The big books love the comparison tests that pit some of the big dogs against one another to pick an overall “winner”. Road and Track Magazine in the June 2010 issue pits the 2010 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 , the 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo, and the 2011 Nissan GT-R in a road and track test. Funny how that works out. For the track they went to Spring Mountain Ranch in Pahrump , Nevada . In the last comparison test they did with the Z06, 911, and the Nissan GT-R they declared the Nissan GT-R to be the King, this time outcomes are different, but really more of the same.
Two years ago, we pitted the then-new Nissan GT-R against the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and Porsche 911 Turbo (May 2008). The results astounded us: The all-wheel-drive, twin-turbocharged GT-R spanked its two better-known rivals, especially at the Buttonwillow racetrack, where the GT-R was some 5 seconds per lap quicker.
The 2011 Nissan GT-R carries just a few changes from the 2009 model.Some minor suspension, launch control, and a 5 hp bump are the significant performance differences. The 2010 Porsche Turbo gets a new 500hp direct injection powerplant. The 2010 ZR1 is still 638 hp, 3365 lbs, and carbon ceramic braked $100k plus Corvette.
At the track , the quickest time was laid down by the ZR1 with a 1:20.1 , eight tenths of a second behind the ZR1 was the GT-R with a 1.20.9, and bringing up the rear was the Porsche with a 1:21.3.
0-60 Times for the cars were 3.5 seconds each for the ‘vette and the P car. The GT-R clocking a 3.3 second sprint to 60 mph. In the quarter mile the cars were all within two tenths. The ZR1 at 11.5@128.7 mph, showing a big top end charge with some traction issues. The all wheel drive Porsche did a 11.7@121.8, the GT-R ran an 11.6@120.4 mph showing it to be a healthy GT-R. Maybe the 2011 makes more than 5 hp more than the previous years ?
In the end they pick the Porsche 911 turbo to be the winner (price independent), followed by the ZR1, then the GT-R. By their scale the GT-R behind the ZR1 by two tenths of a point, the P car winning by two points. However when you factor in the $121k ZR1 , the $149k 911 , and the $85K GT-R prices as tested the Nissan GT-R becomes the clear winner.
Throw a few thousand dollars in modifications at the Nissan GT-R, like a Cobb Access Port and the Nissan GT-R will get even quicker. Although in this test, the GT-R actually came out on top in the Performance testing with 196.9 points compared to 195.3, and 194.7 for the ZR1 and 911 TT.
Head over to Road and Track to check out the videos of the comparison test.
Source : Road and Track Magazine
