GT-R Updated Launch Control

Nissan had updated the software that governs the GT-R’s launch control and was instructing all of its dealers to reprogram every vehicle in dealer inventory that had yet to be sold with the new software in a bid to keep additional transmissions from grenading.

The changes to the new software including limit the maximum RPM that the car will sustain with the VDC switched off to around 3,500, a big reduction from the 4,500 limit of the old programming. Additionally, the software update adds a new, safer form of launch control that allows takeoffs at 3,000 RPM while the VDC remains active.

We have some good news to share with Godzilla owners that are contemplating whether or not to have their cars updated with the new software. A bone-stock GT-R with the reprogramming has been timed at 11.34 @ 194.5km/h with an excellent -1.69-second 0-100 time. That result compares rather favorably with quarter-mile runs recorded by cars with the initial launch control programming.

Volkswagen Fox Scotland

The new Volkswagen Fox in Scotland is available with a choice of two petrol engines, a 1.2 litre three cylinder 54bhp version and a 74bhp 1.4 litre version. Both engines are adequate enough to move the light weight Fox along. The Fox was never designed as a hot hatch, the 0-60 for the smaller engine is over 17 seconds and the larger 1.4 litre does it in 13 seconds.

The VW Fox is a city car available in the UK since 2005; currently the Fox is available as a 3 or 5 door hatchback. The Fox is listed with a long options list to reduce its base price, therefore letting the customer customise their Fox to their liking. It did come with standard twin airbags and anti-lock braking system for safety measures.

As it is a city car the steering is very light and nimble, the suspension as a whole provides decent levels of comfort. For a light weight car the Fox corners very well and grips to the tarmac very well. The only size and weighted related issue is that some of the larger city humps to throw it off course.

Limiting the Fox to just a city car is almost doing it injustice, it holds its own on longer motorway journeys too. Road and wind noise are suppressed from the cabin making it a quiet and smooth ride at the national speed limit.

This stylish city car with the very desirable badge on the front costs only £7,445, the top of the range 1.4 Urban will set you back £9,100. That is a lot of Volkswagen for the money!