Nissan GT-R

Nissan GT-R: A Supercar Like No Other

"A super car like no other" - so says the maker of the new Nissan GT-R. All other car manufacturers would, naturally, say that their vehicle is the best of its kind in the market. But with the new GT-R, it is hard not to think that they actually do have a claim for the statement.

With five decades under its belt since it was first introduced in the market, this model is the best yet in its family, although earlier models have made a good job at making it popular with their twin-turbo engines, all-wheel drive and endless opportunities to customize both the car's exteriors and interiors already. This is the fifth generation GT-R and was pre-launched two years ago. After Nissan ironed out the car's initial issues with the earlier generation models, the new model's performance can easily beat some of the world's best cars of its kinds, too, without the worries of paying for a huge price to match its superiority.

A Super Price for a Super Car

You can get three GT-R's for the price of a Lamborghini Gallardo and four of them for one nicely set-up Lexus LFA. That alone should be one good reason why you should consider a Nissan GT-R over its competition. A machine like this with serious performance and smaller price tags is a hard bargain to say no to.

Here are a few more reasons why the GT-R is a great steal. It accelerates from zero to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds - that's faster than nearly all the other performance cars, including the Lexus LFA 2012 model. Its maximum speed is 193 miles per hour. It also has a six-speed, auto-shift manual with OD and auto-manual to go with the hand-built 485 horsepower at 6,400 rpm, 3.8 liter twin turbo-charged 24-valve V6 premium engine. Each of its engines is hand-crafted by its own master technician in a clean room environment.

Its all-new Premium Midship (PM) chassis is also a new feature for the brand's line-up. The PM platform has a hybrid unibody that is assembled using super low tolerance and high-precision assembly that is normally seen in race cars. Its All-Wheel Drive (AWD) comes with its proprietary independent rear-mounted type of transaxle integrating transmission, AWD and differential transfer case.

The transmission control module has been reprogrammed by Nissan to allow faster clutch engagements. Its electronically controlled independent suspension feature lets you control the setting you prefer if you don't want to take advantage of its automatic adjustments to changing conditions, regardless of the type of road you're in.

The Advanced Vehicle Dynamic Control or VDC has three selectable modes: (1) Normal mode for daily driving, which controls brakes and engine output; (2) R-Mode for ultimate performance, which raises the threshold at which the system intervenes; and (3) Off mode, which disengages the VDC system altogether.

Its fuel economy rating is at 16 and 21 miles per gallon for city and highway driving, respectively. At 4,000 pounds, the GT-R can definitely move smoothly and let you enjoy a nice city drive as much as a highway drive. Hardware updates and electronics that have been carefully put together by the Nissan team in Japan results in a car that everyone can possibly enjoy.

Driving with Today's Basic Comforts

The new GT-R model does not just come with ultra performance engines and motors. The manufacturer did not go cheap at all with the interiors either. Its 2+2 bucket seats promises comfort while you drive in style, starting with a console-mounted push button ignition. It is certified to U.S. safety and emission standards, too, so there is nothing to worry about in using all that power when you drive.

A centrally mounted LCD screen likewise is a great addition to the machine - think of having complete driving and mechanical information, navigation and powerful audio at the tip of your hands all the time! It also comes complete with wipers that are speed-sensitive, automatic power up and shutoff headlights, Bluetooth-capable streaming audio with 30GB hard drive for storage of music files, NavTraffic and NavWeather, Bluetooth hands-free phone system.

The leather seats go perfectly with the exquisite leather-trimmed dashboard, console and doors; as well as the leather-wrapped steering wheel, parking brake lever, gear shift knob and magnesium paddle shifters. To top it all off - the front seats are also heated! There cannot be a better super car where drivability and road trip comforts are concerned.

Done Deal

With all the wonderful things to be said about the Nissan GT-R, there should not be a lot of reservations why this is a supercar worthy of its price. Much like with many other supercars, there is a very limited production planned for this model. Top to that the fact that this is the first model of its line to be made available to the U.S. market. You can easily imagine how you can possibly lose the last unit available to the one who contacted any of the 700 dealers in the U.S. a little bit earlier than you did.

It is not a replacement to your everyday sedan, but it surely can also make driving more enjoyable for car enthusiasts. At a starting price of USD$ 84,060, you can surely work on adding a few of your vehicle wish lists on it and still be far from the prices of its competitors.