It's not an ordinary thing, and, like many of its endurance-racing contemporaries, the R390 was not an ordinary car. Got tips? Send 'em to tips@ Adam Ismail is the News Editor at The Drive, coordinating the site's slate of daily stories as well as reporting his own and contributing the occasional car or racing game review. He lives in the suburbs outside Philly, where there's ample road for his hot hatch to stretch its legs, and ample space in his condo for his dusty retro game consoles.
NZ Autocar
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
New Shelby GT500 in the works?
It seems Ford is gearing up for the return of the Shelby badge on its new Mustang, as several heavily disguised prototypes have been spotted near the company's Dearborn, Michigan, headquarters—signalling the early stages of testing for the new Shelby GT500 . The test mules are based on the Mustang Dark Horse, the current top-tier performance model introduced with the seventh-generation Mustang in 2024. These prototypes sport a number of modifications that hint at something far more potent lurking beneath the surface. Read more The Shelby GT350 Mustang is back The most obvious changes are up front. The prototypes feature a reworked fascia with enlarged air intakes and prominent radiators, suggesting the need for additional cooling—likely due to a powerful new engine. The front wheel arches are also subtly reshaped, seemingly to accommodate wider tires, while camouflage at the rear hints at further performance upgrades yet to be revealed. Adding to the intrigue are the wheels: the mules are rolling on either the last-gen GT500's standard wheels or the ultra-lightweight 20-inch carbon-fibre wheels from the Carbon Fiber Track Package. Tyre choices vary, with some cars shod in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R rubber, and others in Pirelli P Zero R tyres—both upgrades over the Dark Horse's standard P Zero Trofeo RS setup. Interestingly, Ford engineers have included a cheeky decal on the front fenders—a cartoon mule kicking its hind legs—marking these as official test vehicles. The timing of these sightings aligns with a rumoured internal memo from the United Auto Workers union, which leaked online last month before being swiftly deleted. According to the document, the Dearborn Engine Plant will begin building a new engine for the 2026 Shelby GT500, referred to by the codename 'Legend.' While Ford hasn't confirmed details, this engine is expected to at least match—if not exceed—the previous GT500's monstrous 560kW and 850Nm figures from its 5.2-litre supercharged V8. Though the test cars still resemble the current Dark Horse in many areas, the production version of the new Shelby GT500 is likely to receive further styling tweaks, including a revised grille, unique hood, and aggressive aerodynamic add-ons befitting its performance pedigree. Expect the new Shelby GT500 to make its official debut sometime ahead of its anticipated 2026 arrival—bringing back a legendary name with what could be the most powerful road-going Mustang yet.
Japan Times
13-04-2025
- Automotive
- Japan Times
How Italian driver Ronnie Quintarelli endeared himself to Japan's rabid racing fans
When the Super GT season kicked off in Okayama on Sunday with a race won by TOM's pair Sho Tsuboi and Kenta Yamashita, the grid was missing one of the series' most talismanic drivers of the past two decades. Ronnie Quintarelli sent shockwaves through the paddock when he announced that the 2024 season would be his last. The news arrived not long before the final round at Suzuka Circuit, immediately prior to which the long-time Nissan driver appeared in front of the fans at the NISMO Festival, Nissan's traditional end-of-year celebration held at Fuji Speedway. 'When I made the announcement, at first it was a sad feeling,' recalls Quintarelli. 'But I received a lot of energy from the fans at the NISMO Festival. Many people greeted me and asked for photos. I didn't expect this reaction, and that made me very happy.' Quintarelli made his Super GT debut all the way back in 2005, and had been a permanent fixture of the Nissan camp since 2008, winning four championships in the top GT500 class over the years. That not only makes him Super GT's most-successful foreign driver, but at least by titles, its most successful driver full stop. Other series greats like Satoshi Motoyama, Yuji Tachikawa and Juichi Wakisaka, whom Quintarelli idolized when he first moved to Japan as a fresh-faced Formula 3 driver back in 2003, only managed three. Not only did Quintarelli achieve such success, he did so while ingratiating himself in Japanese culture in a way that few drivers from overseas had done previously, and none have done since. Indeed, once he debuted in Super GT in 2005, Quintarelli would never race professionally outside of Japan again, save for one guest appearance in a DTM round in Germany at the wheel of a Nissan GT500 car. That was despite having an offer to race in Formula 1 with the Spyker team in mid-2007. So what made Quintarelli such a unique presence who stood above his fellow international drivers in Super GT? Much of it has to do with the unique circumstances by which he came to Japan. Quintarelli in action at the opening All-Japan Formula 3 round at Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture in 2003. | Toyota In 2002, the Venetian was racing in senior karting, and a French magazine article about his exploits was spotted by ex-F1 driver Pierre-Henri Raphanel, who had driven for the Inging team in the All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship (the forerunner to Super GT). That led to a chance to participate in a shootout arranged by Inging's All-Japan Formula 3 team at the end of the season, after which Quintarelli was handed a two-year contract to race in the series. Whereas most international drivers live in Tokyo or Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture, where many of the top teams are based, Quintarelli moved to an apartment in Yamaguchi Prefecture, just a short walk from the Inging factory. He would live there for five years. 'I enjoyed my time in Yamaguchi a lot," recalls Quintarelli. "I went to the factory every day to talk to the mechanics and the staff. They were so nice to me, and I also made friends going to the gym and playing soccer, as Inging found me a team to join.' The fact that Quintarelli was in an area with few foreign nationals hastened the process of learning Japanese. By his own admission, his lack of English ability at the time also meant that learning the local lingo was the quickest route to being able to communicate properly with his new colleagues and friends in Japan. By 2005, Quintarelli had graduated from F3 to Formula Nippon, the top single-seater series in Japan, which is now known as Super Formula, as well as Super GT, the top series for sports cars. When Inging stepped up to Formula Nippon in 2006, Quintarelli rejoined the team and became its lead driver, delivering the team its first victory in Okayama in 2007. Quintarelli drives for NISMO during the fifth round of the 2024 Super GT season at Fuji Speedway. | Nissan That was arguably the season that defined Quintarelli's career. Not only did he turn down the chance to race in F1 for Spyker because of the clashes with his existing Formula Nippon commitments, it also opened the door for him to join Nissan's Super GT stable in 2008, initially with customer team Hasemi Motorsport. And the fact he could speak Japanese well enough to address the press without an interpreter after his victory at Okayama was also significant. 'Hasemi-san really appreciated the fact I could speak Japanese,' says Quintarelli, referring to Masahiro Hasemi, whose eponymous team he spent the first two seasons of his Nissan tenure at. 'That was so important to get his attention, as he heard that I spoke Japanese when I won in Formula Nippon. Quintarelli on the podium of the opening All-Japan Formula 3 round at Suzuka Circuit in 2003. | Toyota "It was partly because of the results on-track, but an important factor was that Nissan felt I loved Japan and I was making a big effort to be accepted in this country.' Not only did Quintarelli go on to win four GT500 championships for Nissan, he settled down in Japan, marrying his wife, Emi, in 2008, and earning recognition for volunteering with the Italians for Tohoku group in the wake of the devastating 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami. All good things must come to an end, and by his own admission, 45-year-old Quintarelli's eventual retirement was accelerated by a sub-par 2024 season. But he signed off on a high note in the Suzuka finale, gaining five positions during his stint before he climbed out of the cockpit of his Nissan Z GT500 for the final time in his illustrious career. 'I felt younger, like I was 10 years (younger),' he reflects. 'I am very strict on myself — if things are going badly, I am the first one to give myself 'zero' out of 10. But this time was by far and away my best stint of the year. ... So I have nothing to regret.'
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
I'm a Car Expert: 4 Classic Cars That Are Worth the Money
Anyone who has ever bought a car knows that you should be prepared to spend a lot of money. If that car is a classic, the cost goes way up. On the other hand, if a car is considered classic, it might be worth what you pay and then a whole lot more over the years. Explore More: Consider This: 'The Classic Car Market started off strong in 2025,' highlighted automobile specialist Donald Bond with Dallas Auction Gallery. 'Collectors enjoy buying the cars from their childhood, and that includes those iconic poster cars.' Here are four classic cars that are worth the money, as described by an expert. According to Bond, the Toyota 2000GT was built from 1967 to 1970, which is why this legendary sports car retailed for $6,800 for the American market when it was originally released. 'The 2000GT has always been one of my favorite Japanese classic cars with its sleek design and Jaguar XKE styling clues,' Bond said. 'Only 351 examples were built with 337 being road versions. The rest for racing and prototype.' Bond added that these particular 2000GT's can pull in between $800,000 to over $1 million dollars at auction, making them 'a solid investment.' Find Out: In Bond's experience, two models of the Mustang Shelby to keep any eye out for are the GT350 and the GT500, manufactured from 1965 to 1970. 'Everyone loves a nice fastback with a roaring American V-8 under the hood,' commented Bond. 'These cars have been a steady investment for a long time.' Bond pointed out that the GT350 model is 'still commanding $300K, while GT500's have been steady in the same range.' In addition, he noted that a prototype GT350 sold for $3.85M in 2020. Bond said the Jaguar XKE Series 1 is his childhood dream car, and with good reason. He explained that the 1961 model is one of the most desired, with a starting price of $5,600 when it was first released. They now sell for about $200,000 on average. So what's so alluring about the XKE Series 1? According to Bond, 'The sleek sculpted body, its roaring V-12 engine and who can say no to one of the most beautiful wire wheel designs?' Bond cautioned, however, that its V-12 and electricals can be quite expensive to maintain for anyone serious about investing. 'You will look to spend between $150K to $400K for a pristine restored model,' he said. 'For me these are worth every penny.' Specifically, the models produced between 1964 and 1973, which originally went for less than $6,500, now easily exceed six figures or more. This, Bond noted, is 'due to their popularity, fun-to-drive-ratio, vibrant colors and various model trim packages from T to the RS.' Bond also commented on how lots of restoration companies are redesigning 911 models from this era based on customer requests, which makes the starting price in the range of $350,000 and then go up from there. Of course, without said upgrades, Bond said it has still 'become common to see these cars in the $150,000 to $200,000 range for the T, E and some S models.' 'Some [have] sold for well over $1 million at auction,' he added. More From GOBankingRates 4 Things To Watch for as Elon Musk Takes on Social Security Here's the Minimum Salary Required To Be Considered Upper Class in 2025 Warren Buffett: 10 Things Poor People Waste Money On How Far $750K Plus Social Security Goes in Retirement in Every US Region This article originally appeared on I'm a Car Expert: 4 Classic Cars That Are Worth the Money
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
2026 Shelby GT500 Expected as Ford Expands Engine Production
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious The legendary Shelby GT500 is poised for a comeback in 2026, according to a leaked union memo that reveals Ford's plans to produce a high-performance engine for the next-generation muscle car. A document from UAW Local 600, obtained by the Mustang7G forum, states that Ford's Dearborn Engine Plant is expanding its workforce and will begin building a new engine codenamed 'Legend' on the Niche Assembly line by late 2025. The memo also suggests the engine will power the highly anticipated 2026 Mustang Shelby GT500, marking the return of Ford's most powerful production pony car. Ford has not officially confirmed the details, with company spokesperson Mike Levine stating, 'We don't comment on speculation about future products.' However, sources familiar with the program indicate that the project is moving forward. The previous GT500, launched in 2020, featured a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 producing 760 horsepower, making it the most powerful street-legal Mustang ever built. It was discontinued after the 2022 model year, but demand for used models remains high, with resale values ranging from $70,000 to over $117,000, according to Edmunds. While specific details about the 'Legend' engine remain under wraps, Ford's investment in additional production shifts suggests it could be another high-performance V8, possibly integrating hybrid or electrified elements as Ford continues adapting to evolving emissions regulations. With Ford's commitment to keeping muscle cars alive in an era of electrification, the return of the GT500 would reinforce the Mustang's legacy as one of America's most celebrated performance vehicles. Enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting an official reveal, which could happen as early as 2025.
