2009 Nissan GT-R Premium AWD Manual

Model Highlights

When word first leaked in 2004 that Nissan might revive the GT-R name, the buzz evolved into a loud roar, particularly when the prototype was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show the following year. Speculation as to the car's capabilities has been rampant ever since, and Nissan has delivered. The 2009 GT-R is a supercar in every sense of the word, and it does not disappoint. In testing at Germany's famed Nurburgring, a stock GT-R topped the record lap time for a Porsche 911 Turbo--no small feat. The car comes in two trim levels--Base and Premium. The two are very similar, though the latter adds a Bose stereo system with extra speakers and a subwoofer, side curtain air bags, and heated/cooled seats. Standard on all cars is a twin-turbocharged 3.8L V6, which delivers 480 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 430 lb-ft of torque between 3,200 and 5,200 rpm. The engine features a cast aluminum block, plasma-sprayed bores, and dual overhead cams with variable intake timing. The car should be good for 0 to 60 mph in about 3.5 seconds, with a top speed north of 190 mph. Power is put to the ground through a dual-clutch, six-speed paddle-shift transmission with driver-configurable modes based on road conditions and driving requirements. Shifts take as little as .2 seconds, and the unit blips the throttle on downshifts. A carbon-composite driveshaft feeds Nissan's advanced ATTESA ET-S all-wheel drive system, which creates a rear-wheel drive bias during normal conditions and 50/50 drive when things get slippery. Additionally, the GT-R features the world's first independent rear-mount transaxle and integrated AWD transfer case, which helps to create an optimal 54/46 front to rear weight distribution. Enormous 15-inch vented disc brakes fill the GT-R's 20-inch aluminum wheels. Multi-mode four-wheel independent suspension, electronic stability control, traction control, and anti-lock brakes are standard. The 2+2 interior features supportive leather-trimmed sport seats, easy-to-spot gauges, a six-disc CD stereo, climate control, power one-touch windows, cruise control, and a multi-function dash display with navigation.