UK fine model car maker Amalgam has finally released the photos of their completed 1/8th scale Nissan GT-R model. Amalgam are recognized as the premiere model maker and supplier of models to high end luxury car manufacturers and racing teams globally.

At 1/8th scale this model is around 22 inches or 58 cm in length and weighs 5kg. It’s huge by any standard and is the most phenomenally well detailed model you’ll ever see.

Take a look at these photos (and the others at the link below). You can see everything has been recreated from the texture of the brake rotors, the reflections in the tail lamps, the stitching on the seats and accurate labels on the dashboard buttons.

These models are now available via Zele International in Japan for 398,000 yen a piece. For those wanting a model of their own GT-R, a custom version of the Amalgam GT-R model is available and starts at a price of 498,000 yen.

リンク: Amalgam 1/8th Scale Nissan GT-R Photo Gallery

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It’s been a full year, almost exactly to the day, since we last had an update on the Zele Performance Type-1 FZ-Titanium muffler for the R35 Nissan GT-R. Zele have this week finally announced the release of the exhaust which is targetted specifically to those chasing maximum performance and weight saving while expecting the absolute best quality fit and finish.

The Type-1 FZ-Titanium exhaust is a single side exit exhaust which saves weight and allows the user to install transmission or differential coolers in the vacant area opposite. It’s fully manufactured in Japan from titanium for durability and lightness and tips the scales at just 6.5 kgs (vs. 17kgs of the OE item).

The main pipe diameter is 89.1mm which splits into two 120mm exit tubes via a pair of resonators. If you guessed this exhaust might be a signifant upgrade in the sound department, you guessed right and you can check out the sound in the video we shot @ Zele headquarters in Yokohama earlier in the year.

The price for the exhaust is 348,000 yen in Japan.

Next up is the Zele FZ-Titanium front pipes. These high flow cat fitted front pipes keep your car street legal and emissions friendly while improving exhaust flow. They weigh less than half the standard front pipes as well at 5.2kgs (vs. 13.3kgs for the stock ones).

These front pipes go for 248,000 yen in Japan.

Hit up the links below to get more information and find your nearest Zele Performance dealer. Zele will also be attending SEMA 2009 this year in Las Vegas from 3rd – 6th of November. Visit them at their booth.

リンク: Zele Performance FZ-Titanium Muffler Type-1
リンク: Zele Performance FZ-Titanium Front Pipes

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Arios have been tweaking the look on a customer’s R35 GT-R recently. They have had a full carbon fibre Zele Performance aero kit installed which is made up of the front lip, side skirts and rear underspoiler. They liked the look of the WALD rear over-fenders (from the WALD SportsLine aero kit) though and decided to integrate the looks. Overall I feel this is quite a successful combination. Once they add some ultra-wide wheels at the rear to properly fill up the guards it should look even better.

For now it’s a one off custom made set of over-fenders but I dare say it would not be hard for any competent body shop to emulate this if you were into that sort of thing.

リンク: Arios ウェブサイト

Arios, WALD, Zele, チューニングニュース aero, Arios, carbon fibre, gt-r, gtr, nissan, r35, sportsline, WALD, zele, zele international, zele performance

It’s not all news about performance parts and motor racing here, sometimes there is drama in the GT-R scene. While much of it goes on behind closed doors and in non public forums, this allegation caught my eye.

When Zele International had completed and debuted their world renowned Nissan GT-R aero parts back in January 2008, they had a mission to make the parts available globally. To do so, they signed up with a range of well known, well established businesses in a dealership model. So now, we can enjoy some very well known, local faces, who can get us our favourite Zele Performance parts all backed by Zele’s after sales service. All good so far.

It seems, according to Zele’s most recent website update, that one such dealership in the UK may have abused their dealership status to import Zele Products at a very low cost for “promotional” purposes, have them copied, modified slightly and then sold as their own product. Photos of the “new” parts fitted to one of the dealers own cars were taken at a local event and then published on a local UK forum. From the photographs its easy to see a resemblance.

The sad part about this is the company in question is generally thought to be a well respected business. Most certainly not a fly-by night web site. Copying parts is the cheap option these days and when no R&D is necessary your margins are higher. It’s really up to the buying public to vote with their money and choose to buy genuine items.

You can read the whole announcement by following the link below and the parts in question in the photos attached.

A very sad day indeed.

リンク: Zele Revoke Authorized Dealership ウェブサイト Update

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Wouldn’t it be nice to have Fuji Speedway in your backyard? Spend the weekends on a picnic blanket down by the circuit looking out on the Fuji Mountain vista. Ah memories…

Anyway where were we? Zele have been out to Fuji Speedway with the Complete Edition and in between bursts of view admiring and suspension adjusting have managed to set a 1:50.08 lap time. They’re personally not 100% pleased with the time but it is quite quick.

They think with a set of fresh rubber and a clear lap they can push for mid 1:4x’s. I’m sure the car has that in it and can’t wait till they go back which should be soon. We’ll see then if it has what it takes to be the quickest tuner GT-R at FSW.

リンク: Zele Performance
リンク: GTRBlog Visit Zele Performance Headquarters in Yokohama
リンク: Zele Performance related articles on GTRBlog

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