Tokyo motor show - Nissan GT-R

Don't call it Skyline! Nissan's all-new supercar has ditched its less than supercar name and is now more fittingly badged GT-R – the Skyline moniker is reserved for an altogether more conservative, Japan-only, executive saloon.

When it comes to the GT-R, it's all about the facts: it's powered by a hand-built, 473bhp turbocharged 3.8-litre V6 engine with 433lb ft of pulling power. It races from 0-60mph in 3.5 second (and back to zero in a rather sharp 37 meters) and has a top speed of 192mph – enough to make Porsche 911 owners envious.

It has an advanced double-clutch, six-speed, semi-automatic gearbox (like VW and Audi's DSG system), which cleverly pre-selects the next gear to improve performance, economy and comfort. You can shift manually, using paddles behind the wheel, or let the car do it all itself.

There's four-wheel drive, and a sharp-suited body built of lightweight aluminium, carbonfibre and steel. The oil and tyres have been specially made and those extra-grippy Bridgestones tyres are filled with nitrogen – not something you'll find where you normally pump your tyres up.

You can electronically adjust the transmission, suspension, traction and braking systems using switches inside the car.

The car will be fully run-in on delivery so you can use its full potential 'out-of-the-box'.

And you'll get free maintenance for three years by a specialist team of factory trained ‘super mechanics'.

Quite a package, then. However, in spite of the performance potential (Nissan claims it's the second-fastest road car ever to lap Germany's famous Nurburgring race track – behind the £320,000 Porsche Carrera GT) and awesome hardware, Nissan insists it's a car for driving everyday in any conditions – town driving is even made easy by a setting that softens the suspension.

Appetite suitably whetted? Let's hope you're patient – first UK deliveries don't start until March '09 with an expected price around £66,000.

Sounds like a bargain, eh? Not when you consider the same car has just gone on sale in Japan for 7,770,000 Yen – around £35,000 in our money. We suspect the grey import market will be somewhat busy.

The GT-R was created to promote the firm's technological expertise and to demonstrate that it is possible to build a supercar that has mass-market appeal.

Don't expect much of the tech to find its way into other Nissans just yet – maybe the special headlamps with a super-wide beam, and eventually more versions of the semi-auto gearbox.

Chief vehicle engineer Kazutoshi Mizuno has a rich heritage working in sports car racing events such as Le Mans, and has brought that knowledge to bear on the GT-R.

The result, he says, is the easiest supercar to drive that has ever been built.

As supercars go, the interior is somewhat unassuming. There's a prominent rev counter in the middle of the instrument cluster, and a touch-screen display that shows exactly what's happening under the skin of the car sits proudly on top of the dash.

Four can enjoy the thrills of the GT-R, but even Nissan will admit that the rear seats being best for ‘occasional use'. There are strong grips on the door for the front passenger to hang on to, though, and a big red starter button to add to the drama.

Although the engine noise has been carefully engineered, company bosses insisted that cabin noise had to be restricted so that it was possible to hold easy conversation even at 186mph (300kph).

Some may say that goes against the basic requirement of a supercar to sound raucous, but Nissan is also eager to claim the GT-R is the greenest car in its class and, as such, these details matter.