Nissan GT-R review, test drive

The engine soundtrack is more a throaty growl than a high-pitched howl and it’s now less of an assault on your eardrums, thanks to a Bose active noise cancellation system and an acoustic shield in the windscreen that mutes the din by a good 10 decibels.

Six laps of the legendary Spa-Francorchamp circuit in typically Spa conditions (wet, foggy, slippery and poor visibility) was a challenge the GT-R took up with aplomb. Even with all the electronic nannies firmly switched on, it was easy to break traction, the torrential conditions easily overwhelming the Dunlop SP Sports which have a tread pattern that works best on dry roads. Though it was easy to breach the relatively low grip levels what came across is how astonishingly fast the GT-R is even in the wet (I crossed 230kph on the Kemmel straight), and how easy it is to drive on the limit and even a smidgen beyond.

Squirt the throttle excessively and the tail twitches, pointing to the rear-biased power delivery. Cross the cornering limit and the front end first washes out before all four wheels progressively slide. The handling is so predictable that it makes novice drivers feel like heroes, especially when they are charging up Eau Rouge, possibly the most legendary corner in Formula 1. In dry conditions, the GT-R’s prodigious amounts of grip would have been a different ball game altogether.

Should I buy one?

Nissan has indicated that the GT-R in India will cost close to a ludicrous Rs 2.5 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi) which instantly begs the question: Would anyone pay a Porsche 911 or Audi R8 money for a Nissan? The truth is not many would, which is why Nissan doesn’t expect to sell more than a handful of GT-Rs every year. But if you’re someone who isn’t interested in brand appeal but wants a machine that is easy to drive astonishingly quickly in all conditions, then few cars come close to the GT-R's wide breadth of talents. It’s not everybody’s supercar but is certainly an everyday supercar.