2009 Nissan GT-R rumored to clock 3.3-second 0-60 time
Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Nissan GT-R
When the Nissan GT-R launched last year, the automaker stated an official 0-60 time of 3.5 seconds. Shortly thereafter, the buff books began reporting faster sprints to the magic mark, ranging from 3.3 to 3.4 seconds. Although they rarely divulged how they accomplished the feat (some admitted to using a one-mph rollout, others claimed superpowers), we knew things would change for the 2009 model year.
The refreshed GT-R is equipped with a few extra ponies and a reworked launch control system, and according to our friends at GTRBlog, a Nissan test driver clocked a 3.3-second 0-60 mph run while testing at the automaker's Tochigi track... with the VDC on.
Nissan has decided not to officially restate the 2009 GT-R's 0-60 time, leaving it to independent testers (read: the media) to confirm or deny this new rumored run. So for the time being, the 3.5-second figure will stand... until an outside source performs a thorough, repeatable and instrumented test.
Gallery: Review: 2009 Nissan GT-R
[Source: Nissan, GTRBlog]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Mitchttj 7:47PM (2/24/2009)
Big deal, its still underpowered compared to its competition. A ZR1 will absolutely destroy it in the performance times that count, real world driving, such as 20mph - 80mph sprints.
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Kumail 7:48PM (2/24/2009)
GT-R - $70,000
ZR1 - $110,000
Franz 7:58PM (2/24/2009)
It's not underpowered or outgunned when compared to it's real competition, instead trying to put it in the same category as cars that cost loads more. This car was conceived as a direct competitor to the Porsche 911 Turbo (does no one remember the countless videos of this car going head to head with a 911 in development? That was the benchmark, nothing else.). The Corvette Z06 is also fair game. Once you start talking ZR1 and GT2 Porsches, you've gone way out of the price range and intended competitors.
zamafir 8:35PM (2/24/2009)
Didn't you guys hear? $40,000 differences aren't but a tang, next up Mitchttj will have us believe the Mazda Speed 3 is a nice car, but the CTS-V is faster, so it's crap.
Man I love the 'blog.
jv2k 8:47PM (2/24/2009)
0-60 in 3.3 sec is underpowered?
Tyler 9:00PM (2/24/2009)
The real world driving situations that these cars are exposed to so often, and usually purchased for? Give it a rest, Nissan didn't make the car faster just to rag on the ZR1, nor did GM make the ZR1/Z06 to beat Nissan in a flame war. These cars were made to celebrate the companies R&D adroit, and their philosophies of speed. They're both capable cars and no car dominates the other - contrary to what you hope for. These cars are celebrations of speed, and seek to reenforce corporate stances and tradition. This is why the Nissan has six cylinders and more electronics than you can shake a stick at. This is also why the ZR1 has an engine in the front, 8 cylinders, and pushrods. So, let's celebrate the ZR1 for what it is, an American approach to speed. And let's commend the GT-R, because it is an impressive machine in its own right and Japan's approach to speed.
petee209 9:05PM (2/24/2009)
Well said Tyler. I hate people who bash this car for no real good reason.
Noah 9:12PM (2/24/2009)
Kumail- the GT-R is $79,090 if you want the safety of side-airbags. The ZR-1 starts at about 106,500. And for reference, the Z06 starts around $76,000. All excellent vehicles (though I agree, the Corvette could use a dash upgrade....would be fine to just give it the new LaCrosse interior).
Ligor 10:00PM (2/24/2009)
well then the Nissan wins since it can be driven all year round even with plenty of snow on the ground
the ZR1 can't be driven for 6months of the year in MI, and with the largest pot holes i've seen in years it can't be driven in half the roads at any time
but to get back to reality the GTR is a great car and so is the ZR1 and I salivate to have either one without even having to think tiwice which one i'd preffer.
a friend of mine got a chance to get behind a ZR1 at the Arizona proving grounds and i could see the grim on his face for weeks after the event
ambientFLIER 8:36PM (2/25/2009)
Too bad the ZR1 is underpowered compared to its true competitor, the Veyron. Wait...what?
JDMlover 7:47PM (2/24/2009)
Seems like this car is only about 0-60.....
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Rev 8:08PM (2/24/2009)
How?
Why?
Where?
Huh???
But I'm sure you're right. From what I hear the steering wheel is only for aesthetic purposes... On the track is seems like it's a terrible car ~ and the reviewers have seemed to hate their time in them, too...
And I'm sure you've driven a GT-R many times, eh?
RJ 11:33PM (2/24/2009)
Quite the contrarary. 0-60 is probably the least useful feature of this car, or any other car at this power level for that matter.
At around 400 hp, 0-60 becomes more traction limited than power limited. If you put 2 feet wide drag slicks on an Z06 / ZR1 / SRT-10, and drop the clutch from redline, you'll probably get a 2.0s 0-60.
On the other hand, handling dynamics, braking, high speed stability, predictability, and the general good "feel" of the car while negotiating a mountain road or technical track, are qualities that real supercars strive for.
Vetmstr 7:50PM (2/24/2009)
Seriously does anycare anymore ! ! ! ! !
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aj121489 8:01PM (2/24/2009)
I assume you mean does anyone care...and if that's your question I don't. I'm already tired of seeing/hearing about the GTR. Don't get me wrong, it's an amazing piece of machinery and engineering and I'll still be whippin my head around if I get passed by one, but it just got very old very fast for me
stg 7:51PM (2/24/2009)
What good is a 3.3 sec. 0-60 if the damn transmission will eventually be all over the track/street?
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Aki 7:54PM (2/24/2009)
You apparently missed "with VDC on"
/facepalm
stg 7:56PM (2/24/2009)
unless they changed the transmission or beefed it up it still has a week link in there somewhere.
BigMcLargeHuge 8:41PM (2/24/2009)
The new launch mode is not nearly as hard on drivetrain components.
Unless the car is modded, your post was pure exaggeration.
Chris 8:43PM (2/24/2009)
It's called reprogrammed launch control software that isn't so harsh on the driveline.