Auto Trends

The introduction to this post has two meanings attached to it. The most obvious is that the new 2009 Nissan GT-R is fast… actually it is real fast. Edmunds.com was able to get their hands on one recently for a test run, and reported a 3.3 second 0-60, using the Nissan’s new launch control system. We’ll give more on this later.

Onto the other meaning of the phrase, The new GT-R is set to be released upon American soil in just a little over a week, and if this is the first that you have heard of it, then it is probably already getting to be too late to get your name on the list to receive on of these production beasts.

Over 70 percent of these vehicles have already been bought and paid for, which adds up to approximately 1,700 of the 2,500 that are scheduled to be here this July 7^th, 2008. Only 671 Nissan dealers will be given the prestige to display these on their lot, and to find if one is going to be anywhere near you, you can check their dealer listing at www.Nissanusa.com.

The starting price on the GT-R will run you a base of $70,850, which is actually a steal for the performance and collector status that this vehicle will have. The premium version will run $72,900, adding to it such features as higher-performance tires, 11-speaker Bose audio system (two subwoofers), heated front seats, and full-length side airbags.

The options list beyond the premium model is actually rather minuscule in comparison to many other sports cars, which says to us that it was loaded right in the first place. The tiny list of options include a $3,000 silver paint job, which is opposed to the “cop buster” bright red. $360 for an all-important iPod converter, and the standard $280 for custom premium GT-R floor mats (certainly not necessary, but always a cool touch).

But before you get too excited over the leftover 800 GT-R’s up for bids, keep in mind that they will be just that… up for bids. It will probably be not all that unlikely for these to be auctioned off in the six figure digits.

But if none of that has got you down, then let’s open up to some gushing over the new 2009 Nissan GT-R. The GT-R is powered by a small yet potent 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine that is capable of 473 horsepower and 434 lb-ft of torque. It is also has a variable four wheel drive, and is about as custom made as you can get today with a mass produced vehicle.

For starters, each gearbox is actually custom mated to the engine, of which is also predominantly hand made to todays standards. The tires themselves are inflated using nitrogen, in order to help reduce the amount of expansion and contraction that is experienced with normal O2.

The GT-R is no stripped down production racer either, weighing in at 3,836 pounds, it offers such conveniences as 20-inch alloy wheels, Brembo brakes, xenon headlights, electronically adjusted suspension, leather upholstery, power seats, aluminum-trim pedals, leather-wrapped steering wheel/shift knob, automatic climate control, a six-speaker sound system, Bluetooth capability, XM Satellite Radio, in-dash flashcard reader, 30 gigabyte navigation system, and driver-configurable information monitor.

With all this praise, we do feel it appropriate to give the GT-R a B+ on its body style. For some buyers, the angular and smooth body style will be less than attractive. It is sort of shaped liked the 300Z crossed with a Toyota Celica, and has those two chrome fender vents that frightfully remind us of similar ones on the 2008 Ford Focus.

The GT-R is also so well behaved that some testers have had to admit that the car is actually a bit boring to drive and had to rely on their test equipment to believe that they were going as fast and pulling as many G’s as they were. While some may say that this is the sign of a truly well-designed vehicle, others may find the strict response too tame (or dare we say lame) for its name… GT-R!

But hey, you can’t please them all… but this one gets pretty darn close for the money!

With news of the barrel hitting $150 to $170 by summers end, consumers are finding alternative vehicles such as hybrids, motorcycles, scooters… yada, yada, yada!

Okay, enough bad news for one day, let’s have a little fun and look at how the other half live. Namely the 2,000 who are going to be able to get their hands on this summers newly released Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1.

When you are talking about a 6.2 liter LS9 V-8 producing 638 horsepower, 604 lb-ft torque, can do 0-60 in 3.4 seconds, 0-100 in 7 seconds, a quarter mile in just 11.3 seconds @ 131 mph, and has a top speed of 205 mph… who cares if it only gets 14 mpg city!

Yeah, it’s true… you will be paying a “gas guzzler” tax of $1,700 to park one of these in your driveway this summer. But that seems like mere pennies when you add it to the already steep $100,000+ price range.

As premium as this vehicle is, GM is not exactly giving anything away for free. $105,000 will get you car, the horsepower, and the prestige. If you want side air bags (which we highly recommend, especially if you plan on going 205 mph), add about $10,000 which gets you their options package.

The options package includes upgraded (ZR-1 logo) seats, Bose stereo, navigation system, side airbags, and maybe an extra pat on the back from the salesperson.. Then if you want something beyond the standard alloy ZR-1 wheels, an extra $2,000 will get you the chrome ‘bling’ wheels.

Now we are up to $117,000…

But you can’t forget that there are only going to be 2,000 of these made, which means dealer mark ups. Some places in California have reported mark-ups as much as $50,000, making these drop off the lot at no less than $170,000.

Ah, how the other half live!

Okay, now back to our subcompact hybrids…

About how much muscle is that?

Try 260 horsepower and 260 lbs torque. That’s up from its 205 horsepower debut in 2005. Once again a manufacturer has discovered that turbo is a wonderful addition to an ex-supercharged compact.

When the Mini Cooper first figured this out, it saw a boost of 32 horsepower, up to 175… and that’s at a very conservative boost mind you. While the Mini Cooper is perky and nimble, the Cobalt SS is sure to send chills down its checkered race strip spine at a red light. With nearly 100 more horsepower flexing through its open exhaust note, it would fare little chance except on a twisty road.

But the Cobalt is not your typical overpowered American Muscle car lacking the proper suspension to keep it on the road. In fact, in has a very impressive lateral grip of 0.9 g’s. Or in other words, it is capable of holding its own on a race course with some “real” scrappers, such as the R32 Skyline GT-R and E46 M3.

The Cobalt SS wasn’t always the center of praise. In fact, here was quite a bit of bad talk about the little compact once upon a time (say about three years ago). Many critics claimed that it just didn’t do the heritage “SS” badge justice. After all, we’ve had the infamous Camaro SS (1969, with 375 horsepower), Monte Carlo SS (2007, with 303 horsepower), Nova SS (1967, with 350 horsepower)… and when the Cobalt SS showed up with its paltry 205 horsepower, it kind of fell flat in comparison…

But the critics have come to develop an all new respect for the Cobalt SS and for just under $23,000 you can plant your rear in one of these. At this price you get the 2.0 liter Ecotec turbo (0-60 in 5.7 seconds), FES Sport Suspension, tuned stabilizer bars and springs, 4-wheel (ABS) disc brakes (Brembo- front), 18 inch alloy wheels (225/40), StabiliTrak control system, side impact bags, and GM Powertrain 5-speed transmission w/ short throw shifter.

Two of the Cobalts coolest features to performance enthusiasts is its Launch Control and No Lift shifting. The Launch Control is in operation anytime the vehicle is stopped and set to competition mode. With the foot on the clutch and the other foot pressed to the accelerator, the Cobalt with automatically hold itself at precisely 5100 rpm, which will launch the Chevy at perfect boost once the clutch is dumped.

No Lift shifting refers to the Cobalts ability to shift gears with no boost drop. The way it works, is a driver can shift gears while their accelerator foot remain pressed to the floor. You just pop the clutch, slide the gear into the next slot, and pop the clutch… Presto, no turbo lag!

What is even more impressive (given the obvious race specific design), is the fact that the Cobalt can still pull off 30 mpg on the highway with all its power adders in place. But make no mistake, the cobalt still has plenty of stiff competition in the Mazdaspeed3, Dodge SRT-4, and VW GTI. Eenie-meenie-minie-moe…