Ultimate Performance Car Test: 2009 Nissan GT-R vs. the World Video

By Edmunds Video Productions | Published October 26, 2009

4:13 min

Ask a bunch of car guys what the ultimate track car is and each will give a different answer. But we want to know which of today�s performance cars is as capable on a twisty mountain road as it is on a race track. You see, in the real world there are bumps, road paint, debris and blind corners, all of which act as great equalizers. And with no runoff, self-preservation plays a bigger role. To answer this question we gathered a diverse selection of today�s best performers: Audi R8, Porsche 911, Lotus Elise SC, EVO 10 MR, Subaru WRX STI and, of course, Nissan�s GT-R. We headed to the 1.8-mile streets of willow road course at Willow Springs raceway. Then we timed the cars over a 1.8-mile section of the twistiest mountain road in Southern California. To no one�s surprise, Nissan�s GT-R blistered the road course 1.2 seconds quicker than its nearest competition and was no less impressive in the mountains where it was the easiest car in the test to drive. Audi�s R8 nearly hung with the GT-R in the mountains where it had better balance and a superbly flexible engine. But On the track it simply lacked the GT-R�s brute force. Still, this is the best sounding car in the test. Mistubishi�s EVO X MR turned in the third-quickest mountain road and road course times thanks to its advanced all-wheel drive system which virtually eliminates understeer. Its twin-clutch transmission also keeps the engine on boil and removes the distraction of needing to shift, which provides a more focused driving experience. With mild manners and solid but tame responses, Porsche�s 911 lacked the reactions required to catch the EVO on the track or in the mountains. But it is still very quick. With the most refined control feel in the group it�s relaxed � even when pushed to the ragged edge of its abilities. If success in this test were measured in adrenaline, the Elise wins hands down. Problem is, it�s just too nervous at the limit relative to other cars in this test, which landed it in fifth in both contests. The Subaru WRX STi brings up the rear with a mountain road time nearly a second behind the Elise and the slowest road course time. Without the precision of the rest of the group, the STI needed an even rougher road to be in its element. So there you have it, the quickest car on the track was also quickest car on the street. Nissan�s GT-R, again, proves itself to be today�s most impressive performance car: Capable of conquering virtually any car at any price in any venue.