GT-r (2008)

'The new Nissan GT-R is an extraordinary car, a technological flagship for Nissan that demonstrates our passion for cars,' says Carlos Tavares, executive vice president for corporate and product planning. 'It is designed for optimal high-speed performance in all road conditions. No car combines such speed, ease of driving, ability to excel in all road conditions, such exhilaration, value-for-money and distinctive style. As with its predecessors that have worn the famous GT-R badge, it is a technological wonder car, with an extraordinary breadth of ability. That's why we say it's for anyone, anywhere, at anytime.'

For anyone - because drivers of all abilities can enjoy its extraordinary performance, from professional racing drivers to those who simply want a stylish and exciting car for weekend driving.

For anywhere - because here is a supercar that's been developed around the world, from the twists and turns and dips and crests of the famous Nürburgring racing circuit in Germany, to Nissan's high-speed hot weather circuit in Arizona, to the snowy roads of Michigan. It is the world's only supercar that's just at home on dry Tarmac, snow and on wet rainy roads, helped by its advanced four-wheel drive system that offers superb traction and safety. Unlike previous versions of the GT-R, this one will be sold in both right- and left-hand drive forms around the world, including the North American and mainland European markets.

At anytime - because it is just as capable on hot summer days as snowy winter ones, by day or at night.

Technological highlights include:

• An independent transaxle and advanced four-wheel drive system that continuously adjusts torque front-to-rear (and vice versa) depending on dynamic needs
• New six-speed paddle shift dual-clutch gearbox featuring an exceedingly quick gearshift or fully automatic for ease-of-driving
• New high-efficient 3.8-litre twin turbo V6 engine, mating great horsepower (480 PS / 353 kW), a wide torque spread (maximum torque 60kgm / 588 Nm), good fuel economy and low emissions (conforming to ULEV regulations in Japan ). New technology includes plasma coated bores to improve cooling efficiency and boost both power and economy
• Aerodynamic body of just 0.27 Cd - so it's one of the world's slickest cars. This is specially unusual on a supercar that offers high downforce front and rear
• New body using lightweight steel, carbon fibre and diecast aluminium construction
• Brembo drilled ventilated disc brakes and Brembo opposed monoblock callipers that offer immense stopping power
• Dampers, gear shift and VDC-R are all manually adjustable, by simple switches on the dashboard, offering maximum comfort with ease of driving, or maximum performance
• Multi-functional instrument display, designed by the people who created the graphics of the Sony PlayStation Gran-Turismo game
• A g-force meter in the instrument display, showing both lateral (acceleration and braking) and transverse (cornering) forces.

'The challenge is to build a car that is stable and quiet at that speed, a car that is comfortable and easy to drive at that speed, a car that has excellent straight-line stability at over 300 km/h (186mph), a car that can handle snow and ice and rain at high speed, a car that is also environmentally sound and has a very high safety standards. It is my belief that no car mixes these abilities like the new Nissan GT-R,' says Kazutoshi Mizuno, chief vehicle engineer and chief product specialist for the Nissan GT-R, and former Nissan racing team director and chief engineer.

Mizuno describes the Nissan GT-R as a 'multi-performance supercar for the 21st century.'

'I believe it creates a completely new car genre. It inherits the DNA of past great GT-Rs and packs it with the very latest technology. The key factors are the utilisation of the earth's natural forces and the high technology for human-machine interface, developed to control the ultimate performance. Our objective was to create a flagship model to promote our technology but also to develop a new type of supercar. Supercars have traditionally been aimed at drivers with advanced skills. But our new "multi-performance supercar" can be driven fast and skilfully by just about anybody in just about any road condition.'