Strengths

Longstanding cult following from previous iterations; highly advanced all-wheel drive system; 480 horsepower V6; trick manual transmission with automatic mode; aggressive, angry styling.

 

Changes

The 2009 Nissan GT-R can trace its roots back to 1964 and the 2000GT, a hotted-up sedan the company took racing against the world. Since then, several versions have evolved, but never for America, and all of them have die-hard devotees. The all-new GT-R furthers the Nissan sporting tradition-in spades-and is finally coming to the U.S.

For 2009, the car offers 480 horsepower from a 3.8L twin-turbocharged V6. Styling is handsome and athletic and unique to the GT-R, but carries definite cues from the rest of the Nissan family. The GT-R is built on an exclusive Premium Midship chassis and comes loaded with technology designed to keep it firmly planted. A six-speed manual with automatic modes and paddle shifters gives drivers complete control.

The cockpit is all business, yet provides several amenities to keep its occupants comfortable as they hurl themselves across the highways.

Six colors are available: Super Silver, Gun Metallic, Titanium, Ivory Pearl, Solid Red, and Black Obsidian. The 2009 Nissan GT-R will come in two models-Base and Premium. Pricing ranges from $69,850 to $71,900, and the Super Silver paint adds $3,000.

 

Value

For the money, there's not much to touch the 2009 Nissan GT-R. With all-wheel drive, 480 horsepower, and plenty of advanced gadgetry contained beneath its attractive aluminum body, it offers Ferrari F430 and Porsche 911 Turbo performance at half the price, and it's a far more refined car than the Corvette Z06 for about the same money. The GT-R is a supercar, to be sure, and must be considered the bargain of the year.

 

Overview

When word first leaked in 2004 that Nissan might revive the GT-R name, the buzz evolved into a loud roar, particularly when the prototype was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show the following year. Speculation as to the car's capabilities has been rampant ever since, and Nissan has delivered.

The 2009 GT-R is a supercar in every sense of the word, and it does not disappoint. In testing at Germany's famed Nurburgring, a stock GT-R topped the record lap time for a Porsche 911 Turbo-no small feat.

The car comes in two trim levels-Base and Premium. The two are very similar, though the latter adds a Bose stereo system with extra speakers and a subwoofer, side curtain air bags, and heated/cooled seats.

Standard on all cars is a twin-turbocharged 3.8L V6, which delivers 480 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 430 lb-ft of torque between 3,200 and 5,200 rpm. The engine features a cast aluminum block, plasma-sprayed bores, and dual overhead cams with variable intake timing. The car should be good for 0 to 60 mph in about 3.5 seconds, with a top speed north of 190 mph.

Power is put to the ground through a dual-clutch, six-speed paddle-shift transmission with driver-configurable modes based on road conditions and driving requirements. Shifts take as little as .2 seconds, and the unit blips the throttle on downshifts. A carbon-composite driveshaft feeds Nissan's advanced ATTESA ET-S all-wheel drive system, which creates a rear-wheel drive bias during normal conditions and 50/50 drive when things get slippery. Additionally, the GT-R features the world's first independent rear-mount transaxle and integrated AWD transfer case, which helps to create an optimal 54/46 front to rear weight distribution.

Enormous 15-inch vented disc brakes fill the GT-R's 20-inch aluminum wheels. Multi-mode four-wheel independent suspension, electronic stability control, traction control, and anti-lock brakes are standard.

The 2+2 interior features supportive leather-trimmed sport seats, easy-to-spot gauges, a six-disc CD stereo, climate control, power one-touch windows, cruise control, and a multi-function dash display with navigation.