GT4 2004 AMUSE CarbonR (R34)

Here is a 2004 AMUSE CarbonR (R34) in my GT4 pictures.

Black is absolutely the worst color to shoot cars in in the photo mode across all of the Gran Turismos, and you can see why from these pictures.

The second worst is yellow/orange but only because it changes in the sun but at least you can see the car's features. With black however you don't even get that luxury.

Fake reflection thing on black doesn't work either.

The car is seen at Marunouchi, Tokyo, which is "a business area that is typical of those found in Tokyo. The light from the Tokyo International Forum at the center of the circuit (?) floods the track (??)". 

Some of these photo travel location descriptions are a bit off in Gran Turismo 4.

"A full-carbon GT-R that proves less weight is a great strength in racing."
Amuse, one of Japan's most renowned aftermarkets tuners, created a number of potent machines over the years, most of them featuring powerful engines and lightweight bodies. But when the company introduced its version of the R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R, Amuse had created a real monster. The car was called the Carbon R, and it was arguably the fastest GT-R conversion made to date.
The exterior of the Carbon R looked radically different from the stock car, retaining only the rooftop and pillars. Every other body panel was swapped for one made from carbon fiber. The interior was gutted, and the windows (except for the front widescreen) were replaced with lightweight polycarbonate.
The body was widened by about 2.0 inches on each side and graced with a number of aerodynamic parts, including a new underbody shaped to generate downforce. Further weight reduction measures included deleting the secondary driveshaft, making the F-AWL (Front engine, All Wheel Drive) car into an FR (Front engine, Rear drive) car. The total result of these changes accounted for a remarkable 500 kg in weight reduction, allowing the performance coupe to tip the scales at a lean 1,120 kg.
In terms of speed, the Carbon R was a force to be reckoned with. It set lap records at racetracks around Japan, and was a very strong argument for the principles of "less is more" when it came to high-speed performance.
The Carbon R is an R34 Skyline that is completely fabricated from carbon fiber. Due to this, it has one of the best brakes in the game, with the braking power almost equivalent of a Formula 1 car. It also has quick acceleration due to it's light weight and powerful engine, and is capable of outrunning a JGTC racecar without a sweat. The turbo, however, tends to lose pressure in the high RPM range in the high gears. It is still quick and nimble on its feet, though. For best performance, medium racing tires should be equipped, since sport tires cannot provide enough traction for the immense power. The car will wear them out very quickly, though.
The car utilizes wheels from RAYS ENGINEERING, an R1 TITAN exhaust, and an ARC intercooler. It doesn't utilize headlights, though, as they have been replaced by carbon fiber panels.

Powerhouse Amuse is real (linking to its Japanese website).

MADE FROM REALITY

GT4 2000 Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Coupe

Here is an Aston Martin, the 2000 Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Coupe in my GT4 pictures.

Sporting British Racing Green, it is seen here at Beacon Hill which is one of the photo travel locations in GT4 and is also an "upmarket residential area in Boston, America. The layout of the town contrasts with the unique beauty of the eastern coast".

However, I don't think there's much beauty in this particular vehicle (see above).

For some reason I tend to dislike British cars and the GT4 camera doesn't have much love for them either (see below).

Be that as it may, the Aston Martin DB7 was the first attempt by the company to produce an entry-level model following Ford takeover who wanted to double or even treble Aston Martin sales.

Styled by Ian Callum and Keith Helfel, the DB7 is supposed to be a timeless British classic although there is a large chunk of Jaguar DNA in it.

There were several versions of the DB7 (and the Vantage is one of them) and at least one special edition - the DB7 Zagato numbering just 99 units.

"The ultimate sports coupe, made using the unique Aston Martin method."
Aston Martin's DB7 V12, released in 1999, represented the company's flagship, blending style and performance in a pure 2-seat package. It shared a few components with its platform sibling, the Jaguar XK-R, but there were enough differences between the two to ensure that the Aston was without a doubt a performance car of the highest order.
Even though the FR (Front engine, Rear drive) car was a 2-seater, it rode on a long wheelbase of 102 inches. The car was physically large, but its svelte styling made it look smaller than it actually was. It wore a handsome face, highlighted by the classic Aston Martin grille. Under its long hood was a 5,935 cc 48-valve DOHC V12 that pumped out 420 HP, propelling the 1,755 kg DB7 to a top speed of 165 mph. Shifting was performed through a 5-speed automatic gearbox.
Using the DB7 V12 as a foundation, Aston Martin created a super high-performance Vanquish in 2000. It sported a completely redesigned body that was penned by the Italian design firm Zagato. The Vanquish was equipped with the same V12 as the DB7, but tuned to an even higher level. It cranked out a whopping 459 HP at 6,800 rpm, and although it was a bit heavier than the DB7 with a curb weight of 1,835 kg, the Vanquish was Aston Martin's most potent machine, able to reach a top speed of 196 mph.

GT4 2004 Proto Motors SPIRRA 4.6 V8

On the occasion of a Friday (26.08.2016), I hereby give you, the readers of this blog, some pictures of a Spirra - the GT4 2004 Proto Motors SPIRRA 4.6 V8 to be exact.

It is parked in these pictures at Grand Canyon which is a photo travel location in Gran Turismo 4 but is also "one of the seven (more than seven, I am sure) wonders of the world that stretches across the State of Arizona in America, with majestic views of the arid landscape".

Wearing a coat of Spirra Yellow, the Spirra is a real car. However, its initial manufacturer - Proto Motors (or Protomotors) of South Korea went bankrupt soon after GT4 came out in 2004 but the Spirra apparently lives on as the Oulim Motors Spirra and has gone already through several generations.

Introduced at the Seoul Motor Show in 2002, the Spirra Prototype was an attractive, midship sports car developed by Proto Motors, a Korean research and development company established in 1997 that is best known for creating stretched limousines and electric vehicle prototypes, for major Korean auto manufacturers including Daewoo and Hyundai.

Korean auto manufacturers are known for their practical sedans and efficient compact cars, but this could soon change as a result of the Proto Motors Spirra Prototype.

With an overall length, width, and height, of 170.0 inches, 75.9 inches, and 46.2 inches, respectively, the Spirra's sharply-pressed bodylines rests atop an aluminum spaceframe/carbon fiber chassis.

Its looks immediately brings to mind high-performance, and includes unique design elements in their use of curves around the headlights. The doors are gull winged and open towards the front.

The engine compartment behind the front seats is spacious enough to accommodate just about any engine, and allowed the choice of a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4, a 3.0-liter V-6 and a 4.6-liter V-8. The most powerful V-8 produced 320 HP, giving it the ability to go head to head with leading Japanese and European sports models and it came equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission.

This is a very rare car in the extremely competitive sportscar market that proudly claims "Made in Korea".

Proto Motors has since then changed their company name to Oullim Motors.

It looks OK. In fact, I think it was ahead of the times in the looks department. 

Present-day (2016) cars have the same styling cues.

GT4 2004 Opera Performance 350Z

Here is a car for today - the GT4 2004 Opera Performance 350Z.

You may look for Opera Performance real-life website but even Google won't help you find it.

Because Opera Performance is entirely a fictional manufacturer and car tuner that exists solely in the world of Gran Turismo.

It is here pictured in the splendidness of Fish Market which is the "busiest fish market in Tokyo filled with the din ad bustle unique to Asia".

You can almost smell fish and what not just by looking at these pictures.

 The car is evidently based on the Nissan 350Z.

Gran Turismo Game Series

My Gran Turismo-related youtube playlist.
Admittedly not much yet, mainly google+ generated videos using my pictures I uploaded for this blog.



It might be updated in the future but who knows.

GT4 2001 Hyundai Coupe FX

Here's a car for today - the 2001 Hyundai Coupe FX in my GT4 pictures.

The Hyundai Coupe is the same as the Hyundai Tiburon.

This marvelous location is Brooklyn, N.Y., and includes the Brooklyn Bridge which spans the Hudson River.

Hyundai, Korea's biggest carmaker, offered a wide range of models, from light vehicles to large trucks and even buses in its home market. Some made their way to the U.S. Among them was the Tiburon, Hyundai's take on the sporty car. Sold as the Tuscani in Korea and as the Coupe in Japan, the car's strongest feature was its compelling design, highlighted by an aggressive front-end styling that looked like nothing else in the market.
The car was a 2+2 hatchback, making it an ideal daily commuter. The Tiburon was similar in character to the Toyota Celica, but the Hyundai offered more engine choices, including 1.8-liter and 2.0-liter inline-4 as well as 2.7-liter V-6. All the engines came mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission.
The cream of the crop was the V-6, characterized by a healthy dose of low-end torque and a smooth revving character, the suspension was tuned for more comfort than performance, so it lacked the sharp turn-in characteristic of its competitors.
That said, ride quality was supple, making it one of the more comfortable cars in its class. Although the Tiburon lacked the refinement of its Japanese and European counterparts, its low price made it a bargain difficult to ignore. And with each passing year, the quality of Hyundai's cars have shown improvement, and it seems only a matter of time before it creates a car that surpassed the best Japan and Europe have to offer.

GT4 2005 Chrysler 300C

Today's car is the GT4 2005 Chrysler 300C.

The color is Cool Vanilla.

And the location is... yes, Times Square at night - one of the Photo Travel locations in GT4.

Times Square, N.Y., is the "center of Noo Yawk New York where 7th Avenue and Broadway meet, a major tourist and business center".

Winner of the prestigious North American Car of the Year award in 2005, the Chrysler 300 was one of those very rare cars that carried over all of its interesting looks and details from the concept show car directly to the production model.
Produced on the same LX platform as the Dodge Magnum, Challenger, and Charger models, 300 initially came in four trim levels: the base 300, 300 Touring, 300 Limited, and 300C. The base car was powered by a 187 HP 2.7-liter DOHC V-6, while the Touring and Limited models possessed a larger 247 HP 3.5-liter DOHC V-6. The performance-oriented 300C sported a potent 5.7-liter OHV Hemi V-8, which was not only powerful, it was also economical, thanks to its fuel-saving and emission-reducing cylinder deactivation technology. In low-road operations such as steady-state cruise, the engine would operate on only 4 cylinders instead of the full complement of 8. Then slightly after the 300's introduction came the ultimate 300 came later, the 6.1-liter Hemi V-8-powered SRT8.
A respectably-sized vehicle at 196.8 inches long and 74.0 inches wide, the 300's front fascia and overall design somewhat resembled that of the high-dollar Bentley Arnage from England. The car was also known for its robust build quality as many of its major components were shared with the Mercedes-Benz E-Class of the day, the benefactor of the Daimler-Chrysler merger.

Oops, that's not the Chrysler - it's a Ford Crown Vic taxi below.

This is what Times Square must have looked like prior to 2004.