To experience the full, gut-churning potential of Nissan's 2009 GT-R, you have to ride shotgun with Tochio Suzuki.
The legendary test driver took automotive writers for hot laps around the Autodromo Fernanda Pires Da Silva in Estoril, Portugal, recently as part of the 2009 model's introduction.
Suzuki still had his mojo working a few days after setting a record time for the GT-R of 7 minutes, 29 seconds at Germany's 22-kilometer Nurburgring. That shaved 9 seconds off the previous record and bolstered the GT-R's status as one of the fastest production cars in existence.
Even drivers who can't make it to the track can confirm the GT-R's 0-60 mph time of between 3.2 and 3.8 seconds.
A video game-inspired screen at the center of the dash displays mechanical and driving data, including a timer and information on acceleration, brake pedal pressure, steering angle and a recording function with playback. With Suzuki at the wheel, the screen was flashing out graphs and numbers like a HAL 9000 on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
At Estoril's nearly 2.6-mile track with four left turns and nine to the right, Suzuki drove a right-hand version of the GT-R over a period of several hours.
To say he put it to the test would be an understatement. On all 13 corners, Suzuki worked the throttle, brakes, steering wheel and paddle shifters with such skill that even other experienced race drivers at the track were in awe.
"His consistency is absolutely amazing," said one. "No one else can do the things he does."
On all the turns, Suzuki managed to drift through the corners while accelerating, which is challenging with an all-wheel-drive car. Through a slalom run, Suzuki never touched the brakes as he whipped through the cones at speeds in excess of 70 mph.
No video game can capture the g-forces that tug at a high-performance car, even in such skilled hands. You really don't have time to be afraid.
http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/32994 By RICHARD WILLIAMSON, Scripps Howard News Service
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