Nissan GT-R outperforms expectations
December 31, 2007 by George Skentzos
When Nissan first released the performance figures for its new GT-R, many scoffed at the unbelievably quick times Nissan were toting – 3.5 seconds to 100km/h and an 11.6 second run down the quarter mile off the showroom floor… right.
However as journalists the world over get their hands on the new GT-R, it seems Nissan has actually been conservative with their performance figures, with auto-magazine Edmunds recording a 3.3 second sprint to 100km/h and matching the blisteringly quick 11.6 second quarter mile at 196km/h – and from only two attempts.
This puts the GT-R well into supercar territory, at less than a quarter of the price.
Print it: 
Scott hope your feeling better now mate!Thats a terrible way to spend New Years!
Japanese always underrate their performance cars I thought! A better thing than over rating them and being disappointed!
Momo I was young and silly…….what can I say!hahaha
Well, you’ll be pleased to know that Nissan + Momo = Nismo.
i knew nissan had great expectations to live up to but theyve absolutely hammered it, this things in a class of its own- stuff of legends already
Man this is so awesome! While watching I was wondering whether the owner had actually let the engine run-in yet? I know modern cars don’t really require a run-in process like they used to but still.
Can’t wait to start seeing these on the roads. Unfortunately there will be the inevitable carjacking of course
It has to be said but first.
This car is awesome and for the price it is amazing and if i had half a chance i sure would get one but…
It does not inspire the same passion as a Ferrari or the beauty of an Aston or the Wildness of a Lambo. Admittedly for a car to have a soul of a super car its an extra $200,000 you have to wonder, though the point is the same. It does not invigorate me like the other cars that i put in the “supercar class”.
Track credentials sure, but its just a perfect rocket without a soul. Unless they get infected by the Cogito Virus… (wonder how many people pick up that reference)
Anthonii – I can see where you are coming from and you have a point, especially when comparing the Nissan brand with the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini.
But I wouldn’t go so far as to say it has no soul. There are a lot of GT-R enthusiasts myself included that want the new one to still be a GT-R in character and that includes not only its appearance but its unique driving characteristics and feel (rear drive on turn-in for communicative steering with front drive added for excellent traction on corner exit for example). You also shouldn’t have to look too far to learn about the GT-R’s history – before the R32 in 1989 which was the first of the new-era GT-Rs there was the C10 and C110 GT-Rs which dominated their class both in Japan and abroad. So the GT-R “brand” does have heritage, a soul even, if not in the same ilk as marques like some of the ones you’ve mentioned.
I think you could liken the GT-R a little more to BMW M and the M3 – it has international racing pedigree and is a car that punches above its weight. Like the M3 it is also based (loosely as is the case with the R35) on a conventional passenger car body (unlike Ferraris and Lambos) but has had an utterly comprehensive overhaul.
One cannot overlook the practical benefits of not being designed like a Ferrari in that it would be very comfortable and practical as an everyday driver, as well as on the track.
I only speak realativly…
Comparing soul for soul against the italians is a lost cause. But it is one of the ingredients that make it a super car for me.
I\’m not trying to poop on the nissan because its not even interested in being a supercar. And is awesome in what it does.
Its kind of like saying Sony can make an awesome tv/movie picture but i would not commision them to do a painting, if that makes sense?
Damn cookies at home… that would be “Anthonii”, “Anthony” was already taken :|
Actually, they have done a test of the GT-R, driving it back to back against a 911 turbo on Top Gear. To sum it up, they said that the GT-R is faster than the porka around corners and handles better. Here are some of the quotes, “I have no doubt that this is the best all round car i’ve ever driven” And, “It makes the porsche feel primitive” And, “An engineering masterpiece”
One of my most favourite quotes on the GTR comes from Mizuno, the chief engineer of the GTR – “Don’t ask why this car is so cheap, ask why other manufacturer’s cars are so expensive”
Would be great if someone qualified could fill us in on the whole Plasma sprayed biz. Ive been doing some research on databases and industry journals and this is what i have so far->
Advantages: Lightweight, narrow lining
More durable and wears at a fraction of the
rate of iron sleeves(*)
Massively reduced oil consumption/oil pollution
More fuel efficient
Disadvantages: High relative cost(Though this is reducing)
(*) Strength is highly sensitive to oil
composition(not condition).
Wrong oil = dead motor.
Plasma bores generally don’t respond the
same way to tuning(upscaling) as iron
sleeves. Iron sleeves have a lifespan that
is ~ inversely proportional to the increase
in output(to a point).
Plasma sprayed bores have the same
lifespan as output increases but when they
get to a point(usually not much above the
intended load) the liner collapses and peels
away, Net Result = Dead engine
What the intended load is for this car, i
won’t speculate but apparently it should be
capable of outlasting iron sleeves at
rated load.
I’m still trying to understand why they need relining every year????????????
Any help appreciated.
Sorry for the gibberish:
intended load = rated load = the power output that Nissan
designed the bore liners(thickness/composition) to handle.
At this power output the plasma sprayed bore liners should outlast iron sleeve liners.
GP900BJ,
Given that Nissan intend to be racing these cars I’d guess that they have some decent amount of room for a bit of play with the motor.
More so, the engine now that it exists is only going to get better with time and even better we will one day see innovations developed with this car appear across the whole range of Nissan cars – at least in theory.
LOVE GTR.
One of the Top Gear hosts did a review on the R32 GTR back then as well. He also quoted back then: “This the the best car I’ve ever driven”.