2010 Nissan GTR

A journalist neighbor called and asked if I wanted to drive the Nissan GT-R that had just been dropped in his driveway. The GT-R’s interior is not very impressive. Some cars are rapiers, others a broadsword. The GT-R is a battleax. The GT-R rides hard, like a track ready Viper.

The Nissan’s four wheel-drive system works to put all the power to the ground… sort like a lightning bolt. Not fast like your “chipped” turbo car. Fast like a liter-class superbike. Unlike many cars, the four wheel-drive system in the GT-R does not dampen the fun. With the huge resources on tap, it makes the car civilized. Even in this worst case scenario, the GT-R’s engineering integrity reigned supreme.

The car tracked predictably, up until the low (frozen tire) limits of adhesion. The traction control system stepped in a femtosecond after the car reached its limits of adhesion. The GT-R’s transmission and driveline had a steady whine, and the front airdam was adventurous (read low) for a production car. The GT-R’s rumbling exhaust note projects the same uber-tuner car feel. Nissan’s decision to make this a limited production halo car is completely correct. It’s Unobtanium, unlike a Porsche GT3 or AMG Black Series.

The 2010 Nissan GT-R's launch control system has been reprogrammed to reduce transaxle stress. The 2010 Nissan GT-R marks the second year of production for Nissan's iconic supercar. One of the secrets to the 2009 GT-R's eye-popping numbers was its launch control system, but it put undue stress on the car's rear-mounted transaxle. Despite the car's sizable cabin and trunk space, this ride quality issue can make road trips in the GT-R less appealing. All said, the 2010 GT-R easily retains its title as the most accessible exotic sports car on the planet.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2010 Nissan GT-R is a high-performance sports car available only in coupe form with a 2+2 seating layout. The Premium model adds higher-performance tires, heated fronts seats and an 11-speaker Bose audio system with two subwoofers.

The 2010 Nissan GT-R is powered by a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine that generates 485 hp and 434 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission routes this power to the ground via an advanced all-wheel-drive system. In testing, we've timed the GT-R (with the transmission reprogramming) from zero to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds.

Standard safety features on the 2010 Nissan GT-R include massive antilock Brembo brakes, stability control and traction control. Front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags are standard on all GT-R models for 2010. The 2010 Nissan GT-R's interior is a somber but appropriately driver-centric environment in which to make haste. The GT-R also features a trick multifunction performance monitor that offers 11 different informational displays.

Driving Impressions
The Nissan GTR'S employs a V6 in place of the iconic inline-6 from the old Skyline GT-Rs, the new car's spiritual ancestors.