In 2007, the Nissan GT-R was released in Japan. The US and Canada followed suit in 2008 and other markets in the world got their taste of the GT-R in 2009. As a supercar, the GT-R traces its roots to the high-performing Skyline which came out from 1969 to 1974 and again from 1989 to 2002. Like the Skyline GT-Rs, this GT-R features a four-wheel drive system paired up with a twin-turbo 6-cylinder engine. And as homage to the past, the all-new GTR uses CBA-R35 as its chassis code. Shiro Nakamura is credited for the designs on the all-new GT-R.

Pros

While the Nissan GT-R is indeed a superb piece of machinery, it is not just a beast of function. It also has flair, designed in such a way that you’ll never every mistake it for another vehicle. In fact, it doesn’t look like a car for the most part. Rather, it looks more mechanical like a robot and how obvious the material used is, adds to the image that the GT-R has. But the thing is, the exterior of the GT-R is not just for show. While it does help make the car appear imposing, the GT-R’s muscularity and big shoulders lead to an excellent 0.27 drag coefficient.

Admittedly, the GT-R has always been all about what’s under the hood. As such, interiors weren’t prioritized. They weren’t uncomfortable to be in but they could be better. Fortunately, someone paid more attention to the interiors of the new GT-R, providing it with a certain sense of sophistication that earlier models never had.

The GT-R can be fast. Just how fast? It takes three seconds to go from 0 to 60mph. That’s fast. And it’s got a just-as-incredible braking system that beautifully handles the GT-R, requiring just 40.9m to come to a complete stop from 70mph. Response from the pedals are also excellent so you don’t have to really make an effort to get it to engage.

Cons

Depending on how you look at it, you may have mixed feelings about the GT-R not having rear seats. However, it’s not exactly a car either that is meant to transport a lot of passengers so doing away with rear seats is logical. Not to mention doing so slashed 20kg off the overall weight of the car, greatly helping in making the GT-R an even faster machine. If you were actually planning on bringing along more than one other person with you as you cruise, then the lack of rear seats will be a problem. But if not, you’ll appreciate what Nissan did.

Because the GT-R is a swift animal, it has a bit of a hard time when it needs to go slow, like when you’re parking. You have to be very gentle so as not to induce speed, but you might not be able to concentrate so much because maneuvering in tight spaces induces certain noises. If anything, this points out that the GT-R is really meant for big, open spaces where you can take full advantage of its speed.

The GT-R is quite a guzzler so don’t expect to get a lot out of a gallon. You’ll be lucky if you get 20mpg by driving gently. But really, drive a GT-R gently? No one does that.

Released in the US, Canada, and Japan in 2008 and the rest of the globe in 2009, the Nissan GT-R is a sports car developed by the company to succeed the Nissan Skyline GT-R. The GT-R’s development began in 1969 with the Skyline. The current GT-R lineup builds upon the successes of the Skyline though changes have been introduced to improve the GT-R system. According to Shiro Nakamura, the GT-R’s designer and Chief Creative Officer at Nissan, the GT-R is a reflection of the Japanese culture and is not simply just a copy of a supercar from Europe, drawing inspiration from the giant machines from the Gundam series.

Before the Nissan GT-R was unveiled, two concept vehicles were on display at the Tokyo Motor Show. The first one was in 2001 showing a preview of what a GT-R would look like in the 21^st century, while the second, a redesigned concept, was shown in 2005. It was in 2007 though when the GT-R’s production version was revealed, still at the Tokyo Motor Show. The GT-R wasn’t launched at the same time in different markets because Nissan had to spend time to build performance centers in the markets it intends to offer the GT-R. There were also limitations on global production because only a thousand cars can be manufactured in a month since the dual-clutch gearbox and engine are assembled by hand.