We say The GT-R offers supercar looks and performance with prices several rungs lower.Performance The GT-R is renowned for its potent twin-turbo engine which has 3.8-litres, six valves and 542bhp at its disposal.That’s recently been uprated by Nissan and allows the everyday supercar to clear 0-60mph in just 2.8 seconds according to Nissan with a top speed of 199mph, too – making it completely eye-watering.Emissions Despite a recent improvement in output and 0-60mph sprint times, the latest reworking of the Nissan GT-R is also the most efficient in its history, says Nissan – but it’s yet to confirm CO2 emissions.
The previous generation had CO2 emissions of 279g/km.Fuel economy figures for the 2012 Nissan GT-R are confirmed at around 26mpg however.Driving Anything with 500 and odd bhp is going to be great fun to drive and that’s definitely the case with the GT-R.While it could be easy to feel scared to the same extent, carbon composite brakes and lightweight steering make the GT-R responsive. It’s also well planted around corners and bends thanks to its four wheel drive set-up which shifts power to wheels that need it most.Feel Like any supercar, you want to hear the roar of the engine when you’re pushing it and the GT-R reflects that.
There’s plenty of noise in the interior from the engine and its large wheels, but nothing more than you’d expect.That may sound like an excuse but the noise doesn’t make it a bad or uncomfortable place to be. That’s true when the interior is appreciated. It’s solid, up to date and sleek – if a little overcrowded because of the raft of dials and buttons that adorn the centre console.Space The GT-R supercar is marketed as a supercar that’s also good for everyday practicality and to a certain extent it delivers on that promise.It will seat four and all occupants will sit on comfortable leather seats surrounded by high-quality materials and plastics, in front of a well sized boot – when compared with most other supercars.In truth, the GT-R would push most families to the brink in terms of everyday use but compared with its rivals, it’s miles in front.Equipment The GT-R is futuristic inside thanks to a blend of touchscreens and all manner of knobs, dials and buttons covering climate control, cruise control and electrically adjustable, heated seats.There are massive alloy wheels at each corner of the car and xenon headlights, too. In other words, it has about as much kit as you could wish for.
Price The current generation GT-R is available for around £69,000 however 2012 versions are expected to be slightly more expensive at around £75,000 thanks to improvements in engine output and efficiency.Quality The GT-R is a Nissan so it’s extremely well put together and reliable.It’s also a supercar which means the majority of its components – including the engine – have been put together by hand and are precision fitted. That should be enough to eliminate any reliability problems.Inside there’s also a mix of high-quality plastics and leather, making it solid, plush and comfortable at the same time.Safety The GT-R comes with a wide range of electronic systems to keep all 526bhp under control on the road.That means stability control, limited-slip differential system and four wheel drive to give as much grip as possible.There’s also the usual mix of airbags and active seat belt controls.Pros Explosive performance figures for a sniff of the price you’d pay for the equivalent with a more premium badge. Practicality is also an added bonus.Cons It’s only practical in the sense that it’s more so than other supercars on the market, so it won’t rival an MPV. Running costs and emissions are astronomical.Alternatives Ferrari 458 Coupe, Porsche 911
