Racing drone on flier to keep track of GT-R
Nissan’s GT-R Drone, built for filming the 2017 Nissan GT-R supercar on the track, can reach 62mph from restl in 1.3 seconds. - Credit: supplied
Drones have opened up a new opportunities for car-makers to film their models in action and have some fun at the same time.
Nissan's GT-R Drone – one of the fastest-accelerating FPV (First Person View) racing drones in the world – was built to be able to keep up with the new 2017 Nissan GT-R while filming on the track.
And the drone features the very latest in performance-enhancing technology – just like its automotive equivalent.
Custom designed by World Drone Prix Champions, Tornado XBlades Racing, the GT-R Drone uses a special race-tuned configuration and low-drag canopy to reach 62mph from a standstill in just 1.3 seconds.
To show off the talents of both machines, the GT-R Drone took on the road-going supercar around the challenging Silverstone circuit.
Both machines use incredible technology and engineering to extract the maximum performance, both in a straight line and through corners. The GT-R car transfers power from its twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre 24-valve V6 to all four wheels while the GT-R Drone delivers incredible acceleration via four propellers mated with 2000kV XNova motors and race specification Sky-Hero quadcopter frame.
The race saw Nissan Nismo driver Ricardo Sanchez take the wheel of the new GT-R with James Bowles, the 2015 British National Drone Racing champion, piloting the GT-R Drone around a purpose-built 1.2-mile course at Silverstone.
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The new 2017 GT-R represents the most significant changes to the car since the R35 model was first introduced in 2007. Unlike the drone, the GT-R features new aerodynamic features which are designed to keep it firmly on the ground.
While the drone can out-accelerate the car, wheels soon catch up with rotors – the GT-R Drone has a top speed of about 115mph, versus 196mph for the car.
Even the incredible four-wheel-drive system of the GT-R can't match the ultimate agilty of the drone though, which is has a turning circle of just 0.3m. Its custom set-up allows it to perform heart-stopping manoeuvres with incredible precision and agility.
