2009 Nissan GT-R Nurburgring Feature Video

By Edmunds Video Productions | Published October 26, 2009

2:38 min

2009 Nissan GT-R - Feature Many have aimed at the Porsche 911 Turbo as their benchmark for performance, but Nissan has been especially bold when it set out to beat the Porsche with a car that costs a mere $80,000. During endurance testing earlier this year, the 2009 Nissan GT-R circled the famed Nurburgring Nordschleife in 7 minutes and 55 seconds. Good, but still trailing the 997-based 911 Turbo by 15 seconds. But the Nissan GT-R development team was not about to give up. And in late September, we were given exclusive access to see them take another shot at it. Inside Nissan's sparkling garage situated just outside the Nurburgring, technicians busily worked on three GT-R prototypes. At 183.1 inches in length, the new GT-R is longer than a 911, Corvette Z06 or Dodge Viper and has a longer wheelbase as well. Nissan�s goal is to create a practical performance car with capabilities that can be exploited anywhere, anytime, by anyone. This practicality includes a comfortable cabin and reasonably sized rear seats. With Carlos Ghosn, the chief executive of Nissan, on hand, technicians showed us the jaw-dropping results of Nissan's internal testing. They tell us that the GTR can sprint from 0-62 mph in 3.5 seconds and do the quarter-mile in 11.7 seconds, despite the Japanese-specification model's 3,836-pound curb weight. The twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6 creates 473 horsepower and 434 lb-ft of torque. And after lunch, we got to feel that power first hand when a Nissan test driver took us out on the track. It was probably the most fun we�ve ever had while on the verge of nausea. We clocked in at 8 minutes, 13 seconds. Our lap was not intended to be a record attempt, but it proved enviable nonetheless. The real record lap was set by Nissan's top test driver, Suzuki-san, who turned in a lap in 7 minutes 38 seconds. Beating a 911 Turbo around this track by 2 seconds despite a partially wet surface is a worthwhile achievement, and to do it at an estimated price point of $80,000 brings an extra measure of accomplishment. The GT-R is an icon, not just a performance car. And a Nissan that wears this badge must live up to decades of heritage. And based on what we�ve seen, we think the 2009 Nissan GT-R is up to the challenge.