1400 Horsepower AMS Performance Alpha 12 Nissan GT-R - CAR and DRIVER

The AMS Performance Alpha 12 Nissan GT-R is the 1400-horsepower answer to the docile 545-horsepower standard Nissan GT-R. We take the tuned Godzilla to Willow Springs Raceway on the latest episode of Car and Driver: Tested.
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CAR: AMS Performance Alpha 12 GT-R
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Hosted by the editors of Car and Driver magazine, this show puts the audience into the action on new-car reviews, comparison tests, auto-show coverage, and more. Our experts drive and test the latest models, attend automotive events around the world, and check out the latest in-vehicle technology like massaging seats and night-vision systems. Viewers will also have the opportunity to write in and extend the conversation.

[@howardpower]

Simply amazing! The raw power it has...wow! I didn't realize just how much traction control helps us. That guy was all over the place. All in all, this is my dream car for sure. Even the stock 545 HP GT-R, I will take without hesitation.

[@SelimxBradley]

I really wish C&D would pit the AMS Alpha 16 GT-R (1840hp) vs. the UGR Stage 2 Race Gallardo (1750hp).

[@erwinmonti5066]

Yeah that would be some fun fortunately it wouldn't be much fun for the guy in the lamborghini because lamborghini is no matter what you do to them they are still a grossly overpriced grossly overrated piece of s*** car they always have been they always will be..

[@lalajdhfbdj]

Engine hand built by master builder takumi, then tweaked by Bob.

[@MoeJae86]

XD HAHAHAHA!

[@kendall9758]

HAHAHAHA!

[@ImportRace]

funny comment

[@EndritBs]

Hahaha indeed.

[@sneakster1978]

1400 horsepower? Why in the hell wouldn't you upgrade the brakes and suspension.

[@arch417powersports]

Already has huge brembos...

[@sneakster1978]

archinuk417 Huge brembos don't mean anything with 1400 horsepower. With that much power on tap I wouldn't be running anything but carbon ceramics.

[@arch417powersports]

sneakster1978 Who needs good brakes when you have 1400 hp... ;)

[@sneakster1978]

archinuk417 Eventually the girl will have to get out so you can clean up the passenger seat.

[@c2jones]

That was my reaction, too. Whatever the true power actually is on this thing (1,100, 1,200 or 1,400), the rest of the car should be engineered to be up to the task. If I were spending these funds getting to this power, I would have brakes nearing IndyCar levels.

[@larrylarson2691]

3 years later alpha 20 GTR 2000+ hp

[@larrylarson2691]

+NUCK CHORRIS Show me a video of a Bobas golf run 7.48 or better with full interior than we can talk if not than stfu.

[@larrylarson2691]

Get up to date idiot. Nobody over here is interested in running 1k only 1/4 and 1/2. AMS GTR hit 7.48 in 1/4 mile. UGR hit 234mph in 1/2 mile can any of your dream car hit that? No than STFU. An american Ford GT hit 278mph in 1k. So 254mph aint shit over here. UGR lambo almost hit that in 1/2 mile hahaha

[@romankozlovskiy7899]

+Larry Larson a hygergine peroxide dragster can do 0-366mph 603kph in 3.5sec idoit

[@ericgapit1695]

+Larry Larson ams alpha omega is their flagship and it does have 2000+

[@barath4545]

+Larry Larson Thanks for the 7.48 update, just saw the video and thought 7.9x was still the record. Damn. It's really impressive. Now for the real questions though; (a) Is it still streetable and would they consider just completing Drag Week with a 7.xx average to prove a point? (b) Will this kinda 7-average be trickled down to Alpha 22 or Alpha 20 cars so they can get the same power and setup as the Omega has and will that be available at under $100k? I think the answer to (a) is a yes, but I dunno if AMS wanna do it, cause I feel confident that Freiburger would get them in, in the unlimited class, maybe even unlimited iron cause its all metal bodywork last I heard. Wrt to (b) I sadly think it will still be $150-200k and thus for "regular semi-rich" people that buy a built 7-8 second 1/4 mile car for Dragweek and/or street bragging rights and/or fun at a strip or pull races, an American car with a simple 427/555/572/632 TT (twin turbo) 2x 76->88 mm setup will still be the proven combo, cause its that much cheaper to buy, fixed and finished. A 572 TT is $37k at certain famous builders and can be hammered together for like half if you have good hands or friends with same. Add 20k for a donor car and cage and all the rest and maybe 10k for fab and install work if you do nada yourself and you got a comparable car to this one for $40-80k. That said I wish I had enough cash for an Alpha "22" (ie just what I assume the Alpha Omega has in it right now with the new billet block and their latest tricks and parts installed). It's really annoying that there has to be a religious war between the two different approaches, cause both have super cool appeals if done right.

[@nbrijesh1991]

Would love to see The Stig drive this monster..

[@BigPerryThePlatypus]

AMS and UGR are the best in the world

[@SuperHodge08]

give it to top gear uk and let them test it!!

[@SirtubalotTX]

And have Jeremy Clarkson's lard butt soil and darken the driver seat in this beautiful beast? never.... Just kidding. I like Jeremy.. I just like throw in a jab every now and then.

[@jbgarry8468]

Fifth gear man !

[@Tavkastaja]

JB GARRY Are you fucking kidding me?

[@joshjones1463]

Top gear America Tanner is the best driver. USA USA USA hahaha

[@TheCormacmc]

Josh Jones Speak English dude.. lol

[@ryanosbourne9945]

If You guys @ Alpha can couple this kind of performance with a suspension setup, that can run or possibly beat the 6:57 nurburgring lap done by the Porsche 918 and still keep the 4wd characteristics of the R35, you guys will be gods in Japan.

[@ryanosbourne9945]

Oh and maintain everyday drivability and costs as well.

[@yco67]

10:05 what a lovely sound. !!

[@49fiori]

I need this car vs Koenigsegg Agera R!!!!! Anybody!

[@theone619]

It would shit on that lilly ass overpriced koenigsegg agera, no competition.

[@rallypros]

I really like this guys attitude towards it, and how he didn't want to add any flashy shit to it.

[@willowsprings1192]

Yes!! this is at our track..

[@erwinmonti5066]

I HAVE THIS EXACT BUILD ON MINE.. IT TOOK ME WEEKS TO LEARN HOW TO DRIVE IT.....SCARY DOESNT COVER IT..

[@kolion17]

We got the GTR back, now where is a new Supra.

[@LizardHunter777]

R.I.P.

[@adrianlopez4924]

Bmw?

[@2007toyota4runnersr5]

AMS Knows what they are doing this is a test car for a reason the actual AMS shop car has the license plate "AMS GTR" and is stupid reliable makes me a proud a Chicagoan

[@stlchucko]

Oh, I forgot to throw that in. It's also cheaper, due in part to the parts availability. So it's design is light, compact, plentiful, durable, with a broad powerband that is flexible enough to be in everything from pickup trucks to renown sports cars, can get 30+ mpg highway in the right application, cheap, the most popular engine swap and probably has the largest aftermarket support of any engine type. That's probably why the Hennessey Venom and SSC Ultimate Aero use them too. Now why's it bad?

[@dabravetoaster]

Dear Santa: ...

[@cxbra]

This is the ultimate sportscar! Im not big on GTR's (im more into lightweight 4 cylinder cars) but there is nothing else in the $200,000 range that could even trail behind it! It costs less than a Murcielago and performs better than a $2,000,000 Veyron. Amazing!

[@2slick35]

I would still buy one. I could care less about having all that power. 545hp is fine with me. I just like the overall look of the car...its so sexy!

[@TrU3G4MinGsTYL3]

9:18 thoe

[@otosaigon2528]

Mate... 1100 hp is enough for presentation. Ok? 1400 hp. Are u paranoid or want to against the detail. Try to sleep well.

[@pascalmpower7944]

Paul Walker should drive it in FF 6

[@seitaneddy]

ROCKETGUN MISSILE He`s definitely going to drive it in FF7...

[@pascalmpower7944]

I totally respect Paul Walker but he will earn even more respect if he killed by driving an alpha omega instead of riding a Porsche v10

[@scientificenigma]

Nobody cares what he was driving they will respect him just as much regardless...god gtr fanboys are ridiculous ...people would probably laugh if he crashed in a gtr one if the easiest cars to drive unlike a Carrera gt one if the most soul ful beautiful cars full of emotion that is also insane to drive

[@pascalmpower7944]

You are the most ridiculous ///M fans.

[@scientificenigma]

Srry. But everyone will agree gtr fanboys are the cancer of the car enthusiast group most if em anyway

[@reggier2343]

It makes all the right noises!

[@ziomel105]

Actualy to straight things up they can't change engine over race season (Qualifitcation race etc.), however they can do betwen GP races.

[@danthonythomas3446]

Badass gtr

[@ViceCityVacation]

I have always respected GTR's (Both Nissan & Skyline range, particularly from '92 onward) but really they are becoming more & more about tech driving you instead of you driving the tech. Now....I respect Japanese tech, because of the way they were able to showcase AWD turbocharged in-line 6's up against our Aussie V8 super-tourers way back in '94-'95 and changed the way we thought about a 6 cylinder taking on the high torque big-block bad boys. But now, they really have run the risk of falling into the trap of becoming the 'Every-mans' supercar. Being from Oz, I have always had a healthy love affair with Good 'Ole Boy American Muscle and as such, I feel SuperSnakes & ZR1's have become the true attainable 'Drivers' *QUOTE* affordable supercar experience. However, the upcoming 2014 Nismo may prove me wrong. Time will tell :)

[@GeorgeZoto]

Those twin turbos will keep me up tonight, amazing sound...

[@nickjwood84]

If its slower around the track, what's the point?

[@Jiuwrong]

You clearly have never driven a fun car. When it comes down to throwing a hundred plus grand into a car, you don't give a shit about some time slip, you care about the raw adrenaline rush the car gives you. $20 says you'd literally shit your pants in the passenger seat of this car, then never want a fast car again.

[@nickjwood84]

Yeah, cause a car that can't corner and blows its clutch every time you press it is a great idea.

[@icedkiller686]

Nick Wood get a scooter then.. corner like crazy

[@nickjwood84]

I have a sportbike.

[@adrenalineinducedhigh4604]

sportbikes can't beat shit around a track.

[@danielmurphy67]

listen when he said bolting on racing stock parts was literal yes but what you don't realize is that how the oem test they're products aswell and as far as tuning isn't just slapping on race parts and hoping for the best well no you need to retune the computer and fuel system to work properly with the upgrades and as far as the rear diff going yes it could use upgrade there to help handle that power better but in a straight line for about 1.8 mil cheaper you could at least keep up with a veyron

[@omarjadallah9961]

And hey bro! I won't disagree, but relatively to the amount of HP and aftermarket mods to this car, this is the toughest and most reliable build for +1000HP, not mentioning that a lot of engineering has been put into the design, so it wasn't just your average day mods! AMS Performance

[@stevec898]

AaaaaaHhhhhhh If only I had the money!! and this is the thoughts of most people who watch this video wether to knock it/love it you have to hand it to Nissan its one stunning car especially in black body/wheels and this from the people who make the Micra Well Done Nissan and please keep coming up with these motors.

[@Benswan187]

Stock disks? Nooooo. I bet it handles better than a lot of supercars! Beast

[@TheUrban1111]

To everybody who says that this is a bad car because it is not very good on track: i bet you have never even sat in a car that has more than 200 hp. I guess you dont know what fun is. Look that up in a dictionary.

[@M3Conv]

Love the fact that no one is mentioning the fact that it broke down and had to be towed. Who would want to pay so much money for something that suffers catastrophic failure after a couple of easy laps (and rememeber that this is a factory owned and maintained car).

[@subzero3499]

I was shaking my head the whole time with the biggest smile :)

[@lsb0119]

The turbo sounds amazing

[@GRIDSALEENS7]

Im guessing with the power weight ratio of this GTR and the amount of downforce it generates, you would have to use F1 race car technology to keep this beast on the road while navigating bends. Sacrifice some forward acceleration for lateral acceleration so it can actually take a bend without having to slow down so much.

[@TheLeGeNdPvE]

Yea and also like said before whp and crank hp differ a lot fuel makes a huge difference too..

[@isaybuckedy]

Hehe, the base level AMS package is already more expensive than the platform it is fitted to, gold.

[@stlchucko]

2013 BMW M3 MPG 14 city/ 20 highway 2013 Camaro SS 16 city/ 24 highway Better mpg with more power and weight going against it The VR38DETT is roughly 29.5" tall, 27" wide, 27" long without turbos and accessories. 610 lbs dressed without intercoolers, piping A Gen I 350 SBC is 22" tall, 22" wide, 29.5" long. All iron 575 lbs, alum head 510 lbs, all alum 425 lbs dressed The LS7 is 26" tall, 24.5" wide, 28.5" long. 455 lbs Dressed ^^^FACTS^^^ Next time, base your argument on them

[@DetailedSolutions]

@4:15 those stock rotors are ready to shatter

[@neckisstiff]

Thanks, I've worked hard to get to where I am in life. I didn't grow up in a rich family either... hard work pays off! I'm going to bring my car to a professional track and have a pro teach me, because anything can happen with this kind of power that I'm not used to... so I want to be well prepared.

[@justsaying2000]

When you modify something that much and you don't replace parts that were designed to handle a lower HP , of course things will break...All you have to do is replace those parts with racing stock parts, still comes in far cheaper than the Veyron, and will be much more reliable as well.

[@allin4559]

I think he may have just talked me out of serious power mods ... Stopping at 800 whp may be it for me ... I would like to road course my car and other mods will be more important. BTW .. there are a ton of mods for pocket cars (cheap, light and don't care about wrecking) that can go straight really really fast. Now days toss in electric and that's an option also. But for those who love the sound .. the look .. daily drive ability .. etc nothing beats a fast GT car. Hyper / limited use sports cars are are cool but .. Watched this before, but after modding my car a bit ... this changed my focus ... it seems like there is more value in saying I have "1400hp" vs driving a 1400hp car.

[@johngalt2071]

There is a thing called maps when it comes to tuning. If you want 800whp, you can have 800whp with a map tuned to that torque level. Generally with bigger turbos come bigger lag, but newer technology in turbos these days is pretty freaking amazing. These days a turbo capable of almost tripling the whp of a stock GTR spools 400rpm later.

[@stlchucko]

When GM experimented with the DOHC LT5 in the ZR1 from 1990-1995, why didn't they continue DOHC V8s? The more compact ICB was lighter, more compact, and thus able to move the motor down and back; keeping a lower hood line and lower CoG. Face it. There's a reason the LS motor is the most popular interbrand swap. It can fit into a 240sx, Miata, 240z, or RX7 thanks to compact size. It's less complex, more flexible in applications, proven durability, and very plentiful. I think we're done here.

[@reaperofthemarkets]

this is the car i want when i grow up

[@jzpan8469]

Live right by the shop in Illinois

[@LedByDemons]

I was not making fun of you, just simply bringing up another aspect of which I was confident you were informed. So to recap, I enjoyed seeing someone (you) mention that a SERVICE in itself is an absurd amount of money. I was simply adding in that it is the price for a Bugatti is also ridiculous. And as for the latter part of my former comment, maybe respect was the wrong word, but if you can purchase a Bugatti you are obviously doing something right.

[@ImportRace]

Wow, That Nissan GT-R is fast

[@alandry9497]

Martin, you're a genius.

[@Curveball]

Just watch the video again and listen from 30-40 seconds. It says 1100hp on pump gas. If you run higher boost or put in some race fuel, then the power goes up. Then, you have to factor in if it's talking about the power at the crank or to the wheels. This was just to show people what will happen if you try to road course race a 1000+hp street car. It's not going to go very well.

[@pablonaracena]

Built quality, attention to details, service, warranty, reliability, etc, etc. And most important is a matter of taste. Is like when people choose honda over toyota, ford over chevy, bmw over mercedes benz. A matter of taste dude

[@SmokeyHavoc]

This AMS version, I'm not sure. The stock version including the Black Edition, yes.

[@jawaad1983]

I agree, when are we going to see a new Toyota supra, its about time.

[@ChunkyDumplins]

This place is right down from the road from me, my friend got fired for driving one of the clients GTR's... hard to say i don't blame him..

[@stlchucko]

Sorry, those V8s don't need forced induction to break 400-500 hp stock. 1 bar of boost makes an engine act twice it's size, but NA does it without lag. Let's talk efficiency too. That big v8 commonly weighs less and has smaller outer dimensions than the turbo Inline, flat, and v6s. Plus the increased low end torque and no turbo lag allow for taller cruising gears; for better MPG. That's why Corvettes routinely see 30+mph on the highway I guess you didn't get the memo on the new DI LT1 either.

[@TrinityAlex]

Honestly, I'd be extremely happy with the stock one ... but how much faster is this one exactly? - track time, 1/4 mile?

[@zabbas870]

Cant wait till the day I buy one of these beasts

[@ItsKapow]

Insane power!

[@howsoonisnow1985]

The tuner is more in the Sube and Evo straight line racing scene. The tuner is not interested in corners and stopping nor track stuff.

[@iLLGT2]

Insane car.. I'd like to ask however, why he thinks that particular GTR couldn't have a steel brake setup redone to handle that over ceramics?

[@xyoshi]

I dont understand. The GTR was made with balance in mind. Good cornering, good power, good price. Maybe its the way it was driven in the video, but it seemed as though its alot less fun to drive after adding massive power and doing little for stability.

[@bri6985]

I have a hard time that this car could be an everyday driver but I guess when you have that kind of money it's all good lol

[@HertzVillegasC]

Amazing Nissan. The Beast. The GODzilla.

[@TheLeGeNdPvE]

Yea turbo cars you can select and change from power mode to economy mode with a click of a button...and yea 1400 hp on its highest possible setting with race gas at 8-15$ a gallon or more

[@7ito1990]

I think Shelby should consider teaming up with Nissan over this car and make a shelby parts version of this. Of course, the engine should maybe use this ams version, or any other crazy like version. But everything else I think should be from another trademark or company / tuning shop. Just to see how handling rolls

[@Panda8MyTaco]

Personally the best body kits for Gtrs are the veilsides

[@GregQuillen]

High HP turbo cars are hard to drive on the track.. at certain gas pedal point the boost kicks in and then tires break loose.. so hard to fine tune power amount.. crazy.. spinning all four tires at 70mph LoL

[@baconator490]

You still have as much grip and cornering as a stock gtr. Its your choice to let the engine make enough power to lose traction. If you keep your foot out of it the thing will be good on corners and with the extra power it can explode out on the straights.

[@LedByDemons]

HerpDerp at least knows what numbers are... you can buy like 20 GT-Rs with the money you spend on your Bugatti. So the real answer is, when money is not an issue in the least, go with the Bugatti, because if you can drop that much on a car, I respect you.

[@ivorytickler94]

I love how theres not even a racing harness inside.

[@44Swager]

to aspi ootaku, there r videos of a legenfelter package zr1 with only 680 rwhp runnin with 900awhp skylines, u put about a 1000rrwhp vette against a 1000 awhp skyline, skyline wnt touch a vette on a roll drag, but the vette cnt touch the skyline in a dig drag, so u cnt say that they cnt "touch" that cus tthey ccan, just depends on comparison of performance llevels and ddrivers

[@Jstache23]

I love this vid. Dream car is in full effect. Keep them exotics. GTR

[@seanoctane1908]

love the skyline GTR

[@Hachiae]

should go back now and have a look, its around 2000hp

[@terrenceh.2438]

I just love the GTR. It's truely the best car

[@Hogaboga101]

So what we have here is a sleeper GT-R? Awsome!

[@VirusTornado]

+Hogaboga101 "sleeper" lol. A Sleeper Bugatti killer.

[@randomcontent7239]

+VirusTornado if you're running plat fuel

[@VirusTornado]

Mr. Spoderman y u do dis spoderman. i cri evrytme

[@omc5598]

best racing car period.

[@osamabinturnt1287]

+some sh1t not on a track

[@omc5598]

+osama bin turnt .

[@mercurious11]

With all that mad speed, it still looks like an Altima from the front.

[@HesteBremse]

I don´t get why this wild tuning package does not include upgraded brakes. It´s 98 - 118 K - If one spends that much on a GT-R then even some more dollars will not really matter will it? hold it up against that Brakes win races on the racetrack they say. I would also like to know if the boost can be adjusted from the the cockpit?. I mean a GT-R is capable of a lot of things - So if your on the dragstrip you will use racefuel and full boost. If on trackday you need another setup and the brakes!!

[@TEEMA-q1z]

Simply amazing

[@trickedoutshowkase]

Sick. Wouldn't mind taking that for a drive.

[@trilakersnbachamps]

you are right!

[@Sheevness]

sickkk put it in the new installment of the Fast and Furious.

[@ziomel105]

Of course i can understand changes in car due satefty reasons but really they need to do so many limits for engines? Back in this era of F1 there was no limitations for engine HP, so they can make unstable 1500hp car but it was better to create a 800hp car with very little lag.

[@350Zquicksilver]

so glad Car and Driver did this... now dial that mother back to 900hp and throw some ceramic brakes on that beast, i want to see a lap time!

[@Ravi-ue8iw]

1400BHP AND THOSE ADV1'S WOW

[@ethan199303]

0:22 so sick

[@zerounit87]

OMG WATCH OUT CRAZY DRIVER!!!! 9:45'

[@spencermel]

BRING in Keiichi Tsuchiya the drift king and he will drift that whole track in one or two trys with that car.

[@MrFlocam]

It's Robert Reddington!

[@rocket3413]

the nissan black edition is a super car

[@pensive69]

is the balance of where the power goes something the tuner has changed or could change? only issue i see repeatedly is too much to the rear wheels. if they had a more gradual power rise or there was just more tire traction at the rear the car might stay more track stable.

[@macmartin86]

0:21 - 0:28 Soundgasm oh my god.

[@burk415]

I guess you didn't watch the video. The first guy said 1100hp on pump. The second guy said about 1200hp (talking from the crank) and the car can put 1400 awhp down on race gas. But I guess you don't need to know cars to watch the video, nor comment.

[@PooHBeaRst]

Hehe grandpa couldn't handle all the power safe to say he wasn't the man to that around the track ahahaha

[@joshualarrieux9106]

i think the top wing should go tiles bavk and forth.

[@thehavok4258]

I think the Viper has the track record on Willow Springs :)

[@gripp9k]

It just seems silly and undriveable - I get a 200+ hp boost to make the GTR a bit more aggressive and be rotate on throttle a bit more, but this just seems, well, not very fun. To each his own I guess, but handling is one of the things that makes the GTR a great package, and this just kinda ends that.