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Contrasts: Lotus Elise v. Nissan GT-R

Lotus Elise v. Nissan GT-R

By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG Kevin Kusina

WHAT defines a sports car? Really?

And has the definition changed? At a recent exotic car rally at Foxwoods, we were treated with a small lesson in contrasts. On paper and by word of mouth, Nissan’s infamous GT-R is every bit a performance machine: 485 bhp, 434 lb-ft of torque, 193 mph max velocity, Brembos, AWD, spoilers, electronic spoilers (VDC), and the rising sun rocket comes fitted with a Porsche-grade price tag – $80K to start.

On paper, the Lotus Elise seems to offer much less.

Top speed 150 mph thanks to a gimbly four pot, 185 bhp, 133 lb-ft of torque built by and originally for – gulp – Toyota. The price? $45K to start.

And then we leave the paper realm and find the two cars, shoulder to shoulder, rim to rim in a parking lot full of Ferraris. And this is where that all-important definition comes in to play.

Next to the Elise, the GT-R seems tall and slab-sided with the height, width, weight, and road clearance that seems more inline with a full-size, passenger friendly Altima sedan – they make ‘em big now! The Nissan simply towers over the little Lotus.

Then you consider, in its vast shadow, this low, lithe little British track car. There’s no excess paneling, in fact the cabin seems to be squeezed between wheel wells and air intakes. Sneeze and you just might skid its 1984 pound curb weight sideways into the next spot.

The Nissan, by contrast, weighs 3,814 lbs.

It’s seems improbable how the Elise is fit for human occupation. But, fit it is and does, if barely; requiring a gymnasts’ flexibility from driver and passenger during ingress and egress.

Which brings us to a question put to most performance machines: which car would you rather steer forcibly around a track at great speed? Which car would, by merit of its own stature be less likely to lean, pitch, and wallow without the help of electronics? Which car would consume less and fight on longer in long-distance competition rallies? Which driver would feel more in-tune with his car?

Which car is really the true sports car?

That answer depends on your definition.

Nissan’s Understated GT-R

By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG Found on Carzi.com

JALOPNIK posted an interesting comparative pic.

Captured for your amusement were a Nissan GT-R and Acura NSX parked side by side, both trimmed in polar white finishes. In stature, the tall Nissan dwarfs the low profile Acura; a two door 90s sports car that owed much stylistically to designs originally penned by Giugaro and Pininfarina.

Yours witnessed his first GT-R in person this week. Funny thing was, I almost didn’t notice it.

Jet black, it advanced quietly through traffic (there was no loud exhaust to grab my attention from the opposite lane) the GT-R seemed the ultimate in Japanese discretion.

Not a bad thing, per se. Nissan doesn’t need to make a sports car that shouts its arrival.

The aforementioned NSX borrowed so many Ferrari cues, that it drew most of its attention from pedestrians who thought they just saw a Ferrari. Rival Toyota molded the last generation Supra into a unique shape, but, it wasn’t universal in its stylistic appeal.

The Nissan really doesn’t offend and yet it’s anything but milquetoast. The car appears to have genuine visual character all its own.

But it does blend a little…

Bespoke Motoring By Nissan

Hype tailored to a justified height.

Nissan is the smallest of Japan’s Big Three. And considering quality, fit, finish, name appeal, and North American sales, Toyota and Honda both have the Paris-Tokyo axis clocked.

Fundamentals aside, it doesn’t take a mind like Carlos Ghosn’s to appreciate how Nissan has managed to inject soul into its entire line in a way that the company’s larger competitors rarely accomplish.

It’s relatively easy to understand the “brand” (insipid word) extension that Nissan is reaching for with the M.Y. 2009 GT-R that starts at $69,850. Easier still, to appreciate the excitement that the GT-R stirs in the hearts (and right legs) of old Datsun communities.

Both Toyota and Honda’s Acura enjoyed their time in the sun with their Supra and NSX, respectively. Why not Nissan?

Nissan’s special-to-model website states that the GT-R will be sold in standard and premium versions. The $2050 difference with the premium package being that Nissan’s put a premium on safety – with curtain and side impact airbags (were they deployed, I doubt they could be replaced as cheaply).

Luckily, for the penny pincher turbocharged V6 that pumps out 420 horsepower comes standard.

That said, penny pinching really doesn’t factor in with the GT-R. This R8-esque halo machine isn’t meant for the Altima or Murano customer. This is bespoke motoring by Nissan. Mass market be damned.

Hear that Toyota? Honda?

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