Car
March 6, 2015
NISSAN GT-R | The True Value of Japan's Fastest Car: Part 1
The 21st installment: NISSAN GT-R (Part 1)
The True Value of Japan's Fastest Car
Which Japanese car possesses the purest essence of Japan? Yasushi Shimono names the GT-R. The "NISSAN GT-R," formerly the "Skyline GT-R," made its spectacular debut at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show. What is the true value of this car, which at times surpasses even Porsche in performance?
By Yasushi ShimonoPhotos by Nissan Motor Corporation
Japan's Fastest CarMore than half a year since its release, the GT-R is now occasionally spotted on the roads of the Tokyo metropolitan area.
Just the other day, while accelerating onto the highway from an on-ramp in a manufacturer's test car, the car directly in front of me was a GT-R. The driver appeared to be middle-aged.
Considering its capabilities, this price might make it the best value car in the world, but even so, it is expensive. It's understandable that the average age of owners would be higher.
The NISSAN GT-R is Japan's fastest car. Its 3.5-liter V6 twin-turbo engine produces 480 horsepower, the highest ever for a mass-produced Japanese car. This is the same as the Porsche 911 Turbo. In fact, the 911 Turbo was undoubtedly one of the GT-R's benchmarks.
More Than Just Speed
In this day and age, it seems foolish to rave about a fast car being "fast, fast," but the GT-R's true value lies in more than just its speed. While the 911 Turbo, with its target speed reminiscent of German engineering, feels ponderous on city streets or during legal highway cruising, exhibiting a rather stately demeanor, the GT-R hints at its sports car nature even at town speeds.
One reason for this, I believe, is the sound. The engine's own noise is so low I can barely recall it, but a high-frequency whine from the gears, though faint, is constantly audible from the rear. This luxurious transaxle layout, where the transmission is separated from the front engine and mounted near the rear wheels to enhance handling, produces this captivating sound.
From the moment you press the red push button and awaken the engine, it's a sound that excites car enthusiasts. You might think, "Is that all?!" But that's precisely what sports cars are about. God is in the details.
With its two pedals for acceleration and braking, it's the first "GT-R" in Nissan's history that can be driven with an automatic-only license. The ride comfort is also not bad, so there's no particular excuse needed to use it as a family car or a date car. It is, after all, a luxury GT costing 8 million yen.