Undeniably the most significant Japanese OE launch in the US since the very same company dropped the 240Z, the 2009 Nissan GT-R will once again redefine how Americans, scratch that, the world will look at imports. Me? Screw global perceptions, I can’t believe I drove the new GT-R.

From the Lake Tahoe area on the Nevada side, I drove the GT-R to Reno-Fernley Raceway. On the streets, the car is much more different than any GT-R I’ve been in. Compared to the R32 I previously owned and the R33 I currently have, the R35 is much more refined. The car is solid, smooth, comfortable and deceptively fast. The portly 3,800 or so pounds feel light on mountain roads thanks to the model specific twin turbo 3.8L VR38DETT conservatively rated at 480 hp and the six-pot Brembos up front and four-pots in the rear.

Take it to the track and the new GT-R shines. It’s balls out fast. I’m talking a heckled Barry Bonds on a ‘roid rage hit the ball out the damn park kinda fast. Admittedly, I’m far from a Schumacher but the car made me feel like a hero. Lucky for the mild-mannered (me), Nissan had the foresight to have legendary Steve Millen on hand to take journalists (me) for some hot laps around the Reno-Fernley Raceway to see what the GT-R is made of. Based on my calculations it’s: aluminum, steel, carbon-fiber, cojones, testosterone, Sigmund Freud’s id, a bushel of fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and Jules Winnfield's wallet. Now if only I could afford one. Until that happens, I’ll take some comfort in knowing that I drove the new GT-R.

For the full review, including dyno charts and an impression from our scene's hottest import model, check the newsstands copies of Import Tuner.