Nissan GT-R

Few cars at the Geneva Show will be able to claim the quite sensational 7 minute 38 second lap time of Germany's famously testing Nurburgring. As a signal of intent that time is significant, Japan's super coupé muscling in on the territory of Porsche 911 Turbos and Ferraris with its technology-laden twin-turbo V6 coupé. Its engine produces 374bhp, but it's not the power that's key to the GT-R's phenomenal ability, it's the incomprehensibly complex transmission and electronic systems.

The GT-R boasts four-wheel drive and enough computing power to launch a Mars mission, all that technology aimed at making the GT-R one of the most effective super coupés on the planet. And with that lap time it looks like Nissan has succeeded; only a handful of supercars able to better it. The best bit? The GT-R is only going to cost a fraction of the money of cars its performance rivals, coming to UK showrooms in 2009. We can't wait.

Monday March 3