APRIL2008.Nissansetsa remarkableNurburgringlaptimeof
7min38sec,equaltothatofthePorsche 997 Turbo,beforelowering
it to7min29seceightmonthslater.PorscheaccusesNissanof
cheating,claimingitstestdrivercouldn’tbest7min54secwitha
standardGT-R.Nissanrespondsbyloweringthetimeagainto
7min27secinApril2009.
FEBRUARY 2009. Nissan takes the R35 racing, though
somewhat confusingly both the GT500 and GT1 are rear-wheel
drive with naturally-aspirated V8s, a 4.5-litre VK45DE for Super
GT and a 5.6-litre VK56DE in the FIA GT Championship.JANUARY 2010. The R35 GT-R wins Performance Car of
the Year, tying for first place with the Audi R8 V10, judges
exclaiming “Blew me away on track”, “World’s cheapest
supercar”, “Turns chumps into champs” and “a devastating
track weapon”. The updated MY11 model would repeat the trick
two years later.R35 SETS 7:38SEC
NURBURGRING
LAPTIMEGT-R GOES
ATMO V8 AND
REAR-DRIVER35 WINS
PERFORMANCE
CAR OF THE YEARMAY 2008. MOTOR conducts its first test of the R35 GT-R,
almost a year ahead of the Australian launch, driving a
privately-imported example alongside its R32, R33 and R34
predecessors. It’s quickly apparent Nissan’s new gadget sets
a new benchmark for Japanese performance, even with the
180km/h speed limiter still in place!
THE AUSSIE
EXCLUSIVE:
MOTOR'S FIRST
R35 ROAD TEST