GS69

2009 Car of the Year
Ichiban: (a) Number One (b) The Best (c) First Place (d) Winner (e) All of the

Yes, we are fully aware of the GT-R's best-known nickname, "Godzilla" -- so called because the automotive press found previous generations as ferocious and all-conquering as Japan's fire-breathing monster. But following a full week of intensive evaluation in Nissan's new sports car, we here at Motor Trend now lay claim to a more suitable GT-R moniker -- Ichiban. From Japanese, ichiban translates to "number one." In Motor Trend vernacular, however, it simply denotes: 2009 Car of the Year.

Every September, it seems a few editors comment, "This is the toughest field I can remember." Sure enough, as this year's testing drew to a close, several staff members expressed those same sentiments.

And for sound reason-the competitive set is more imposing than Jamaica's Olympic track team. From the jumbo-shrimp Honda Fit and the discount-Lexus Hyundai Genesis to the quicker-than-a-Cayman BMW 1 series and the cat's-meow Jaguar XF, this year's pool runs deeper than any of recent memory. Yet, no contender proved as profound, awe-inspiring, or, more important, able to fulfill our criteria as the GT-R. How did Nissan so competently clinch the calipers?

Allen K

iTrader: (4)

Not a bad choice

8speed

Careful mate, this is a GT-R forum and those are fighting words

Audi R8 won last year didn't it? GT-R wouldn't surprise me (winning by default).....even though again, production has been halted in Japan

LexFather

While I picked the Genesis, I can totally understand the GT-R winning and its worthy. Has Car Chat bished about anything else so much as of late?
Its made more expensive cars buckle at the knees.

Kudos to Nissan

8speed

What about 98K???? and that's with 2,300 miles

Some of these prices are ridiculous


http://motors.shop.ebay.com/items/Ca...ZCarsQ2dTrucks

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

Well done.

We can't deny that it's a technological marvel for a (relative) bargain.

Celsius

iTrader: (1)

http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/...t_r/index.html

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

Well deserved!

nabbun

THE CLASS OF 2009:

* Acura TL - Fail
* Acura TSX - Fail
* Audi A4 - Fail
* BMW 1 Series - Fail
* Dodge Challenger - Super Fail
* Honda Fit - Fail
* Hyundai Genesis - Fail
* Jaguar XF - Fail
* Lincoln MKS - Much needed but Fail
* Mazda6 - Fail
* Nissan GT-R - Winner by default
* Nissan Maxima - Fail
* Pontiac G8 - Could be the upset
* Pontiac Vibe - Fail
* Toyota Corolla - Fail
* Toyota Matrix - Fail
* Volkswagen CC - Fail


HAH I didn't even read who won lol

BTW, who thinks Motor Trend should be a TV show instead of having our version of Top Gear?

mmarshall

Yes, the GT-R is probably a good pick for the award from a clearly engineering point of view, and from the fact that a car like this comes from a lower-priced, bread-and-butter manufacturer. But the car itself is unlikely to have much impact on the actual car market, one of the COTY criterias. People aren't exactly lined up by the thousands at Nissan shoips to buy new GT-R's (though demand, obviously, exceeds supply), and the car will not be built in large enough numbers.


There are several cars out there that I think, in the long run, are going to have much more of an impact on the auto marketplace itself. One is the Hyundai Genesis. Another is the new VW Jetta TDI...a car I just got finished reviewing.
Yet another is the Mercedes E-class Blue Tec diesel.

And just wait till next year, when the new Honda Insight, Chevy Volt, and fuel-cell Honda FCX are introduced. Those are going to be some REAL candidates for the 2010 award....you can bet on that.

TwiBlueG35

A4, 1-series, XF, G6, Genesis, Fit, and Challenger are all excellent cars, they all deserve awards of some sort. But still I agree with the result of GT-R being the COTY.

I8ABMR

I agree but I think the GTR will need to get it. They dont usually give it to exotics though so I am wondering if the genesis will get it. As long as its not some lame *** american car

rogers2

Well deserved, I'll take one in cocaine white.

TripleL

Congrat's to Nissan on their win!

PS I had picked the Pontiac G8 to win here on Car Chat

GS69

I think that the Cadillac CTS won last year.