Ever since the current R35 incarnation of the GT-R was born back in 2008, Nissan has had the Porsche 911 Turbo in its marketing visor, so we won’t blame you if you find a battle between these two 2+2s less interesting than it used to be. But what if Godzilla were to go up against the GT3 incarnation of the Neunelfer?
That is precisely what takes place in the footage below, which shows the two battling it out on an airfield runway. Before you point out that the GT-R’s infamous all-wheel-drive system would give it a massive edge at the start, we have to mention the two used a rolling start to keep things on the balanced side.
It all feels like we’re watching a battle between eating a few slices of ghost pepper and drinking half a bottle of Tabasco - the two are neck and neck to an amazing extent.
In theory, while the 550 hp GT-R does beat the 475 hp GT3 to most benchmark speeds, the Zuffenhausen track special does show a greater top speed, with the GT3 climbing 5 mph (8 km/h) higher at the top in independent tests.
With both cars filmed here being in full stock condition, it’s safe to talk about their MRSPs, with the GT3 being $30,000 more expensive compared to the $100,000 Nissan.
Perhaps if Nissan hadn’t been so eager to compare the GT-R to the Porsche 911, we wouldn’t have seen the two vehicles here as competitors. After all, the Porsche remains one of the last members of the naturally aspirated breed, while the GT-R uses a twin-turbo setup. And while Godzilla is famous for its all-wheel-drive, the GT3 takes pride in offering a mix between rear-wheel-drive and rear-wheel steering.
Fortunately, the camera used for this video was placed in the car that sounds better, so the soundtrack is nothing short of delicious.
In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist. Full profile
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