2009 Nissan GT-R: Separated at Birth?

no the ironic this is, that the SS will likely need fewer shop time, and experts fixing it.

Hahaha, that's awesome.

Luckily, I doubt anyone would ever actually confuse these two cars. One can set a Nurburgring record. The other? Not so much.

you are "The Mechanic", aren't you?

Same audience. Different price points.

Thanks to the Porsche people, we don't even know if the Nurburgring record set by Nissan GT-R is not faked :(

Considering the fact that the GT-R hit the market well after the Cobalt did, I think some folks at Nissan have some 'splaining to do.

Then again, given the aero constraints of modern automotive design, every car ends up looking pretty much the same at some point.

I'll duck now.

I'll grant you the taillights being similar. Otherwise, it's two white cars with fins.

GTR has had those round taillights for a long time before this model... the Cobalt hasn't.

Then again, I think Nissan copied the Corvette so....

"By eidolways on October 13, 2008 7:01 AM
Luckily, I doubt anyone would ever actually confuse these two cars. One can set a Nurburgring record. The other? Not so much."

Actually, eidolways, they both set Nurburgring records. The Cobalt SS with the new 260hp turbo set a world record on the Nurburgring recently for fastest time of a FWD car. It ran an 8:22, which happens to be about the same time as the 2002 BMW E46 M3 also in Edmund's long term fleet.

THANK YOU, James! I've been itching to point out this resemblance ever since you added the GT-R to the fleet.

Sadly, the 15k Cobalt is better looking overall than the "drawn by a 12yr old japanese videogame addict" design of the GTR.

Hmm, I think the Chevy looks better...

Hmm, I think the white Saab in the background looks even better...

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned that the Colbalt SS beat a large number of pricey cars in Car & Driver's latest "Lightning Lap", such as (in ascending lap time) Mitsu Lancer Evo MR, 135i, IS-F, Audi S5, S2000 CR, Challenger SRT8, Elise SC, G37 Sport, WRX STI, Caliber SRT4, VW R32, Civic Mugen Si, and Volvo C30 T5 2.0. Pretty impressive!

texases - its edmunds. the cobalt = domestic = suck.

most of those others get the i-heart-Vtec shirts, esspically the mugen

Cruiserhead, while I can't disprove that the Skyline didn't copy the Corvette (or the Malibu), it has had four round taillights since its second generation - in the early 1960's. ('61, '62, or '63, not sure which.)

That model had two large outboard round taillights, with small round turn signals inboard. Later they became closer in size, and were equal in size through the '80s. The late '90s Skyline had them very similar to the previous Malibu and current Cobalt coupe, with the outboard lights being larger and consisting of a small inner circle within a roundel. I think it was a clever move by the Cobalt guys since sport compact guys see its tail and immediately think "Skyline!"... I just wish they hadn't given it such a big butt.

The Cobalt's got a bigger wing. It goes faster!

good point carlisimo

the GTr would look better if Nissan had angled the exhaust tips at the same level as the taillights.

those circle tail lights have been a signature part of the skyline/gt-r design since the late 80s/early 90s. so I don't think it's nissan that has explaining to do, it's chevy.

although I forgot about the corvette, so never mind, haha.

the cobalt needs a bigger wing due to its cabin profile, ride height, and lack of underbody aerodynamic aids.

The Nissan does appear to have a reserved parking space...

Hummmm.... So I'm guessing Nissan didn't send in some crack car surgeons from Japan to fix these Joe-Sixpack's GT-Rs?

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/13/carsumer-advocacy-nissan-refuses-to-replace-gt-r-owners-busted/

LOL

Great pic!!!

Wow, the GT-R in that link looks soooo much better than the white one that Edmunds has.

This picture makes the two cars look like they cost about the same (maybe 5-10 grand difference). Besides the quad exhaust, I actually think the Chevy looks better. That is the GTR's worst angle.

So, tell me again why the Nissan doesn't have it's license plates on?

time to add a Cobalt SS to your test fleet :)

Honestly: I prefer the Cobalt

My favorite Skyline rear end is that of the R33.
http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/8933_Led_Fog_Reverse.jpg
Now THAT is a butt you can admire from afar.

Funny how we all differ. That's by far my favorite angle on the new GT-R. And I think the Cobalt looks terribly cheap from behind. Its best angle is from in front, imo, even if it looks a bit dated. On the other hand, I think the GT-R's nose is its only weak point.

the other plus with the cobalt.... the spoiler is an option so you can get the car without it!

The GT-R is the son that went and got a PhD while the Cobalt only went to community college and just tries too hard to impress the high school chicks.

The Cobalt is the son that went to community college and got laid and syphilis, and then gets laid again.
The GT-R is the PhD nerd with his beaker and glasses. pffft.

Nice mention of the Lightning Lap comparison Car & Driver did, texases. The Cobalt SS' lap is definitely impressive! I was amazed the STI was about six seconds slower than the Cobalt SS and the Evo MR. I wonder what was up with that.

Here's a link to it:
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/high_performance/features_classic_cars/the_lightning_lap_2008_feature

http://www.caranddriver.com/content/download/122224/1656509/version/1/file/The+Lightning+Lap%2C+2008+Results.pdf

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Regarding the Cobalt's license plate frame... :o)

"FIGHT ON"

Fight On for ol' SC
Our men Fight On to victory.
Our Alma Mater dear,
looks up to you
Fight On and win
For ol' SC
Fight On to victory
Fight On!

This song is usually played after first downs and touchdowns. The music for USC's fight song, "Fight On," was composed in 1922 by USC dental student Milo Sweet (with lyrics by Sweet and Glen Grant) as an entry in a Trojan spirit contest. In addition to inspiring generations of Trojan fans and players, the song has been used in numerous recordings and movies. Legend has it that during World War II in the Pacific, an American task force attacked an island held by the Japanese. As the Americans stormed the beach, "Fight On" blared from the deck of one of the transports. The U.S. men let out a tremendous roar and eventually won the island.

Please tell me you added the SS to the fleet? That would be good news.

whats even funnier is that with all of the repais that the GT-R has gone through so far, they could've bought the SS for the fleet!

"Honestly: I prefer the Cobalt"

Honestly, if you happen to have a GT-R on hand, I'm willing to trade you a Cobalt for it straight up. Like, right now.

"So, tell me again why the Nissan doesn't have it's license plates on?"

It has a temporary Tennessee license sticker in the window and we are still waiting for the appropriate documentation from the Tennessee DMV so that we can properly plate the car in California.

Also, license plates are for wimps.

Sans wing, I think the Cobalt taillight design is distinctive. I hope the new Cruze carries some of this sporting distinctiveness for the SS.

How about the previous generation Chevrolet Impala (no, not the cool RWD one), too?

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//pictures/EVOX/2004/Chevrolet/2004.chevrolet.impala.20145036-E.jpg

just the other day I did a double take on the dumbalt thinking it was a GT-R...

Edmunds has one of the most anticipated high performance cars in history and they are do 2 blog entries about the spoilers! You guys are misspending your time. Let me give you some suggestions - DRIVE IT, CRUISE IT, TAKE IT TO A TRACK but really stop complaining about the spoiler or the looks because I have to tell you on the street everyone loves the looks whether they are pimple-faced kids, middle-aged guys driving Lexi or HPDE driving instructors.

So please do something real with the car other than complaining.

I always thought the same thing, pretty big difference between the two. Personally I think everything looks cheap about the new Cobalts, and they are cheap cars. Ill take the one on the top please.