Story Lee Nian Tjoe
Photos Andy Wee

If Aston Martin grew up on miso and natto, the GT-R would be the Vanquish. The GT-R, as the French would describe it, is Nissan's cremé de la créme

Last year, the Audi R8 dominated every other conversion among car buffs. By our reckoning, the Nissan GT-R is the next big thing.

Officially, the car will only be made for sale outside Japan next year, but that hasn't stopped the steady stream of units being loaded onto ships and sent out as grey imports. Officially, we aren't supposed to be driving this sub-4 second monster until later, but our initial investigation of the car suggests that the GT-R is everything its predecessors have came to be and then some. While earlier GT-Rs (which were developed from the standard Skyline model) placed a lot of emphasis on function and little on aesthetics, this latest GT-R also hints of craftsmanship in its tightly wound skin. It would seem that Nissan really has pulled all the stops on this one – good on them.

QUICKLY
The Nissan GT-R with its mix of cutting edge technology, reputation for slaying giants and outlandish styling puts the car on the top of the pile among the crop of high performance cars.

WE LIKE
- Attention to detail at every level
- Sublime VW DSG-style 6-speed dual clutch transmission
- Ballastic performance

WE DON'T LIKE
- Belittled as being "just a Nissan"
- Waiting
- Limited stock

IN THE ISSUE WATCH OUT FOR
- Gorgeous photographic details of the GT-R
- Tribute to the Nissan Skyline GT-R lineage

ESSENTIALS
Engine: 3799cc, 24-valves, V6
Power: 480bhp at 6400rpm
Torque: 588Nm at 3200-5200rpm
Gearbox: 6-speed dual clutch with auto mode
Top Speed: 180km/h (limited), over 300km/h (unlimited)
0-100km/h3.5 seconds (claimed)