Nissan GT-R wins Japan's Most Advanced Technology award

The GT-R cars from Nissan have always been at the pinnacle of cutting-edge technology for the road. Right from the earlier generation Skyline R32 GT-R, they've been packed with gizmos like active 4-wheel drive, 4-wheel steering and other computerized skullduggery to make the cars as fast and as controllable as possible around corners. The all new GT-R takes its technology up several notches though making it one of the most hi-tech cars in the world today and also one of the fastest production cars around the famed Nurburgring Nordschlife circuit.

The GT-R has shed its iconic inline-6 engine for a new 3.8 litre V6 which runs twin parallel variable-vane turbochargers, producing more than 485 PS of power and a staggering 588 Nm of torque. And this is more than enough to propel the 1.7 tonne GT-R from a standstill to 100km/h in just over 3.2 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 314km/h. What makes the GT-Rs engine even more astonishing is that it also meets California Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV) standards. The Super-HICAS 4-wheel steering system from the old Skyline GT-Rs has also been dropped from the new car. But it still retains the same, albeit much improved, ATTESA-ETS active 4-wheel drive system. The car's on-board computer now comes with Nissan's Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC-R) program to assist in handling and stability. Drive to all four wheels is given through a rear mounted 6-speed dual clutch semi-automatic gearbox which comes with three shift modes for various conditions.

During the final selection at the JCOTY, the jury quoted the Nissan GT-R as "a supercar that delivers powerful performance and clean emission, featuring an advanced new body structure combining carbon, aluminium and steel, in addition to its impressive dual-clutch transmission and the world's first independent transaxle 4WD". All this technology translates into a car that is blistering fast in nearly every imaginable condition and at the same time something that can be driven safely by literally anybody, making the GT-R a true "everyday" supercar.