Not too long after the first breed of automobiles was invented, several races started to take place in order to determine which one out of them was better. And thus came in the new segment of cars, the race-friendly vehicles. They were built to thrive on the challenges of the track and did so with absolute perfection.
There are umpteen numbers of the racer-born cars around the world. Most of them are specialized at what they built for, like the Ferrari or the Bugatti. Others are just sober, having outright power on the acceleration pedal and luxuriously elegant. Have a look at the Audi R8, the Porsche 911 or the Nissan GTR and you will find how perfectly they fit the bill of being beastly powerful on the track and supremely graceful on the regular roads.
So how would the Audi R8, the Porsche 911, and the Nissan GTR fare once they are thrown at each other on the track or on the road. Let’s find it out.
Appearance
Audi R8
The Audi R8 is easily the pinnacle of the company’s ever-so-sophisticated design language. The R8 is the right mixture of every element that can cast a powerful drooling effect on its admirers. The car has a distinct racer-friendly aerodynamics and beastly appearance. The front section is flanked by a sharp bonnet and big air intake grille. The headlamps cluster is horizontally stretched and edgy. The rear profile is equally bold and stands to be an absolute stunner.
Porsche 911
The Porsche 911 is different from the other two. If Audi R8 and Nissan GTR are sharp and edgy, the Porsche 911 is curvy, smart and supercool. The front bonnet bends forward with a shallow gradient. The headlamps are oval in shape and the grille is placed at a much lower height, just above the front spoiler.
However, it’s the rear section that holds the key to a striking design. Contrary to the round-ish headlamps, the tail lights are sharp and horizontally stretched almost halfway through to the rear wheel arches.
Nissan GTR
The Nissan GTR is somewhere in between the R8 and the 911, with more inclination towards the former. The car is sharp with curvy corners at the same time. The headlamps are swept back and appear to be placed over the bulging front wheel arches. It is as sharp as the R8 but is probably more sculpted. Get to the rear and you will feel that you want to take her on a dash at the deserted expressway. There are as many as four round-shaped tail lights, two on either side, just like what we might have often dreamt of.
Interior layout
Audi R8
Inside, the Audi R8 has a multi-function steering wheel that controls the drive modes too. The 12.3-inch digital screen is placed right in front of the driver’s view so that he doesn’t have to get his eyes off the road each time he wants to control the satellite navigation and other features.
You also get a big red start/stop button right on the steering. Although the two-seater looks like a virtual cockpit on the inside, the Audi R8 is a great option for normal city drives too.
Porsche 911
The Porsche 911, on the other hand, is an epitome of supercars from all aspects. Every little detailing and informational objects are placed right in the direct eye line of the driver. Even though the driver’s seat is narrow, it is comfortable enough for the longer rides as well. The all-round parking sensors and reverse parking camera is optional but are worth being added into the kitty.
On the dashboard, there is a good quality display with satellite navigation and DAB digital radio. The sound is routed via a 9-speaker audio system which sounds divine.
Nissan GTR
The Nissan GTR has electrically heated seats with leather upholstery, which may be the best thing that you like about the car. Even though the dashboard is covered with Nappa leather, you will feel that the GTR misses out on the interiors and looks subdued in front of the R8 and the 911.
The quality of everything present there is super good, but is too conventional, a little too much to be a racing car. Even the 8-inch display is not as shapely and attractive as the other two models.
Performance
Audi R8
The Audi R8 is effortlessly powerful at its heart. The engine responds in the best possible way even at 1,000 revs per minute. The 5.2-litre V10 engine makes the highest power of 602 bhp at 8,500 revs per minute and a peak torque of 560 Nm at 6,500 revs per minute. On paper, the R8 is more powerful than the McLaren 570S and is just enough to keep you thrilled on full throttle. The engine is mated to a 7-speed S Tronic gearbox and the power is sent to all the four wheels.
Porsche 911
The Porsche 911 has a 3.8-litre V6 engine which is capable of making a maximum power of 560 bhp at just 6,500 revs per minute. The engine is transmitted to the wheels via a 7-speed Paddle shift automatic gearbox. However, if you think that the 911 is not as powerful as the R8, here is an interesting fact for you to consider – the Porsche 911 has a greater 700 Nm torque which works to its fullest even at 2,200 revs per minute. This, along with a rear wheel drive mechanics, the 911 is ever-ready to offer you the fun of a full throttle response on the rear wheels.
Nissan GTR
The Nissan GTR, the car that is not as great as the Audi R8 and Porsche 911 in terms of interior design, gets back to the groove and gets you the right value for the huge bucks that you spend on it. It has a 3.8-litre twin turbo V6 engine makes a maximum power of 565 bhp at 6,800 revs per minute and a peak torque of 637 Nm at 3,600 revs per minute. The power is sent to all the four wheels via a 6-speed automatic transmission with Conventional shifts.
Verdict
The most fitting conclusion to the comparison between the top-class supercars (Audi R8, Porsche 911, and Nissan GTR) – each one is competent enough to take on each other on the track. If you look at the power figures, you won’t find a big difference between the three with more or less similar figures.
Having said that, there is one fact about the Nissan GTR that never goes unnoticed. The interiors of the GTR, though detailed, are not as good as its competitors. In fact, it is not even in line with the trend that supercars follow.
Performance wise, the Audi R8 and Nissan GTR are made with outright power, whereas, Porsche 911 offers the best ride quality with its torque-friendly engine and RWD drivetrain. No points for guessing here, you know what it feels like when you accelerate on full throttle and get the best response from the rear wheels right?
