OEMs and NISMOs with Jessi Lang! Plus the 370Z Challenge
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00:00 It is SEMA 2015, the biggest aftermarket party on the planet.
00:16 This is a space that favors the bold where anything goes.
00:19 As such, getting eyes on your car here is a tall order, especially for OEMs.
00:24 But it also grants OEMs an incredible opportunity, because if you can turn heads here, you can
00:29 turn heads anywhere.
00:39 I love SEMA.
00:41 I have no idea where to look first, and that is a fantastic problem to have.
00:49 GT-R fans have been waiting for this.
00:56 At long last, we have the unveiling of the 2016 Nissan GT-R NISMO N-ATTACK package.
01:02 The parts from the package were developed through the TimeAttack project at the Nürburgring,
01:06 where in 2013, the NISMO GT-R set the fastest ever lap time for a volume production vehicle.
01:12 The N-ATTACK package is all about achieving optimal speed and outfitting the car with
01:16 the aerodynamics, downforce, and suspension it needs to handle the world's most brutal
01:21 circuits.
01:22 Suffice to say, I really want some seat time.
01:25 Now I just have to figure out how to get it.
01:37 Welcome to the insanity that is the Ford booth.
01:39 Year after year, they draw tons of eyes.
01:41 This year, I think more than most, however.
01:43 They've got the GT slapped up there on the wall.
01:45 That is attention-getting for sure.
01:47 But also, we've got the 2016 Shelby GT350R.
01:51 They're only making 37 of these, so everybody wants to get their hands and their eyes on
01:56 it.
01:57 But I've had it with the crowds.
01:58 It's time to get inside a Ford.
02:01 Justin.
02:02 What's up?
02:03 I'm so glad to see you.
02:07 Yeah.
02:08 It's torturous, you know, to be around so many unmoving vehicles.
02:12 And I'm dying for some seat time.
02:14 Yeah.
02:15 Can you help me out?
02:16 Absolutely.
02:17 Let's do it.
02:18 Yeah?
02:19 Can you take me out in this?
02:20 Ah, not yet.
02:21 I've been working endless hours on it, but it's just not ready to rip around yet.
02:25 Okay.
02:26 Next year?
02:27 Yeah, absolutely.
02:28 Absolutely.
02:29 Okay.
02:30 But I do have a car I can take you out in.
02:31 Okay.
02:32 Let's go.
02:33 You ready to do this?
02:34 Ready?
02:35 Ready.
02:36 Let's do it.
02:37 Go.
02:38 That was awesome.
03:04 It really is a tall order for anybody exhibiting to gain the crowd's attention because of the
03:20 fierce competition.
03:22 But the OEMs, they're doing all right, man.
03:25 They've got some pretty awesome booths, and I'm impressed.
03:28 And then we are at the GM area.
03:29 We got Chevy.
03:30 I see a whole lot of old and new and everything in between.
03:35 This should be fun.
03:37 One of the coolest vehicles Chevy has here is this '67 Chevy Nova concept car.
03:41 The coolest thing about it is what's going on under the hood.
03:44 You've got a two-liter turbocharged engine, the same engine you find in your base Camaro,
03:49 your base ATS.
03:50 It produces 272 horsepower, 295 pound-feet of torque, and this thing only weighs around
03:55 3,000 pounds.
03:56 You can look badass on the street and have some awesome performance and handling on the
04:00 roads.
04:01 Ken, thank you for seeing me today.
04:02 No problem, Jessie.
04:03 Great to spend time with you again.
04:04 Very good.
04:05 And great to be around your beautiful Z06.
04:06 Clearly, you have got the fever for the Corvette.
04:07 When did that begin for you?
04:08 You know, I've been a Corvette guy ever since I saw that '63 split window car.
04:09 Yeah.
04:10 It, to me, just hooked me, hook, line, and sinker.
04:31 Yeah.
04:32 And I've been a Corvette guy ever since then, so.
04:34 And how many have you owned, do you think, over the years?
04:37 I know you have a huge collection, a 200-plus collection.
04:39 Jessie, there's 85 Corvettes in that collection right now.
04:42 Wow.
04:43 We know it's a great stock platform.
04:44 So, tell me about what you've done with it and why you wanted to put your supercharger
04:48 in this car.
04:49 What we had with C7 Corvette was amazing, and Z06 is just icing on the cake.
04:53 We built several stages, sub-engine packages that will go with the Z06.
04:57 Stage one got us up to about 720 horsepower.
05:01 This is going to get us up over 800.
05:03 These are the trends that are driving demand, right?
05:05 Exactly.
05:06 So, the things that you guys are doing are affecting the OEMs and the moves that they
05:08 make.
05:09 This starts as a very, very good OEM product.
05:10 Yeah.
05:11 What we're able to do is just kind of enhance it and make it even better.
05:14 Well, I want to get some seat time, and I want to also take some laps with you as my
05:17 driver.
05:18 Hey, there you go.
05:19 Can we do that?
05:20 We can do it.
05:21 Deal?
05:22 All right.
05:23 All right.
05:24 I am exhausted, but it's a good kind of exhaustion.
05:26 I have no idea how many miles I've walked across these seamless showroom floors, but
05:31 it's been fantastic.
05:32 And although I'm a little fatigued, I'm not that tired.
05:35 And the fun is not over yet.
05:36 It is time for my challenge.
05:38 We are here at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
06:07 It is a really cool track.
06:08 We're right by an Air Force base.
06:10 We've got jets taking off all the time.
06:11 We've got exotic cars running on other parts of the track, and we've got Las Vegas in the
06:15 background.
06:16 Today, I've brought an awesome Nissan 370Z Nismo.
06:19 It's got a 3.7 liter V6.
06:21 It produces 350 horsepower, 276 pound-feet of torque.
06:25 It is hyper-responsive, agile, nimble.
06:28 It offers endless grip.
06:29 Suffice it to say, it's very different from some of the clunkers that these guys are used
06:33 to driving.
06:34 And I think they are going to love this challenge.
06:40 So here's how it's going to work.
06:42 I've set the track up into a 1.8 mile course.
06:45 It's got everything a good road course needs.
06:47 Big sweepers, hairpin turns, big beautiful straightaways.
06:51 We're going to start from a cold launch from right here.
06:54 We each get one lap, and the fastest time wins.
06:56 Hey guys, thanks for coming out today.
06:59 Yeah.
07:00 I told you to bring your helmets because we are going to be doing a timed lap.
07:04 We're going for the fastest lap, and we're going to be using the 370Z Nismo.
07:08 But this is super grippy.
07:10 It's very different from a lot of the crap boxes you guys have been in before.
07:14 I'm not going to get offended by that.
07:16 No, no.
07:17 That's pretty much true.
07:18 So I think you're going to really enjoy it.
07:19 So who's driving first?
07:20 You are.
07:23 So I'm first up.
07:24 I'm really excited about driving this car.
07:26 Last time I drove it was on a racetrack.
07:28 No big deal.
07:29 So it's time for me to set the bar really high.
07:32 No big deal.
07:34 Hey, Sabuuchi, keep your eye on the fruit.
07:41 I don't get it.
07:42 You ready?
07:43 Yeah.
07:44 Three, two, one.
07:45 That was efficient.
07:46 Okay, he just lost 10 seconds right there.
07:58 Not much braking into his right.
08:02 Now he's got some speed.
08:03 He's on the straightaway.
08:04 He's hauling ass now.
08:05 He is hauling ass.
08:06 Maybe that was all an illusion over there, and he was going far faster than we could
08:12 actually estimate.
08:13 Maybe he was sandbagging.
08:14 Gunships.
08:15 Call in the gunships.
08:16 And I can go to the bathroom.
08:27 One minute, 46 seconds.
08:29 46 and a half seconds to be precise.
08:31 That was fun.
08:32 How fast do you think you went?
08:33 I hope I did pretty good.
08:34 I really got to go to the bathroom.
08:35 Yeah, that might have been helpful.
08:36 You did it in one minute, 46 and a half seconds.
08:37 Yeah.
08:38 I don't know if that's good enough, but yeah.
08:39 Neither do we.
08:40 Neither do we.
08:41 And it seemed like you had some really good speed going on in the second part of the track,
08:51 so I think it might be a stand up time.
08:53 Thank you.
08:54 We will see.
08:55 Yeah.
08:56 I tried to do an exciting burnout when I left.
08:57 Yeah, you gave away 10 seconds to us.
08:58 Thank you for that, man.
08:59 That was great.
09:00 That was really cool.
09:01 I really have no idea what I'm doing out here.
09:02 Sorry, Nissan, about your car.
09:03 Remember that time the off-road guy wadded up that pretty white car out in Las Vegas?
09:04 Okay, here we go.
09:05 I'm going to try to get a little bit of a head start.
09:06 I'm going to try to get a little bit of a head start.
09:07 I'm going to try to get a little bit of a head start.
09:08 I'm going to try to get a little bit of a head start.
09:09 I'm going to try to get a little bit of a head start.
09:10 I'm going to try to get a little bit of a head start.
09:11 I'm going to try to get a little bit of a head start.
09:12 I'm going to try to get a little bit of a head start.
09:36 I'm going to try to get a little bit of a head start.
10:05 Yeah! I'll show you guys how to off-road a Nissan!
10:08 And... fourth!
10:11 Bringing it down, bringing it around...
10:14 I gotta admit, it's a good time.
10:21 Oh! Off-track gears!
10:24 Oh my gosh! I believe that was an entire car.
10:28 Maybe Fred should have gone last.
10:33 154.3!
10:35 Alright!
10:40 I think I did that in like 45 seconds.
10:42 Yeah? You're close.
10:44 154.3!
10:46 Yes! That was like the fastest time yet, right?
10:49 Almost. No, not at all.
10:51 You were driving it as if this was Rent-A-Wheel.
10:53 Yeah, what was all the dirt you threw up there? How many times did you...
10:57 I'm off a rotor, guy!
10:59 What do you think I do here?
11:01 You just spent wheels.
11:03 Guess what? Your turn.
11:05 My turn! I'm excited!
11:07 Alright, it is my turn.
11:14 I'm feeling pretty good. Hoping I do well.
11:16 I think I can definitely make up a few seconds, based on how they launched.
11:19 And they had the windows down.
11:21 So, I'm gonna make up for their mistakes and hopefully kick some ass.
11:24 You ready? I'm ready!
11:26 3... 2... 1... Go!
11:30 No wheelspin.
11:32 Granny shifting, though.
11:37 You didn't go off the...
11:42 You didn't see the marker.
11:44 Still on the track.
11:50 Yeah.
11:52 Man, that Nissan sounds like a jet.
11:55 That thing's a rocket.
11:57 She hit the jet button.
11:59 Hopefully she's sweeping it for me.
12:07 Yeah, you're gonna have a clean track now.
12:09 It doesn't look like she's taking that corner.
12:16 1 minute, 10 seconds.
12:18 Here we go! Here we go! Here we go!
12:22 Whoa!
12:24 Whoa! 154.6.
12:28 You beat her.
12:30 You're gonna have to track.
12:32 Your time is 154.3.
12:34 Dude, it felt so much faster than that.
12:36 It was a much cleaner run than mine.
12:38 Literally.
12:40 You're up, Finnegan. Here we go, Finnegan.
12:42 154.6.
12:44 Dude.
12:46 I'm gonna go get my helmet.
12:49 [tires screeching]
12:51 I'm about to show you what mediocre driving skills
12:57 and a Nismo Edition 370Z can do here in Venice.
13:00 All right, it's all you.
13:06 All right. You ready?
13:08 Sort of.
13:10 3, 2, 1, go!
13:12 [laughing]
13:17 Oh, that was not a great start.
13:19 All right, what the hell's wrong with the trans?
13:23 And the worst start of the day goes to...
13:26 With every lap, though, man, it's getting harder and harder to drive.
13:29 Well, that might have been the worst start in the history of mankind.
13:33 All right, he's on the straight, so he's gonna be laying down full throttle here.
13:46 All right, he's at 121.
13:48 He's a little too soon to tell here.
13:51 Oh, I don't have the traction control on.
13:55 See? That's where your gravel is.
13:59 That's like the worst part.
14:01 Oh!
14:07 150.2.
14:09 Winner, winner, chicken dinner!
14:13 [tires screeching]
14:15 How'd it feel?
14:21 Well, in case you were wondering, it's totally possible to attempt to put the car in reverse at high speed.
14:25 Whoa!
14:27 A little light comes on the dash. R-E-V.
14:29 What do you know? Don't do that.
14:31 I did it there. I did it there.
14:33 But you have to push it down to go back into reverse.
14:36 No, the crazy part is... How'd you do that?
14:38 I don't even know how I managed this, but I'm attempting to go to fifth.
14:41 And that light's coming on.
14:43 What? No, 'cause man, it's reverse down.
14:46 Yeah, but you have to push down hard on the stick shit, too, to even get it.
14:50 Can I go again? That really sucked.
14:52 That's how I felt.
14:54 [tires screeching]
15:01 That was so much fun.
15:03 Sabunchi, you were the victor.
15:05 Well done.
15:07 Finnegan, nice second place.
15:09 You got in third, and I was three-tenths of a second behind you.
15:12 However, it is not over yet.
15:15 We have one more challenge, and it's double or nothing, so it is anybody's game.
15:19 Let's go.
15:21 The final challenge for the day is a lane change reverse 180.
15:24 You can start off in reverse, you've got to rocket the car around,
15:27 end up in the opposing lane, go in the opposing direction, and you can't hit any cones.
15:30 If you do, you are out.
15:32 Now, this is totally in my wheelhouse, so I should have this in the bag.
15:37 Hopefully.
15:39 Okay, are you guys ready for this?
15:41 Yes!
15:43 Finnegan, you went last in the last challenge, so you're going to go first in this one.
15:46 Sweet. All right.
15:48 Good luck.
15:50 All right, car.
15:52 Okay, Finn is up, but as we all know, he is a total wild card.
15:55 So, let's see what happens here.
15:57 Oh, he's burning out in reverse.
16:02 [Tires screeching]
16:04 Sorry about your cones.
16:10 This car is awesome.
16:12 You get style points.
16:14 This car is awesome.
16:16 Go!
16:18 Off he goes.
16:20 Lots of speed.
16:22 Good speed.
16:24 Oh!
16:26 And that was a rad drift.
16:29 You're going drifting right now.
16:31 Holy crap.
16:33 All right, it's Obunshi's turn.
16:36 He did really well earlier today, so he might just nail this.
16:40 Or he could completely fail and do a ball of fire.
16:44 So, let's try it.
16:46 Oh!
16:54 I like that one.
16:56 I think he stole a play out of my play.
16:58 I think I hit a cone too.
17:00 All right, looks like Jesse's about to go.
17:04 Yeah, let's see this.
17:06 Here we go, Jesse.
17:08 Nice!
17:14 He did it!
17:16 Like the purest perfection.
17:18 Every time you hit a cone, a unicorn dies.
17:20 Yeah.
17:25 All right, Obunshi, you won the first one, but the second challenge is winner take all.
17:29 And therefore, I am the victor.
17:31 Nice work.
17:33 You guys had fun?
17:35 Oh yeah. That was awesome.
17:37 I had so much fun driving that car.
17:39 I'm pretty sure they didn't design it to drive off-road, but it seemed to work really well.
17:43 You did well.
17:45 Who wants more seat time in the Nismo?
17:47 I do.
17:49 [music]
17:51 Drive through the dirt parts.
17:59 He's got to pee.
18:01 You ready?
18:03 Yeah!
18:05 Okay, three, two, one.
18:07 [engine revving]
18:09 That was efficient.
18:11 Okay, he just lost ten seconds right there.
18:13 Whatever, that's style points.
18:15 We've all got a jump on that.
18:17 man there are no style points.