WHAT a bombshell: Nissan’s GT-R has beaten the Porsche 911 Carrera S in a road test conducted by evo magazine.
Writers at the mag subjected Porsche’s all-new ‘991’ Porsche 911 to a two-stage test on wintry Welsh roads.
And the GT-R came through with flying colours, emerging as the winner of the first test in which its rivals included the entry-level 3.4 litre Carrera, BMW M3, Jaguar XKR and Lotus Evora S.
Writer Richard Meaden says at this point: ‘The GT-R is a magnificent brute of a car. Fresh from its 2012MY refresh, it has even more power and a super-trick asymmetric chassis set-up. [Its] chiselled features are unremittingly masculine, all jutting jaw and square shoulders.’
Later in the piece he continues: ‘The steering has proper weight to it but there’s feel too. You can sense the front wheels walking over cambers pulling at the crown of the road. You feel constantly connected, whether you’re doing 10mph or, ahem, rather more.’
GT-R was then pitted against cars including the 3.8-litre 911 Carrera S, BMW M5, Audi R8 V8 and Maserati Granturismo S. In this esteemed company, the Nissan was given a five-star rating and was eventually placed second – just behind the Audi but AHEAD of the Porsche!
After reading that, you won’t be surprised to hear the writers at evo were supremely impressed by the GT-R. Henry Catchpole described it as ‘supremely thrilling’.
A really special car
And Meaden added to his earlier comments: ‘You know you’re in a really special car when a three-hour cross-country drive feels like it’s only taken 40 minutes.
‘The levels of cornering grip and braking power are awesome, but it’s the explosive overtaking ability that really puts the GT-R on an altogether different level.’
He enthused: ‘Confidence. That’s what this car exudes, from the rock-solid way it sits on the road to the seemingly boundless reserves of power, torque and traction you can call upon.’