Nissan GT-R: Japan's Most Powerful Supercar
Nissan is back with the GT-R Supercar and has Porsche in its sights
Sep 17, 2008
The Nissan GT-R is the most powerful car that Japan has ever produced as it has a power output of 437bhp that’s nearly an astonishing 200bhp more than its predecessor. The starting price quoted at present for the GT-R could be as low as £73,000 but that is awaiting confirmation. If that price sticks the GT-R would come in less than the rival Porsche 911 Turbo that it Nissan is aiming the car at.
Inside the Most Powerful Car Japan has Ever Made
Under the bonnet this car is powered by a 3.8-litre V6, which produces 437bhp. The GT-R can do the zero to 60mph sprint in a time of 3.5 seconds and it has a top speed of 193mph – that’s one quick car.
The test track used to try out the GT-R to its maximum potential was the Estoril race-track in Spain – a former Formula one track.
The GT-R on Test
When putting the GT-R to the test and measuring against the Porsche 911 Turbo, the Japanese car is not as responsive as its German rival but keep the accelerator floored and once the engine passes the 3,000rpm marker, the GT-R hunches down and fires into life. The result is a car that can easily get up to 160mph in a very short time.
The engineers at Nissan have equipped the GT-R with advanced four-wheel drive, adjustable dampers, traction control, plus a construction that features both aluminium and carbon fibre. This results in the GT-R taking some of the tightest and most technical corners on the Estoril track with ease.
GT-R Driving Experience
The feedback from the steering is just about perfect and the weighting is excellent. The Nissan hi-tech four-wheel-drive system also allows the driver to get on the power early so that the car can pull out of corners more quickly.
However, the GT-R has been set up to feel and behave more like a rear-wheel-drive car, which is a very enjoyable experience - as the car would easily oversteer out of tight bends. Happily though, this supercar is a well-balanced package and is very easy to drive.
Interior
On the inside the GT-R is rather a tame affair but the plastics look to be from quality products and the car has been built solidly with no panel gaps.
Standard equipment includes Climate control, electric leather seats, and a data computer, which stores a mountain of information. The driver can view all sorts of data such as on how the car is performing while you drive, gearbox ratios and launch control.
Safety on the GT-R
The Nissan boffins have added a high list of safety devices to the supercar. These include the Nissan Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual stage front air bags for driver and front passenger. There are also side and curtain airbags to further protect the occupants. ESP and ABS are also installed as standard so that the driver can get the car stopped in a quicker and a more controlled manner.
Practicality
Is there any supercar that is actually that practical?
This test driver hasn’t found one yet. Space inside the GTRr is modest, however to compensate, the boot is of a good size. Nissan claims “The GT-R is quite a practical car and you could use it every day – it’s a supercar that can be driven by anyone, at anytime and anywhere in the world” and the maker looks to be correct.
The Nissan GT-R comes to europe next year – this is a brilliant looking sportscar, with real substance underneath the bonnet. Porsche will be looking cautiously over its shoulder as the GT-R’s arrival gets closer.
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