2010 Nissan GT-R

Donning lightweight carbon-fiber body parts, no rear seats, GBP36,000-plus world-beating carbon-ceramic brakes, a high gear boost control, unique fixed Bilstein suspension, and ultra-high-performance 20-in. Rays rims and extra-grippy Bridgestone rubber, the new 2010 Nissan GT-R SpecV certainly looks a lot meaner than the stock GT-R. This coupe is without doubt the most radical roadgoing racer Japan has ever produced.

Pumping out 478 hp, the 2010 GT-R SpecV's 3.8L V-6 twin turbo only gets 5 extra horses over the 2008 R35 model. While Mizuno claims the Nissan GT-R will do 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 sec and the quarter mile in under 11.5, even with a revised VDC unit that he asks you to leave on," he tells us his aim was not to add power but to take the car's handling to the next level. And, to tell the truth, the car feels no slower, if not marginally quicker out of the blocks with the VDC on.

Other changes for the 2010 Nissan GT-R include five more horsepower for its 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine, which now makes 485 hp. The brakes have been updated with more rigid brake lines for improved durability, and the brake calipers now carry both the Brembo and Nissan logos. The suspension gets redesigned Bilstein dampers with a new valve body design and revised spring and damper rates. Before leaving, Robinson directed us to take our 2010 Nissan GT-R to service at 1000 miles so that the engine can be balanced, the transmission calibrated, and the alignment checked. Fluid changes are due at 6000 miles, and another suspension and powertrain calibration is due at the 12,000-mile mark.