22.05.2008
2009 Nissan GT-R ReviewCar News /
SEE ALSO: 2009 Nissan GT-R Specs, Pics and Prices - Nissan Buyers Guide
SEE ALSO: Nissan GT-R Introduction - 2007 Tokyo Auto Show
SEE ALSO: 100 Nissan GT-R Stories, Reviews and Video 2009 Nissan GT-R
Porsche Killer 
By Henny Hemmes
The Auto Channel ESTORIL,Portugal; Nissan’s GT-R super sport automobile stunned the world uponit’s arrival. Former generations have never been imported in NorthAmerica and in Europe, only in the U.K. But now, the world seems to beready to embrace the new GT-R. 
Last fall, when Nissan unveiled the fifth generation Skyline GT-R at the2007 Tokyo Auto Show, and a month later in Los Angeles, the omens were good. Thepresentation, by Renault Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn himself, drew a slew ofjournalists and corporate representatives of most of all manufacturerspresent. And better still, the stunning sports automobile immediately generatedpraise and greed. 
With the new generation, Nissan does not use the Skylinebadge anymore. Now it is only the letter combination that stirs theautomotive crowds. The hype may have been also caused by the immensepopularity of Sony’s PlaySation Gran Turismo. 
Nissan made sure that the PlayStation developers would have allinformation necessary to make the cars in the GT games realistic. Inreturn, the game producers helped Nissan to design the GT-R’s displayscreens in the dashboard. In the meantime, the GT-R is already so hot, that the production forseveral European countries, like my own country, The Netherlands, has beensold out for 2008.and 2009. Record
I was in Portugal for the Nissan 360 event, where the company’sfuture plans were presented and where we could also have a super shortstint with the GT-R of only 5 laps on the Estoril race track. Who would not burst with anxiety, when you could drive as one of thevery first with the GT-R and its 480 hp strong 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-6? Iwas, especially since Nissan announced earlier that the GT-R set a time of7 minutes 29 seconds at the famous Nürburgring race track, the absolute laprecord for a production car. And consequently, faster than the bench markin the segment, the Porsche 911 Turbo. 
The completely new PM (Premium Mid-ship) platform enabled Nissan the useof a world’s first independent rear transaxle all-wheel drive system.It places the transmission, transfer case and final drive at the rear ofthe vehicle, optimizing the weight distribution. Nissan calls it’sfour-wheel drive system ATTESA E-TS (Advanced Total Traction EngineeringSystem for All-Electronic Torque Split). It is a system that divides enginetorque (maximum 430 lb.-ft) from 50/50 per cent front/rear to 2/98 per centfront/rear. 
In the pouring rain on the slippery asphalt of the Estoril track, theGT-R immediately proved the advantages of its advanced technology. Underthose awfully bad circumstances the grip is fantastic and acceleration isphenomenal. You hardly notice that you are shifting the 6-speed gearboxwith the peddles on the steering wheel: Nissan says it only takes thetransmission 0.2 seconds to do so. When the automobile starts sliding, you easily correct it. Excuse me, it ishardly noticeable, but it corrects itself and give you a little room toalso do something, thus making you think that you are a superdriver… ESP has three modes, so that you can adjust to your likings, orcapabilities. The weather was too bad to measure acceleration from 0-60mph, but Nissan promises the GT-R will only need 3.5 seconds and reaches atop speed of 192.6 mph. Anyway, I am looking forward to the introductionevent of the GT-R, that will probably be organised in September. Hurry up
In several European countries the GT-R is already sold out for 2008 and2009. Nissan would love to produce more, but the maximum production of1.000 (hand build) engines per month is restricting the increase. In NorthAmerica, the GT-R will be sold in the US and Canada. The US will get some1500 unites per year over a five year lifecycle. We may expect that thefirst couple of years the sales will be much higher than the remainingthree. Nissan already sold 60 percent of the first years allocation and thatwill have increased when the 2009 GT-R goes on sale in July. I expect thenew super sports automobile will be quickly sold out in the US as well, because itsimply is a hell of a car. And with a base price of $ 69.850 (excludingdestination and handling, which have not yet been finalized) it is a hellof a deal as well.
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This past March at the Geneva Motor Show, the Swedish super car company Keonigsegg revealed the NLV Quant electric sedan. Well now it is the exotic Italian coachbuilder Bugatti’s turn, and Ettore’s original brand has done quite an impressive job on the all new Bugatti 16 C Galibier concept that was unveiled this past weekend in Molsheim. According to the automaker the upcoming super car will become "the most exclusive, elegant, and powerful four door automobile in the world."
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