FRANKLIN, Tenn./PRNewswire/ — Eleven of the world’s most desirable cars lined up side-by-side. Legendary marques and iconic nameplates – Porsche 911, Corvette Z06, Ford Mustang Boss 302, Ferrari 458 Italia and Audi R8 GT, to name just a few – assembled by the editors of Motor Trend for an informal, bragging rights-only drag race as a sidebar to its 2011 Best Driver’s Car award, announced on motortrend.com today, and cover story for the November issue of Motor Trend magazine. Eleven cars, one shot, one winner: the legendary Nissan GT-R.

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In what the magazine bills as the world’s biggest drag race, the competitors featured a combined 82 cylinders and nearly 5,000 horsepower – wrapped in $1.5 million of beautifully sculpted aluminum, fiberglass and carbon fiber skins. And the revised 2012 Nissan GT-R, now featuring 530 horsepower and 448 lb-ft of torque, beat them all.

“We applaud Motor Trend’s editors for pulling off the automotive equivalent of the running of the bulls,” said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, Nissan North America, Inc. “Win or lose, it’s great fun and a great video – especially since we won.”

The $89,950 Nissan GT-R was followed across the quarter-mile finish line by the $225,325 Ferrari 458 Italia and the $198,600 Audi R8 GT. “In all fairness, if we were running for pink slips, we would have had to bring at least two GT-Rs to match the cost of the competitors,” added Carolin. “We’ll settle for the title of baddest of the bad.”

To check out the full four-minute video, go to http://www.facebook.com/Nissan.

About the Event

Contenders were selected by the editors of Motor Trend as part of their “Best Driver’s Car” (BDC) competition – and one of the biggest, most expensive single stories the magazine has ever executed. The supercars were considered among the best sports cars in the world. Unless all-new or significantly revised, previous entrants were not allowed to participate. Vehicles were run at factory recommended settings, with standard or factory optional equipment. The drag race portion was filmed on a closed course at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station in El Toro, California.

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In a survey of 42,000 owners rating their new 2010 model year cars and trucks, Porsche owners have ranked the 911 as the best sports car in satisfying customers, according to the 14th Annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA) by AutoPacific.

The AutoPacific VSAs are based on owners’ ratings of their new 2010 model year cars and trucks across dozens of key vehicle attributes. The awards have become an industry benchmark for measuring how satisfied an owner is with his/her new car. AutoPacific is a California-based automotive marketing and product-consulting firm.

This is not the first time the iconic 911 model has been chosen as the winner of the Vehicle Satisfaction Award.

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Delivering even more engine power, lower weight and shorter transmission ratios, as well as upgraded body and suspension components than all previous GT3s, the new Porsche 911 GT3 RS sets the foundation for homologating the race version of the 911 GT3 and will be introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show September 17-27, 2009.

The heart of the new, uncompromising GT3 RS is the power unit. Like the engine featured in the 911 GT3, the naturally-aspirated RS power unit now displaces 3.8 liters and delivers even more power, while revving up even faster to its 8500 rpm redline. It now delivers 450 horsepower, 15 more horsepower than its 911 GT3 counterpart. Even with a specific output of more than 118 hp per liter from the six-cylinder boxer engine, the power unit in the new GT3 RS remains fully suitable for everyday use.

The new 911 GT3 RS comes exclusively with a six-speed manual gearbox optimized for short gearshift travel, low weight and high efficiency. To enhance the level of performance throughout the entire range of engine and road speed, the transmission comes with shorter ratios than found in the 911 GT3, deliberately conceding an even higher potential top track speed.

Dynamic engine mounts are standard and serve to improve the car’s handling to an even higher level. Depending on driving conditions, the mounts change in their stiffness and damping effect, improving the connection between the engine and the body when driving under very lively conditions, yet allow for more comfortable conditions during everyday street use.

Porsche is also introducing another new option in 2010 for the GT3 RS, a lithium-ion battery. Delivered with the car and, when replacing the conventional lead-acid battery, it reduces the weight by more than 10 kg or 22 lb and is mainly intended for the track.

To further improve its sporting behavior, the new 911 GT3 RS comes with a purpose-built and specially set up PASM suspension, a wider front and rear track and corresponding bodywork.

The front axle comes with nine-inch-wide wheels running on 245/35 ZR 19 sports tires while the rear axle features twelve-inch-wide wheels incorporating 325/30 ZR 19 sports tires.

The new 911 GT3 RS shows its close connection to motorsport through its dynamic looks, in particular by its low ride height, the new, extra large carbon-fiber rear wing and titanium exhaust system.

The 2010 911 GT3 RS goes on sale in the U.S. in early spring of 2010 and will be priced at $132,800.

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