2009 Nissan GT-R Review

The 193-mph Nissan GT-R is a cross between greased lightning and -- you fill in the blanks. It's the most potent car to ever come from Japan and puts Nissan in the supercar league with acknowledged road warriors such the turbocharged Porsche 911 and Corvette Z06.

The all-new fifth-generation GT-R recently went on sale here for the first time after many pleas from American auto buffs. Long called the "Skyline GT-R" in Japan, the car's predecessors have been featured in popular auto video games sold here.

To the relief of car buffs, Nissan says the GT-R is "no longer the unobtainable object of desire on a video game or in the movies."

The GT-R costs $76,840 to $79,090, depending on if you want the base or premium version, which has a premium Bose 11-speaker audio system, side-impact air bags and slightly darker wheels.

The GT-R undercuts major rivals such as the 911 Turbo and Dodge Viper SRT10 on price and is sold through nearly 700 official "GT-R certified" Nissan dealers. No doubt some will add mysterious "dealer mark-ups" because Nissan says only about 1,500 GT-Rs will be shipped annually from Japan. (This isn't the type of car built at some down-home Southern U.S. factory.)

The GT-R has a hand-assembled twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V-6 and has an ultra-low emission vehicle (ULEV) rating. It delivers an estimated 16 mpg in the city and 21 on highways, although it's big, furious and heavy at 3,814-3,829 pounds, despite using a wealth of light materials including aluminum and carbon fiber.

Being heavy doesn't mean being slow with this car, though. Not when the GT-R has a conservatively rated 480 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of neck-snapping torque. It streaks from 0-60 mph in 3.3 seconds with no-lag linear power delivery and hits 100 in 8.6 seconds.

A top Japanese hot rod outfit modified the GT-R to get 602 horsepower and 571 pound-feet of torque -- and sells its hop-up parts in America for those willing to risk GT-R warranty coverage. Nissan frowns on modifying the car, and there's no need to do that.

Fast merging and pulling away from annoying tailgaters are no problems, although why anyone would want to tailgate this chunky but wicked-looking low-slung creation with its four huge exhaust pipe outlets is beyond me.

The GT-R is a technological wonder. That's why it has features such as a six-speed dual clutch transmission with fully automatic or manual paddle-shifter modes. It changes gears in an eye blink in either mode with no interruption in power delivery. There's really no reason to use manual mode unless you're on a track or driving in mountains.

The GT-R is built on a new "Premium Midship" platform, with the engine moved way back for better weight distribution. There's also the world's first independent rear transaxle all-wheel-drive system, which puts the transmission and final drive at the rear -- also for optimum weight distribution and maximum handling. The system is electronically controlled, and there are no less than six drive shafts.

The GT-R handles much like a race car, with immediate steering, braking and directional changes. It's one of those cars that feels way overqualified for regular street driving. The huge brakes have decent pedal feel. They're a little touchy when cold but provide intense stopping performance. The light, forged 20-inch wheels have special knurling to assist with securing the tires during hard braking -- and acceleration. Tires are ultrawide run-flats with scant sidewall areas to protect the costly wheels at curbs.

The GT-R easily can be driven on a daily basis by mom and the kids. The tight backseat is best suited to kids, although two 5-foot-8 adults fit front and rear, at least on the car's passenger side. The ride is firm but supple. A console "set-up switch" adjusts transmission shifts, shock absorbers and the Vehicle Dynamic Control system for three settings -- Normal, Comfort and R (Race).

Did folks stare at my test GT-R? Some surely did. They pulled alongside on expressways and furtively glanced at it. At stoplights, some (mostly younger) guys gave it long stares. All probably wondered what it was. But my test drives didn't come at heavily populated times of the day, so I don't know what attention the GT-R would draw during a slow weekend cruise through crowded downtown Lake Geneva, Wis.

The GT-R isn't pretty. Rather, it has purposeful, cutting-edge styling, with no fooling around. For instance, "aero blades" on the leading edges of the front fenders provide optimum air flow around the tires and along the body. And vents in the fenders' trailing edges assist in providing optimization of side air flow and aerodynamic downforce for high-speed stability.

At night, a fast, passing GT-R might lead some to think they've been overtaken by a UFO with four big LED taillight rims.

The GT-R's well-equipped interior looks as if designed with the help of a video game producer. In fact, that's the case. Tech-minded drivers can use a video game-inspired multi-function display with 11 pages of mechanical and driving information available. The backlit gauges can be read easily and controls are simple to use.

A cold weather package is a no-cost option, but special "super silver" paint is $3,000, an iPod converter costs $360 and carpeted GT-R floor mats are $280.

One end of the slim, flush door handles must be pushed to make a door-opening lever pop out, and it calls for some agility to drop in and climb out of the low cockpit. Sculpted front bucket seats provide superb support and an optimal driving position is provided by the rear transaxle layout, with a flat floor and narrow center console. The comfortable interior is quiet, except for some tire noise. Conveniently placed dual cupholders have a sliding cover, and door storage pockets compensate for a tiny glove compartment. Driver visibility is better than expected, and you just press a red "start" button on the console to wake up the engine.

The big trunk can swallow two golf bags, although it has a very high opening that almost forces you to drop cargo into it.

While surprisingly docile, the GT-R is definitely for serious drivers -- especially those who lack the resources to plunk down more than $80,000 (and up) for a high-performance sports car.

2009 Nissan GT-R
Prices: $76,840-$79,090

Likes: Japan's fastest car -- ever. Lightning fast. Race-car moves. Superb automatic/manual gearbox. Advanced all-wheel drive.

Dislikes: High trunk opening. Firm ride. Touchy cold brakes. Tight rear seat. Not pretty.