This year will be an absolute success for sports cars. BMW, Mercedes, Tesla and Ford will launch new and incredibly fast sports cars. However, an underrated player is updating his, Nissan. The GT-R is getting another facelift. The interior will finally be brought into the modern era and slight tweaks to the Powertrain will improve Godzilla.
But how do these others sports cars compare to the nearly 20-year-old platform? The chances of them dethroning the Nissan GT-R are slim. There are many reasons for this, although each car is good in its own right. No one can beat the king.
1 2024 Mercedes-AMG C63
This is the first Mercedes-AMG hybrid vehicle. It has serious power. A 2.0-liter 4-cylinder paired with a rear-axle electric motor produces 671 hp and 752 lb-ft of torque. Of course, the exterior styling is different. The team took some cues from their Formula 1 team for the sharp lines and sleek profile.
Compared to the GT-R, the C63 engine lacks a bit of grunt. Using this smaller motor also decreases the tuning potential. While the Mercedes beats the GTR in interior style and quality, the haptic feedback buttons may annoy some customers.
2 2022 Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet built the new Corvette from the ground up. To their credit, it’s nothing like past GM products. The exterior styling reminds you of a Ferrari, but retains the Corvette look. It’s got renewed punch, too, with the base LT2 Overhead Valve V8 making 495 hp. The Z06 builds on that and comes with 670 hp.
Where it falls down is the lack of a manual transmission. Opting for a dual-clutch transmission improves shift times, but reduces driver involvement and enjoyment. The engine is naturally aspirated and sounds beautiful, but this Corvette lacks driving character, which we can see with the upcoming Corvette Z06.
3 2023 Nissan Z
The Z is back. It still has a twin-turbo V6. The engine makes 400 hp and when you combine that with a small package, this Z is an absolute rocket. The 0-60 mph time is 4.3 seconds. It also has a 6-speed manual which makes for an engaging drive.
One of the problems this vehicle has is road noise. Weather seals, creaky door panels and a lack of noise-reducing material make daily driving less enjoyable. The GT-R isn’t the best in that department either, but it’s miles better than the Nissan Z.
4 2022 BMW Z4 M40i
There were many complaints when the 2022 BMW Z4 came out, as it shares a platform with the Toyota Supra. It uses the tried and tested B58 inline six engine. Turbocharged, this engine makes 382 hp. The 8-speed ZF automatic offers instant shifts. The sleek body lines and rounder shape are a welcome change compared to the previous version.
It’s a great sports car in its own right, but it falls off a cliff in the steering feel department. This is one area where the GT-R excels, as you feel connected to the car and the road when you drive it. A fun drive is why most people buy sports cars, and that’s where the Nissan GT-R excels at this car.
5 2024 Jaguar F-Type 75 Special Edition
The 2024 Jaguar F-type is the latest facelift of the F-Type platform. But the changes are not just cosmetic. Added to this special edition is upgraded suspension, active dampers, performance seats and Pirelli P Zero tires. This is an outgoing car, as emissions regulations will force Jaguar to withdraw the platform.
The P575 version increases power to 575 hp, from a supercharged V8. However, the base engine only comes with 300 hp from an inline-four. That’s about 257bhp less than the GT-R at the same weight. The F-Type is not slow, but weaker in the power department compared to the Nissan GT-R R35.
6 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 2024
Another beast enters the ring. The Ford Mustang Dark Horse is like a Hoonicorn crossed with a Mustang. The road presence is unquestionable. 500 hp from a 5.0-liter V8 mated to a six-speed manual makes for a very attractive package. The color-changing paint is a reminder that the Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 V-SPEC Midnight Purple exists.
Ford still needs to release more information about the Mustang Dark Horse. A lot of engineering has gone into the EcoBoost engine, but it doesn’t compare to the hand-built 3.8-liter twin-turbo VR38DETT V6. Few engines do.
7 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona SRT
The new charger is a hybrid. Whether this is good or bad is up to you. A rear engine is paired with a Hurricane inline-six engine, which produces 455 hp. Exterior styling is retro-modern with a single front light bar and wide-body fender flares.
Of course, it’s a muscle car, so burnouts are a given. The rear-wheel drive setup isn’t the best for track times, an area where the GT-R and even previous Nissan Skylines have excelled. The ATTESA E-TS Pro system ensures that traction and speed are maintained in curves.
8 Tesla Roadster 2023
1.99 seconds is the 0-60 mph time acclaimed by Tesla and critics alike. The 2023 Tesla Roadster is fast. A three-motor setup and AWD make cornering quick and precise. Exact horsepower numbers have not yet been released. Production has been plagued with delays, so there’s no guarantee this car will even get a full release.
Where the Tesla Roadster falls down is at the top end. While electric cars have insane acceleration, the 60 mph to 124 mph times are mediocre. The new R35 can do it in 7.8 seconds.
9 2023 Porsche Taycan
The Porsche Taycan is Porsche’s first all-electric sports car. 2 AC synchronous electric motors make 402 hp, but the real engineering is in the suspension and weight distribution. A 79 kWh battery provides 288 miles of estimated range. Clever use of internal “foot garages” that store batteries allow the massive weight to be dispersed around the car.
The Taycan is a beast in its own right. The price is also beastly. A base Taycan will set you back $86,700. A new GT-R is also priced at $113,540. The big AWD system, twin-turbo V6 and dual-clutch transmission make the GT-R a better package than the Taycan. There are other Taycan packages that increase power, such as the Taycan Turbo, but the price increases exponentially.
10 Lotus Evie
The Evija is a limited production electric sports car from Lotus. Following a similar pattern to the Honda NSX, it has 4 electric motors, one at each wheel. The number of hp is insane for 1970. Estimated range is 250 miles with a 70 kWh lithium-ion battery.
Of course, the Lotus Evija and the GT-R are in different corners of the market. The only area where the GT-R betters the Evija is usability. The GT-R has a decent sized trunk, 4 seats and still enough power to enjoy on a twisty mountain road. The Evija is more of a show and track car.
Sources: manufacturer pages, Top Gear
