First Look: TAG Heuer Carrera NISMO Calibre 16 (Ref. CV2A82)

While the majority of TAG Heuer’s motorsport heritage and sponsorship activities has focused on Formula 1, the brand has also been a strong supporter of Le Mans entries over the last few years, supporting the works entries of both Audi and Peugeot. But for 2015, TAG Heuer has got behind the Nissan entry, one of the more…well, unusual and bold entries seen for some time- the NISMO GTR-LM

We’ll get to the details of the car shortly, but to mark this partnership, there is a new chronograph- the 2015 TAG Heuer Carrera NISMO Calibre 16 Edition.

The watch boasts a 43mm titanium case coated in titanium-carbide and is powered by the Calibre 16 (ETA 7750/ Sellita SW500) movement.

Overall the design is quite similar to the 2014 Monaco Grand Prix Carrera 1887, but with the stripe sitting on the left-hand side of the dial rather than the right.

And of course to make sure you don’t forget the partnership, you’ll find a liberal splash of Nissan/ NISMO logos, both on the bezel and the 9 o’clock sub-dial.

The watch is only available with a leather strap that features red stitching- the same strap found on the titanium Grand Carrera Calibre 17 RS2.

Live Shots

Photo by http://www.jw-oomiya.co.jp

As these photos from Oomiya show, the Nissan/ NISMO branding doesn’t finish on the front of the watch, it also features on the sapphire caseback at the rear.

http://www.jw-oomiya.co.jp

Nissan GT-R LM NISMO

So who, or what, is NISMO? Founded in 1984, NISMO is an abbreviation for Nissan Motorsport International, effectively the works racing division of Nissan. Outside of Japan NISMO’s involvement in international motorsport has been somewhat sporadic, perhaps being best known for the Group A Skylines of the 1990s.

But for 2015 the team has built an amazing challenger for the 24 Hours of Le Mans- the GTR- LM. What makes this car so unusual is its front wheel drive/ front-mounted engine combination- a contrast to the usual rear-mounted engines with either rear-wheel or four-wheel drive.

Powering the GTR is a 3.0 V6 engine with a F1-style kinetic energy recovery system that brings total power to 1,250 BHP. Yes, all that through the front wheels…can you say understeer?

While the car’s layout means the looks are somewhat awkward, Nissan should be applauded for confronting the Le Mans challenge in such an innovative way. Fans of F1 will no doubt see the contrast between the relative freedom offered to Le Mans entries compared to the restrictive F1 rules.