2013 Audi A3

Nissan GT-R picked as 2009 World Performance Car of the Year

 
3 4,518 views Apr 9, 2009

nissan gt r official1 motorauthority 001 4

The Nissan GT-R beat out the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and Porsche 911 Carrera for top honors

The Nissan GT-R beat out the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and Porsche 911 Carrera for top honors

Enlarge Photo
Not to be outdone by the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards from the Detroit Auto Show, the organizers of the New York Auto Show are heavily promoting their own ‘World’ and ‘Performance’ titles and today revealed the winners for this year’s awards.

The Nissan GT-R was chosen from an initial entry list of 23 contenders nominated by 59 World Car jurors from twenty-five 25 countries throughout the world. Candidates for the World Performance Car award had to demonstrate a specific and overt Sports/Performance orientation. Furthermore, they had to also satisfy the same availability criteria as for the overall World Car award.

The jurors observed that the “Nissan GT-R stole the headlines in the sports car world in 2008. This GT-R – the R35 – throws even former GT-Rs into the weeds via an all-new 3.6L bi-turbo V6 providing 480hp and 430lb-ft of torque. The drive of the GT-R, especially on a track, reveals an incredibly flexible all-wheel-drive chassis that lays down the rubber whenever you request it. Acceleration to 60mph from a stop takes just 3.5 seconds, or a tick behind fellow Performance finalist the Corvette ZR1. For $77,000 it may be the world’s best enthusiast car”.

The top three contenders for the World Performance Car were the Nissan GT-R, the Corvette ZR1 and the Porsche 911 Carrera. Previous World Performance Car winners were the Audi R8 in 2008, the Audi RS4 in 2007 and the Porsche Cayman S in 2006.

2009 World Performance Car finalists:
- Audi RS 6 Avant
- BMW 135i Coupe / Cabriolet
- Corvette ZR1
- Lamborghini LP560-4 Gallardo
- Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG
- Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG
- Mitsubishi Evo X / Evo MR
- Nissan GT-R
- Porsche 911 Carrera
- Subaru Impreza WRX STI
Nissan GT-R in depth

HI-RES GALLERY: nissan gt r official1 motorauthority 001 4




Tags:
Posted in:
 
Contribute
Send us a tip Comment Contact the editor
Follow Us

 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

  • Posting indicates you have read this site's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • Notify me when there are more comments
Comments (3)

  1. ma_azlan avatar azlan Posted: 2/2/2009 4:53pm PST

    i think the evo should take it, it competes with all the big supercars but with half the price and a tiny engine. its an amazing car. as for the world car i like the xf even though its quite expensive
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  2. ma_Quantum avatar Quantum Posted: 4/9/2009 7:04am PDT

    why is this : - BMW 135i Coupe / Cabriolet in the list?

    this makes no sence
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  3. ma_Chris avatar Chris Posted: 4/9/2009 7:32am PDT

    quantum... a 300 something HP twin turbo 3L I6 in a RWD sub compact? you want to know why thats listed as a performance car? seriously?
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

Connect with Facebook

Motor Authority. Now with your friends.

Discover stories your friends read.
Share stories more easily.
You control what you share.
Learn more

Research New Cars

Go!


More from High Gear Media

 
 
MotorAuthority
  • Follow Us
  • Twiiter
  • Facebook
 
 
© 2011 MotorAuthority. All Rights Reserved. MotorAuthority is published by High Gear Media. Stock photography by Homestar, LLC. Send us feedback.