Hang on tight! Pull repeatedly on the paddle-shift gearchange and the GT-R bullets from 0-60mph in just 3.9sec – and, if you can find a race track with a straight that's long enough, you’ll be reach 193mph before banging into the electronic limiter.
Point the GT-R at the apex of any bend, give it as much throttle as you dare and the electronics will do the rest. Shuffling power between the front and rear wheels, the GT-R delivers as much grip and traction as its tyres and your ribcage can take. You can also tailor your preferred ride comfort via a dash-mounted switch.
There’s plenty of road noise at speed from the GT-R's mammoth tyres, and the thundering twin-turbo engine bellows as the revs climb. Of course, none of this will manage to drown out the thumping of your heart as the GT-R unleashes its outrageous performance.
Considering its outstanding capabilities, Nissan is positively giving the GT-R away. Huge demand should keep residual values strong, although running costs aren’t for the faint-hearted. Carbon dioxide emissions place it in the highest company car tax bracket, while its average fuel economy is just 22.8mpg. Insurance premiums and tyre wear will also be high.
Although the GT-R bristles with electronics, if you’d put your money on any company to get it right, it would be Nissan. The engine is hand-built, the chassis is precision aligned and the reliability of previous GT-Rs has been proven in the red-hot fire of race conditions.
To prevent accidents occurring, the GT-R’s electronics play a massive part in keeping it on the road - no matter how slippery the surface is. Should the worst happen, though, there are twin-front, side and curtain airbags to protect passengers. Deadlocks and an alarm are fitted as standard, so the GT-R should do well at deterring thieves.
The GT-R's dashboard bristles with banks of switches and more digital read-outs than a cyber-geek's bedroom, and they’re not just for show, either. Okay, so 11 separate read-outs, including everything from steering input degrees to cornering G-forces may hint at overkill, but the driving position is first-rate and the visibility is also surprisingly good for a supercar.
Don’t go thinking because it’s a race-car for the road that the cabin is a stripped out carbon-fibre and aluminium bean can, though. A leather dashboard and seats, cushy trim, high-quality plastics and enough room for four at a push, plus a decent size boot mean you can easily use your GT-R on a daily basis.
The GT-R features almost every bit of kit you can think of: alloy wheels, climate control, cruise control, xenon headlamps, remote central locking, a pumping stereo system, and electrically adjustable and heated leather seats are all included as standard.