Nissan GT-R

The new Nissan GT-R is powerful, fast and everything a sports car should be.

The GT-R flies off the blocks and reels in the short straight — whaaam! It’s at the end of the straight even before my brain can catch up, and I pedal back a bit for the next few corners. Still, even when using only 80 per cent throttle, the GT-R is tearing towards the next corner, the rate of acceleration continuously flying up and up, never peaking, as the dual-clutch gearbox pre-selects the next gear and shifts up with zero let-up. It slams you back in the seat and pins you there, as you ride the stream of never-ending jet engine-like thrust! This sledgehammer performance is concentrated to the upper reaches of the power-band; the performance of the GT-R after 4000rpm is so strong, your gritty grin is part fear, part thrill. There is no way I’m using maximum available power.

The twin-turbo 3.8-litre motor that powers the GT-R has been tuned to spin hard and fast and as a result, the car has brilliant straight-line stability, can get from 0-100kph in just 3.5 seconds and can go as fast as 312kph. In addition, the fact that it has a lightning-quick, DSG-style gearbox is also part of the reason for the fantastic pace this car has. Given the massive power this car possesses, it is a good thing that you won’t be able to flick it around from corner to corner as you would small or lighter car. Despite the fact that the GT-R is 1,740 kilos, you don’t feel this weight while hurling it around a track.

Then comes the magical part — as you push down the throttle smoothly, release all that atomic bomb-like power and are shot towards the exit of the corner with the tail creeping wide onto the kerb, the GT-R pulls hard enough to arrest your natural breathing. And you can do this corner after corner, lap after lap.

TECHNICAL DATA
Length 4655mm

Width 1895mm

Height 1370mm

Wheelbase 2780mm

Kerb weight 1740kg

Engine 6-cyls in vee,

3799cc, twin-turbo

charged petrol

Installation Front,

longitudinal, 4WD

Power 473bhp at 6400rpm

Torque 60kgm

at 3200-5200rpm

Gearbox 6-speed,

double-clutch,

semi-automatic

Suspension (F-R)

Multi-link, coil springs,

anti-roll bar

Fuel tank 76litres

Brakes (F-R) 380mm

ventilated discs

Tyre size

(F-R) 255/40

ZR20-285/35 ZR20

Boot 315litres