Nissan GT-R named Car of the Year by Automobile Mag
Click above for high-res gallery of the Nissan GT-R
Nissan has hit a major home run with its latest Skyline, known as the GT-R here in the States. In fact, the car was knocked so far out of the park that it seems an obvious choice for anyone's Car of the Year. Nissan's latest supercar boasts enough performance to take on the best from the rest of the world regardless of price, making it an amazing value despite costing upwards of $80,000. As such, the new GT-R has been awarded the Car of the Year trophy from Automobile Mag. Who are we to argue?
Other winners of Automobile's year-end awards include Audi's stunning A5 coupe, which takes the award for Design of the Year, though it seems it feels like the A5's already been around for more than a year. Man of the Year goes to Honda's CEO, Takeo Fuki, who's company is now reaping the rewards for staying true to its initial vision of rational, fuel efficient designs after all these years. It's pretty hard to take exception with these choices, though 2009, which is right around the corner, is shaping up to be the year of fuel efficiency. Follow the jump for Automobile Mag's official press release, which has a few extra award winners we didn't mention.
Gallery: Review: 2009 Nissan GT-R
[Source: Automobile]
PRESS RELEASE
AUTOMOBILE Magazine Names the Nissan GT-R Automobile of the Year
ANN ARBOR, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AUTOMOBILE Magazine, America's leading automotive lifestyle publication and part of Source Interlink Media, LLC, a subsidiary of media and marketing services company Source Interlink Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ:SORC), announced today that the Nissan GT-R is the 2009 Automobile of the Year. The magazine also named the Audi A5 Design of the Year, Honda president and CEO Takeo Fukui Man of the Year, and Direct Fuel Injection Technology of the Year.
The winners are featured in the pages of the January 2009 issue of AUTOMOBILE Magazine, available on newsstands beginning December 2, 2008.
2009 Automobile of the Year: Nissan GT-R
The much anticipated Nissan GT-R is the first Japanese supercar to seriously threaten the reigning opposition, many of whom the GT-R bested on Germany's renowned Nurburgring. Editors noted that while the Nissan GT-R rides like a subway car, sounds like an appliance and weighs a ton, it still deserved to be named Automobile of the Year for delivering high-intensity fun and astonishing performance.
'For decades, previous versions of the GT-R were never exported to the United States. Now we know what we've been missing, and are we happy to be invited to the party,' said Jean Jennings, president and editor-in-chief of AUTOMOBILE Magazine. 'What we love about the GT-R is that it refuses to compromise. It is not comfortable, it is not trying to make friends and it is not trying to influence people. It exists for one reason only ' to go fast ' and it does.'
In awarding the GT-R its ultimate prize, AUTOMOBILE Magazine editors cited the car's 'neck-snapping acceleration,' 'super-accurate steering' and 'incredible value' by supercar standards.
Design of the Year: Audi A5
AUTOMOBILE Magazine's Design of the Year is notable for its restraint, elegance, and perfect execution on the interior and not just the exterior, according to editors. Initially, the editors were skeptical of Volkswagen Group design chief Walter de Silva's assertion that the Audi A5 is his best-ever design. It was on seeing the A5 on the road, however, that the magazine's editors could fully appreciate the quality of the A5's total design. Audi has indeed created a beautiful car.
'The first point of appreciation comes upon approaching the car,' said Design Editor Robert Cumberford. 'The second comes when the door is opened to one of the best interiors offered today, in any car at any price. The A5's elegance, stability, and sheer visual presence make it a clear winner.'
Man of the Year: Takeo Fukui - President, Honda Motor Company
In a year when the U.S. auto market has been challenged by fuel prices and the financial meltdown, Honda stands as an exception. With Takeo Fukui at the reins, Honda maintained a diverse model mix, especially in the small-car arena, and successfully positioned itself for the current marketplace.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Frat Stud 4:34PM (11/11/2008)
Ah yes, it's "that time of year" again. Time for me to stop reading Autoblog because they always spoil the goodies that will soon be arriving in my mailbox.
You guys issue SPOILER ALERTS for race results, but not for magazine contest results. It's a piss poor policy that indicates a lack of respect for your readers.
But since you refuse to change your ways, I guess I'll check back in with you in January.
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Franz 4:34PM (11/11/2008)
Good choices all around IMO.
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glitched 5:43PM (11/11/2008)
Sorry, I had to stop reading after the first sentence.
The GTR is the GTR everwhere. It is the "Nissan GTR" Not the "Nissan Skyline GTR"
The Skyline is known as the G35/G37 here.
CarbonBlack 6:08PM (11/11/2008)
glitched,
You are EXACTLY RIGHT!
however, the article was still worth reading
-Nick
Jason 6:41PM (11/11/2008)
Next time I hear someone call this car a skyline I am going to punch them in the face.
RPM 9:43PM (11/11/2008)
Ya I'm pretty sure what we have here as the Infiniti G37 Coupe is what the Skyline is in Japan, and non-Infiniti countries.
Amien 4:34PM (11/11/2008)
'What we love about the GT-R is that it refuses to compromise. It is not comfortable, it is not trying to make friends and it is not trying to influence people. It exists for one reason only ' to go fast ' and it does.'
That pretty much sums it up. Well deserved.
PS: Who were the other contenders?
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Aki 4:34PM (11/11/2008)
Incoming irrational hate, endless bickering about ZR1 is better, and how the GT-R is overhyped.
GT-R deserves it imo, as does the A5, which is such a nice looking coupe.
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Red 5:17PM (11/11/2008)
As someone who has tested the GT-R (R35) at Yokohama Tires' test facility and the Osaka police driver training facility in Japan and Buttonwillow, I can personally say, my particular example in fact, was overhyped. To be completely fair, I cannot say that the vehicle we tested (same vehicle on each track) is representative of EVERY car. But the car we had was underwhelming and everyone that set foot in it felt the same way. And no, we were not affiliated with any magazine.
I've no personal experience with the ZR-1, obviously, so I cannot comment on its performance.
wrussi 4:36PM (11/11/2008)
i must say biased. the ZR1 is much faster and overall better just by the fact that you can launch the car as hard as you want without 1.breaking the tranny 2. voiding your warranty.
i call it biased. the ZR1 should have gotten the title.
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Pete 4:41PM (11/11/2008)
Yeah, this is car of the year until the 4th launch...
I am very surprised that Nissan isn't handling this better. Considering they launched this car on campaign based on 75% digital media/viral media, you would think that they would be well aware of Auto forum rants when it comes to terrible service/warranty...
$20,000 for transmission failure = bad buy
Gomi 5:01PM (11/11/2008)
Perhaps your argument would be stronger if the title was 'sports car of the year'. Whether you like it or not the GTR is a technological marvel unlike any other.
tuna 5:15PM (11/11/2008)
@ pete:
Since you don't know, the COY award isn't about which car is the fastest. If that was the case it'd be a shootout between the Gumpert Apollo or Koenigsegg CCX. The award is about which mass production car of the year is most historically significant.
tuna 5:22PM (11/11/2008)
Sorry. I meant at Wrussi not Pete.
MoonRover 5:48AM (11/12/2008)
Are you surprised? This magazine has never given American cars the time of day. IMO this magazine is a bunch of bunk, I don't subscribe for that very reason, they don't know how to be fair, they are biased. That is not to say they are bias here, I have never driven either car. I am calling bias because of their past record of being totally bias.
addictive 4:41PM (11/11/2008)
Sort of an aside....but is the A5 selling well?
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zamafir 4:54PM (11/11/2008)
Not sure what you consider well, sales are up 1,800% YTD (5,056 vs 266) but I'm sure that's a result of the car having just been released last year. MTD is up 472% - again most likely a result of the same.
I love the A5, Hopefully the 3.0TDI will be here sooner rather than later.
dsharp23 5:14PM (11/11/2008)
I'd almost vote for the Audi, smooth and sexy isn't exactly what they've been known for. I parked next to one this morning at the Gym, man, that car is sweet.
Chris 5:50PM (11/11/2008)
The A5, in Fairfield County, CT, has a 3 month waiting list. Not sure if that represents it selling well or if it means that production hasn't peaked yet...but they are hard to come by. The S5 is even harder to get.
To me, the Audi should have won due to value, styling, practicality and the availability of a real transmission.
Michael 4:43PM (11/11/2008)
When I was at the autoshow this weekend, they had a RHD GT-R there. Absolutely beautiful... I must have looked at it for 20 minutes.
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